Realizing more equitable social development in Kenya:
experiences from community social budgeting process and social
intelligence reporting
Isa Achoba, Moses Ogola, Godfrey K. Ndeng’e, Robert Ndugwa,
UNICEF Kenya, Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision
2030, Kenya, Ministry of Finance, Kenya
The opinions expressed are the personal thinking of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the institutions or any other organization
involved and named in this paper
Content of Presentation
 Background to Social Budgeting in Kenya
The Concept of Social Budgeting
Tools and methodology for enhancing Social Budgeting
Social Intelligence Reporting
 District level SIR
 Facility/Community level SIR
Observatories in Social Budgeting.
 Main findings
 Recommandations
Conclusion
The background to Social Budgeting
• For many years after independence in Kenya - budgeting
was more preoccupied with Macroeconomic issues:
 Generating higher growth (GDP), controlling inflation,
exchange/foreign reserves, debt etc
 Limited emphasis was given to human development (poverty,
health and education)
• In 2005 the Government of Kenya in collaboration with
UNICEF, conceptualized the social budgeting initiative
• Social Budgeting is premised on the need to ensure a
balance between macroeconomic goals and social
development objectives
Dual Budgeting Framework
Harmonization
Macroeconomic
framework
Process and
Negotiations
Growth rate, inflation,
fiscal deficit, public
debt, taxation
Quantitative targets to
reduce child deprivation,
namely in health, nutrition,
housing, information,
water, education, sanitation
and protection.
Resource envelope
Mandated
expenditures
Human
Development
& rights
framework
Infrastructure
Security
HD/HR
provisions
Children and vulnerable populations
Social Policies for Human Development
The Concept of Social Budgeting
social sectors focusing on
children and women
participatory approach to
budget preparation and
monitoring
Women and marginalized populations
Budgetary decisions, allocations and utilization
Development activities
are inter-twined – Human
rights are holistic
Broader Participation
ensures ‘equity',
'efficiency’ and
‘accountability’ in social
outcomes
Policy and institutional
hurdles - most visible
nearer the ground
Ownership and
sustainability of
development
Top Down vs
Bottom up
Balance
Children and vulnerable populations
Priorities amidst
competing needs – best
identified by the people
Social Policies for Human Development
The Concept of Social Budgeting
Addresses
policy
Barriers
social sectors focusing on
children and women
participatory approach to
budget preparation and
monitoring
Women and marginalized populations
Budgetary decisions, allocations and utilization
Evidence
for Policy
Adjustment
Human
Rights
Resources
means
more than
funds
Transparent
Decision
► Children
► Women
► Media
► Civil Society
Recent Developments on Social Budgeting in Kenya
1. Social Budgeting Guidelines Developed
Institutionalizes Social Intelligence Reporting (SIR)
at district and facility/community levels
2. Capacity developed for bi-annual conduct of Social
Intelligence Reporting in the 47 districts (1 per county);
3. Increased Treasury funds to key social sectors in last 3
years…(see table)
Free Primary Education
Early Childhood Development Education
Nutrition
Orphans and Vulnerable children cash transfer
Older Persons Cash transfer
Maternal Voucher scheme
Disability
Population and family planning
Kenya: Growth in selected social subsector budgets
Ministry
Sub-sector
(Kshs
Millions)
Absolute
Per cent
2008/09
2011/12
Change
Change
6,678.0
8,500.0
1,822.0
27.3
MoE
FPE
MoE
ECDE
198.0
387.0
189.0
95.5
MoPHS
NUTRITION
147.0
238.0
91.0
62
MoPHS
OBA
0.0
52.0
52.0
100+
MoGCSD
OP-CT
4.0
1,000.0
996.0
100+
MoGCSD
OVC-CT
579.0
1,077.0
498.0
86.0
MoGCSD
PWD
200.0
667.0
467.0
233.5
MoSPNDV2030
NCAPD
110.0
172.0
62.0
56.4
MoSPNDV2030
CDF
10,100.0
17,900.0
7,800.0
77.2
MoSPNDV2030
SB/SIR
0.0
15.0
15.0
100+
MoF
SB/SIR
0.0
15.0
15.0
100+
196,000.0
326,800.0
130,800.0
66.7
Social Sector
Budget
Are these Budgets working for children and women?
Increasing Social Sector
Development Budgets
Social Policy Briefs
& Advocacy
No ‘real time
‘assurances’ of
participation
and ‘efficiency’
Are Budgets working for Children
And Women at facilities
And service outlets?
