KENYA INSTITUTE OF ADMINISTRATION

CHALLENGES FACING THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN ACHIEVING MILLENNIUM

DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs):A CASE STUDY OF PROVINCIAL

ADMINSTRATION

Authors:

Wambugu JohnsonKalinge JosephatMwangai ZablonMulonzi DanielMohamed Aisha

Submitted to Kenya Institute of Administration in partial fulfilment of completion of Senior Management Course.

SEPTEMBER 2010

Table of ContentsCHAPTER ONE 3

1.0 Introduction 3

1.1 Background Statement 3

1.2 The Millennium Development Goals 3

Table 1: Millennium Development Goals and Targets 4

1.3 Statement of the problem 5

1.4 Objective of the study 6

1.5 Specific Objectives 6

1.6 Research Questions 6

1.7 Significance of the study6

1.8 Limitations 6

CHAPTER TWO 7

2.0 Literature Review 7

CHAPTER THREE 9

3.0 Methodology 9

3.1 Research design 9

3.2 Sampling 9

3.4 Data analysis and presentation 9

CHAPTER FOUR 10

4.0 Key Findings 10

4.1 Response Rate 10

Others sources: nil 11

4.6: MDGs implemented by various organisation 12

4.8: Incorporation of MDGs in the organizational work plans 13

4.9: Support by management 13

4.11: Challenges encountered by Public Service Officers 14

CHAPTER FIVE 15

5.0 Conclusion 15

CHAPTER SIX 16

6.0 Recommendation 16

References 17

Appendices 18

Questionnaire 18

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CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background Statement

In the year 2000, the International community met and drew up actions and targets in what was referred to as the Millennium Declaration. The Declaration committed United Nation Member states, International organizations, and other specialized agencies to ensure basic human development for all by 2015 through the attainment of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

These eight Millennium Development Goals were adopted by 189 nations and signed by 147 heads of State and Governments during a UN Millennium Summit. Countries pledged to halve extreme poverty, achieve universal education, halt the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce child and maternal mortality rates by 2015 among other issues. (1, 2)

In Kenya, the Millennium Development Goals are closely linked with Vision 2030. Vision 2030 is the Road map geared towards transforming Kenya into an industrialized, middle income Nation by the year 2030. Achievement of MDGs by 2015 will put Kenya on the right track towards attainment of the Vision 2030.

1.2 The Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world's main development challenges. (1, 2)

Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4. Reduce child mortality

Goal 5. Improve maternal health

Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development

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Table 1: Millennium Development Goals and TargetsGOAL TARGETS

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day

Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from Hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and to all levels of education no later than 2015

4. Reduce child mortality Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate

5. Improve maternal health Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDSHave halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources

Halve by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water

By 2020 to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers

8. Develop a global partnership for development

Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term

In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications

Adapted from UNDP website

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1.3 Statement of the problem

Despite the global countries under the umbrella of United Nations (UN) developing Millennium Development Goals which served as a corner stone for countries to the anchor their development strategies on. There appears to be a gap on what was expected to be achieved by 2015 and what is actually on the ground. In Kenya year in year out the government ministries have been budgeting giving priority to core poverty programmes that will have an impact to poverty eradication as expected in the MDGs.

Despite this initiative the masses of Kenyan people remain poor with even threat of famine at times. This leaves a gap of what is desired to have been achieved or expected and what is actually happening on the ground. The ministries are guided by strategic plans when formulating and implementing the respective budgets it is therefore expected to have progress in achievement of MDGs. The purpose of this study is to seek answers to how effective the ministries have been in achievement of Millennium Development Goals.

The Government developed strategies to mainstream MDGs into ministries’ strategic plans, however, the achievement of these goals have been impeded in some instances by corruption, poor coordination of planning and implementation of the strategies. Lack of commitment by top management and staff has posed a challenge to achievement of the MDGs which has been compounded by inadequate resources both in terms of financial and human capacity. Political interference and instability as evidenced in the post election violence of 2007/08 contributed to stalling and stagnation of the progress of MDGs attainment.

1.4 Objective of the study

The objective of the study is to determine the challenges faced by the Public Service officers in the achievement of MDGs by 2015.

1.5 Specific Objectives

The specific objectives will include the following1. To determine the progress Kenya has made towards the achievement of the targets of

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).2. To determine the role of public officers in implementation of Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs) strategies.3. To determine the challenges in achievement of MDGs

1.6 Research Questions

1. How far is Kenya in achieving MDGs?2. What role do public officers play in achievement of MDGS?3. What challenges do Public Officers face in the implementation of the MDGs strategies?