Role of Social Budgeting Observatories
Social Budget Observatories are useful if ‘facts and figures’ on the
‘budget at work’ is available;
The Social Intelligence Reports (SIR) ….’eye, ear and nose’ on budget
working for children and women;
The Social Budgeting Observatories meet to;
•
•
•
•
•
•
Deliberate on the ‘real time’ findings from SIRs;
Take and/or ensure that remedial actions do address challenges
are dealt with;
Hold duty bearers accountable;
Foster citizen participation;
Contribute to policy performance review, and;
Gather evidence for the next budget cycle.
Social Intelligence Reporting (SIR) in the context of human
rights and development
An accountability tool prescribed in the Government of Kenya
Social Budgeting (SB) Guidelines to:
• Engage ‘Claim Holders’ in budget and social policy;
• Gauge the performance of key social policies for the
realization of the rights of children and women in an
environment of ‘equity’ , ‘participation’, ‘transparency’ and
public ‘accountability’.
Social Intelligence Report summarizes and analyses data,
information and evidence collected from;
1. Social networks,
2. Service points;
3. Community interactions
Social Intelligence Reporting (SIR) Methodology
•The process of conducting SIR can be
categorized into two levels notably;
–district/county and
–facility/community level.
Social Budgeting/Social Intelligence Reporting (SIR) Process Flow
Chart
National Social Budgeting Observatory
(Members: Government (through Permanent Secretaries
of line Ministries); Civil Society Organisations; Media,
Development Partners; Members of Private Sector
(KEPSA)
Sectoral Social Budgeting Observatory
(Members: Technical Heads of Departments in
Government; Civil Society Organizations;
Parastatals (SAGAs); Development Partners
District Social Budgeting Observatory
(Members: Representative of Community (but not MP);
District Development and Sectoral Officers (DDE, DPHO,
DAO, DWIO ,etc; Children’s’ Representative;
Representatives of Local Authorities ; Faith Based
Organizations; Constituency Development Fund
Committee; Private Sector; District Accountant;
Community members (gender balanced);
Community/Facility level
Women, children, elderly/service providers e.g in schools,
health centers, water points
Key tasks include:
•Set national priorities for Social sector
•Review Sector policy briefs and integrated to
national budget
•Review Sectoral and District Proposals
•Ensure equitable distribution of Social Sector
services in District to reduce disparities
•Prepares operational and policy guidelines on social
budgeting
Key tasks include:
Provides Sectoral linkage between District and National
Observatories
Monitor and Evaluate ongoing projects in Social Sectors
and reports on progress on these
Report on Sector Specific policy contribution to Social
outcomes for women, children, etc
Receive and evaluate Proposals from District
observatory; Provide funds and justify this to upper
level groups.
Through participatory sessions, provides social
intelligence on health, education, water,
nutrition and social protection services are at
the community level and from the Service
delivery points.
Agree to remedial action and follow up
Social
Intelligence
report
Examples of SIR TOOLS
Kenya – Social Intelligence Reporting Template and Format
D1: Name of Province.................D2: Name of County..................D3: Name of District..................
D4 Name of Constituency................. D5: Name of Division/Ward................
D6: Date............
Examples of SIR TOOLS
Health Module -District Level Information
2008/ 2009
2009/ 2010
District Level Funding
Information
DH1: Amount of Fund received
(Ksh)
DH1a:MoPHS
DH1b:MoMS
DH1c: Others (specify)
Health Facility Information
DH2a-c: Total number of health
facilities in district
DH3a-c: Total number of ITNs
distributed in district
DH4: Total number of Public
Health personnel by type and
gender
DH4a: Doctors
DH4b: Clinical Officers
DH4c: Lab Technicians
DH4d: Nurses
DH4e: Others
DH5: Leading causes of
morbidity by gender
Kenya shillings
Public
Male
Kenya shilling
Faith
Based
Public
Female
Male
Private
2008/2009
Three leading causes of
Notes /Remarks
Private
Faith
Based
Female
2009/2010
Three leading causes of
How is SIR Generated and Used?
Better
Social
Services
Policies
Better
Development
Results
SIRs in Practice… @ local levels
Participation in mutual
Accountability
District or County
Development Office
as Secretariat for
SIR
District and/or County
Development (Executive) Committe
As Local Observatory
Social Intelligence
Reporting…
a) Budget
b) Policies
Are Budgets
Working for
Children and
Women?
Education
sector funds
and Services
Health and
Nutrition
services
and funds
Social
Protection
Services
and funds
Water,
Sanitation
and Hygiene
services
and funds
What ?
Who?
Why?
Where?
When?