1.7 Significance of the study

The study will benefit the government agencies steering the role of attaining the MDGs to establish the impediments to achievement of the MDGs. The study will also offer solutions to the factors that affect achievement of the MDGs from the primary data gathered from the respondents. The study shall be of impotance to other scholars pursuing further research on Millenium Development Goals.

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1.8 Limitations

The study has several limitations and weaknesses because of the time allocated to carry out the study. Due to time factor the study would be confined in the ministry officers undergoing training Kenya institute of Administration (KIA) in Nairobi. The limitation of this study is basically the time required to collect information from the KIA library and the websites of. In addition to the time required for analysis of data and the limited members of group are facing due to other duties on course study. This leaves in adequate time to fully engage in undertaking this research/study.

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CHAPTER TWO2.0 Literature Review

In September 2000, one hundred and eighty nine (189) countries, Kenya included, adopted the Millennium Declaration, whose main objective was to define a common vision of development by 2015. With the endorsement of the Millennium Declaration, countries set themselves a limited number of achievable goals to be reached by the year 2015. (3)

The MDGs are internationally accepted standards of measuring progress in poverty alleviation and development; and Kenya Vision 2030 is a vehicle for accelerating the transformation of Kenya into a rapidly industrializing, middle income nation by the year 2030. Through the achievement of MDGs by2015, Kenya will be well on the way to attaining the Goals of Vision 2030. Hence the MDGs are an important framework towards achieving the Kenya Vision 2030. Some of the MDGs are on the path of being achieved and the Vision 2030 spells out the actions that will be taken to achieve the rest. The First Medium Term Plan (MTP) of Kenya Vision 2030 has been formulated and forms the basis of the first phase of its implementation; it is expected to contribute immensely towards achievement of the MDGs. The MTP runs from 2008-2012. (4)

Kenya, being a signatory to the Millennium Declaration, embarked on the MDGs process in 2002. However, the Government of Kenya had already subscribed to the World Bank's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) programme in the year 2000 and had embarked on the preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (the PRSP) and in the year 2002 formulated its own 'Economic Recovery Strategy' (ERS) policy document that was focusing on reviving the economy and creating employment while also taking on board any important lessons drawn from the previous history of policy making. (4)

The Kenyan Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 has been coordinating mainstreaming of MDGs into national policy, planning and budgeting since the year 2002. The Government directed that MDGs be provided for in the specific budgets of ministries, departments and sectors and adequate funds are allocated to them for implementation. Some Key activities that were undertaken by the Government include; carrying out MDGs needs assessment in the country, publication of the 2005 Needs Assessment and Costing Report, publication of the 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2010 MDGs Status Reports, the sensitization of Members of Parliament who have been very active in spearheading campaigns on the implementation of the MDGs and sensitization workshops for policy makers and local authorities amongst others. (3)

The decision by the Government to increase funding towards MDGs-related programmes has seen funding for the health, education, agriculture and infrastructure sectors increase. Some of the notable gains made towards achievement of MDGs in the country include; increased access to primary education where the enrolment increased from 5.9 million in 2002 to 8.6 million in 2008; increased retention rate from 62.8 per cent in 2002 to 81 percent in 2007; the number of children sleeping under insecticide treated net increased from 4.6% in 2003 to 46% in 2008 as a result of free distribution of mosquito nets by the government targeting children and pregnant women; there has been door to door spraying of mosquitoes. (5, 6)

Furthermore, the government exempted patients with TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS from payment under the policy on cost sharing; the university entrance cut off points for girls has been put at one point lower than that of boys and as part of the affirmative action to address the gender gap, the government is implementing a policy where at least 30% of all government appointments to go to women. (6)Despite these several achievements, it is clear that a large number of African and South-Asian countries may be unable to attain the MDG's targets set by 2015; especially in relation to elimination of extreme poverty with issues of child mortality and maternal health remaining as matters of great concern. (5)

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The implementation of the MDGs has been faced with a number of challenges including global financial and economic crises, the negative impact of the post election violence, prolonged drought in the last several years, inadequate financial resources to fund MDG sectors, cultural practices that hinder achievement of gender equality in education and employment, regional disparities in the attainment of the MDGs, conflict arising from volatile borders, climate change, slow technology transfer especially in food production from developed countries to developing countries and inability of developed countries to avail 0.7% of Gross National Income in financial resources for MDGs to developing countries as agreed in the Millennium Declaration. (6)