Devolved
Funds – at
least 10 of
such funds
exist today
Follow up on
SIR key
findings and
recommendat
ions
Hold sector
offices and
officials
accountable
SIR Engagement Process
•Several methods are used to engage the managers and
collect the information for SIR, e,g
1. Observations and photography;
2. one-on-one sessions and
3. group discussions with service providers/officials.
4. review of records such as registers for drugs or pupil/patient
attendance, minutes of management meetings, financial records
5. a tour of the facility to asses the condition, status and operations
of various facilities including toilets and sanitary facilities, class
rooms, incinerator, laboratories, wards, drug stores among others
within each institution
6. direct engagements with service users’ e.g. pupils in school,
mothers attending ANC/patients, and any community members,
etc. is also a vital source of credible SIR information
Observations & Group discussions
Social Intelligence Reporting
(SIR) Results
• Main Findings from Social
Intelligence Reporting (SIR) in
Kenya
Key Findings from Social Intelligence Reporting….2010 to date
The SIRs field diagnostics have so far shown that …
1.
Vast ‘real time evidence can stimulate action…
o In a district, 21 children are reported pregnant in a primary school
alone in 2010;
o
o
o

2.
Anti Malaria drugs are lacking , sometimes for months in health
facilities
No toilet for ECD pupils in primary schools;
A former Head teacher & past PTA Chairman in a School could not
account for Ksh 130, 000 (from CDF +MVC fund);…
CT-OVC is keeping children in schools;…
Obstacles on the path of budget removed…


e.g. the use Constituency Development Funds for spring water
development;
In a Primary school, 750 pupils were on roll call, but only half were
captured in the Education sector database…denying the school FPE
grants
Key Findings from Social Intelligence Reporting….
The SIRs field diagnostics is …Revealing and dealing with vulnerabilities
3.
In Kinango district , Coast Province of Kenya, the SIR spotted blood in
some school toilets, linked up the district health team and was able to
unearth and deal with the high prevalence of parasitic infections in the
community.
4. The plight of pupils with disability was the focus in Mukuyuni Primary
School where the following actions have been agreed:



5.
Screening, by the Makueni District health team, of the children in the
school and catchment community for the various forms of disabilities;
Construction of ramps to ease access to classrooms for the
physically challenged pupils in Class 2;
Provisioning of toilets for the physically challenged pupils in the
school
In Mukuyuni Health Centre, a teenage girl was offered antenatal services
and counseling towards resumption of schooling – fostering collaboration
between the education, health and child protection teams in the district.
Key Findings from Social Intelligence Reporting….
The SIRs field diagnostics is …Enforcing and promoting accountability
6. In some primary schools, the conduct of the SIR enabled:
 The Head teacher to share information on the use of facilty
improvement funds more transparently with teachers and parents;
 Recruit ancillary staff (where none existed) even thought budget ahs
been provided;
 Free pupils from cleaning the toilets, and focusing on their studies;
7. In Mukuyuni health centre, a teenage girl was offered antenatal services
and counseling towards resumption of schooling – fostering collaboration
between the education, health and child protection teams in the district.
Key Findings from Social Intelligence Reporting….
The SIRs field diagnostics is removing…Obstacles to enjoyment of social
services
8. In Nakuru, a fully funded water project was not operational due to
administrative bottlenecks (water bills not paid promptly, and records in
shambles, management committee not transparent etc).
9. The SIR identified and dealt with this in liaison with the Area District Officer
(DO) who compelled the old management committee to hand over to the
new management. A more transparent and accountable system of fund
management was put in place – and water supply services resumed.
The diagnostics is …Tracking and providing assurances on social sector
investment
10 . In almost all (120) schools visited, the government and donor
investment in CT-OVC is keeping vulnerable children in schools and
enabling them to learn
Recommendations…
1.
Sustained national capacity development and integrate Social
Budgeting into national policy, planning, budgeting and public
accountability framework;
2.
Gather evidence for increasing treasury allocations to pro-child and
women friendly policies but also assemble facts on how budgets are
working for children and women;
3.
Strengthen Budgeting Observatories – linked to Social Intelligence
Reporting – as means to promote ownership and accountability for
effective, equitable and efficient use of resources for the fulfillment of
human rights, especially for the most vulnerable;
4.
Foster partnership and collaborate with donors and development
partners to increase resources (funding, technical, knowledge
sharing via south-south cooperation etc) to social budgeting
Conclusion
Our experiences from Kenya show that….
Social budgeting and Social Intelligence Reporting (SIR) have
the potential to promote good governance and the culture of
accountability at all administrative levels.
Investing in social budgeting could impact positively on citizen
participation, delivery of equitable social services and enhance
the culture of public accountability