Corruption and breakdowns in governance have also been cited as major reasons why many countries are struggling to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Transparency International (TI) has been urging Governments, donors and non-governmental organisations to adopt anti-corruption measures in their action plans to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. (7)

Despite the difficulties and challenges, Kenya is in a unique and promising position following the recent introduction of a new Constitution that should provide guidance for good Governance. The Government of Kenya has already shown increased commitment and support to the implementation of MDGs. The President announced that the Government will allocate more resources to fund programmes that directly uplift the living standards of the people and accelerate the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Government has also proposed channelling 15 per cent of its budget to the counties, thus acting as a major boost towards the attainment of the goals. (5)

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CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Methodology

3.1 Research design

This study is a Quantitative survey that collected data through administration of a questionnaire.The use of a quantitative design was picked due to measurable variables.

3.2 Sampling

The study will use the Advanced Public Administration Course (APA) participants as its target population (N = 60). From this target population, a sample size of 30 respondents was identified using purposive method of sampling for convenience (n = 31). This target group was identified due to the role they play in their organisations in the implementation and achievement of MDGs as senior managers.

3.3 Validation of data collection Instrument

The questionnaire was piloted to the Senior Management Class participants and Course Coordinator who critiqued and gave input on the relevance, validity and responsiveness of the instrument. After the instrument was adjusted, it was then administered to the respondents.

3.4 Data collection

Primary data was required to address the research questions. A questionnaire was developed as the data collection instrument and was administered to the respondents. The respondents were given time to respond to all the questions and handed back the questionnaires to the researchers for analysis.

3.4 Data analysis and presentation

The primary data collected from the respondents was tallied to get the frequencies and analysed using the measures of central tendency (mean, mode, median etc).

The findings and results from the analysis were then presented in form of tables, graphs and charts using MS Excel for ease of interpretation.

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CHAPTER FOUR4.0 Key Findings

4.1 Response Rate

A total of 31 questionnaires were administered and all were returned hence the rate of response was 100%

4.2: Level of Management

The respondents were categorised into three levels of management as shown on figure 1 below Lower level of management Job group K and below were 4% Middle level management job group L were 77% Top level management job group M and above were 19 %

Figure 1: levels of management

From the figure 1above most of the respondents were in middle level managers.

4.2 Respondents by gender

The respondents were categorised by gender and they were 6% females and 94% males.

Figure 2: Respondents by gender

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4.3 Awareness of MDGs

All the respondents (100%) were aware of the MDGs

4.4 Source of information on MDGs

Most of the respondent indicated that they were aware of the MDGs through various sources which included the following as per the percentage scores.

Seminar/workshop: score 23% Media: score 31% Government circulars: score 27% Training: score 19% Others sources: nil

Figure 3: source of MDGs awareness

4.5 Sensitisation on MDGs

The respondent indicated that most of them had been sensitised on MDGs (65%) as represented in the figure 4 below.

Figure 4: Sensitisation on MDGs

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4.6: MDGs implemented by various organisation

The respondents indicated that various organisations are implementing activities leading to achieving the 8 MDGs in their areas of operations.

Table 2: Implementation of MDGs by various organisations From the table above, it was found that various organisations are implementing all the MDGs but the highest percentage of implementation was on Promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women.

4.7 MDGs achievement

Table 3: MDGs achievement

From table 3, it can be deduced that18 respondents (58%) indicated that the level of achievement of the MDGs is below 40%. While 13 respondents (42 %) indicated the level of achievement is between 41%-60% which is far below the expected levels.

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Category score %0 – 20% 5 16

21 – 40% 13 42

41 – 60% 13 42

61 – 80% Nil

81 – 100% Nil

Goal score %Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

24 77

Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education

21 68

Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women

27 87

Goal 4. Reduce child mortality 8 26Goal 5. Improve maternal health 7 23Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

24 77

Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability

24 77

Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development

17 55

4.8: Incorporation of MDGs in the organizational work plans

Scores %Reflected in work plans 27 87Not reflected in work plans 4 13Total 31 100

Table 4: Incorporation of MDGs in the organizational work plans

From the table above it was found that most of the organisations (87%) have incorporated activities leading to achievement of the MDGs in their work plans.

4.9: Support by management

Figure 5: Support by management

Majority of the respondents (90%) indicated that the Management was supporting the activities leading to achievement of the MDGs.

4.10: MDGs support by staff

Figure 6: MDGs Support by staff

From the figure 9 above it was found that majority of the staff (68%) were not supporting the activities leading to achievement of the MDGs while only 32 % were supportive.

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4.11: Challenges encountered by Public Service Officers

Table 5: Challenges encountered by Public Service Officers

From the table above, it was found that there were challenges impending achievement of MDGs. Lack of adequate financial resources, capacity building and corruption being the leading challenges.

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Challenges Score %Bureaucracy

19 61

Lack of adequate financial resources 29 94

Capacity building 27 87

Human resources 14 45

Donor conditionality 11 35

Political interference 15 48

Corruption 23 74

Poor Coordination 16 52

Others ( Tribalism, Nepotism, Poor remuneration, Cultural and Traditional practices

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CHAPTER FIVE5.0 ConclusionFrom the study conducted we can draw several conclusions on the implementation and achievements of MDGs. It was evident from the finding that the Government has commitment to the implementation of the MDGs. However, despite an 87% of the respondents reflecting that the MDGs are reflected in their organisations’ work plans, all of them felt that the achievement of the goals was less than 60%.

The findings of the study indicated that the best implemented goal was on promotion of gender equality and women empowerment (87%). This tremendous achievement may be related to the Government’s affirmative action on 30% inclusion of women in public and social appointments.The worst implemented goals were on decrease in child mortality (26%) and improvement of maternal health (23%). These goals are difficult to address since they are complex and multifaceted in nature and involve interplay of socio - cultural and economic factors.

Most of the respondents sourced their information on MDGs from the media and Government circulars (58%) as compared a meagre 16% from training. 35% of the respondents felt that they were not sensitised on MDGS in their institutions and this can be reflected by lack of staff support in implementation of MDGs (32%).

Several challenges were tested and greatest challenges perceived by the respondents include: Inadequate financial resources (94%) Capacity building (87%) Corruption (74%) Bureaucracy (60%) Poor coordination by the implementing agencies (52%)

These challenges can provide areas of high impact interventions.

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CHAPTER SIX6.0 RecommendationsHaving identified several gaps and potential areas of interventions towards improvement of implementation and achievement of MDGs, the following recommendations were proposed:

There is need to allocate more financial resources towards implementation of the MDGs There should be deliberate move to create awareness and training of staff in public institutions

on MDGs There should be collaboration between implementing agencies to facilitate better coordination

of MDGs implementation e.g. a centralised data base on MDGs related funding, deployment of MDG desk officers

Sensitization of public service officer and politicians to own the implementation at all levels to improve political goodwill

Involve communities in planning and implementation of projects that will impact on poverty reduction

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References

1. Kaufmann; Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will not be met unless governance improves. May 14, 2010 11

2. About MDGs; what are the Millennium Development Goals? UNDP 14

3. MDGs status report for Kenya; 2005. Government of Kenya 2

4. Coordinating and accelerating MDGs in Kenya’s development process; Transition Period for the completion of the project: Mainstreaming MDGs in Kenya’s Development Process (2005 – 2008), Jan-Dec, 2009. Government of Kenya 1

5. Kenya to allocate more resources to attain MDGs – Kibaki. News - Africa News 17TH September 2010

6. Remarks by Dr. Edward Sambili, Permanent Secretary Ministry of state for planning, national development, and vision 2030 during the MDGs stakeholders retreat on February 8th 2010, at Ole Sereni hotel, Nairobi 12

7. Megan Rowling; Corruption hampers progress on Millennium Development Goals – report. 17 Sep 2010

8. Timothy J. Downs, D.Env and Heidi J. Larson, PhD; Achieving Millennium Development Goals for Health: Building Understanding, Trust and Capacity to Respond. Published online 2007 March 30. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2007.02.008. 3

9. Paul Juma, Nation Media; Kenya lags in MDG goal- reportTuesday, September 14 2010 at 14:25 6

10. World federation of United Nations associations; “Achieving the MDGS in the Least Developed Countries: Challenges and Choices” 9

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AppendicesQuestionnaire

CHALLENGES FACING THE PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICERS IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

This survey is conducted as part fulfilment of the Senior Management Course at the Kenya Institute of

Administration (KIA). The aim of the study is to investigate the challenges faced by Public Officers in

the implementation and achievement of Millennium Development Goals. You are therefore kindly

requested to fill this questionnaire to facilitate the study of the subject.

The information obtained will be used strictly for academic purposes and will be treated with utmost

confidentiality.

A. General

Date …………………………………………………………...

Name (optional)………………………………………………..

Gender Male ………………………Female………………....

Position/rank…………………………………………………...

Institution……………………………………………………....

Job group……………………………………………………….

B. Please tick in the box where appropriate

1. At what level of management are you serving?

Lower level [ ] Middle level [ ] Top level [ ]

2. Are you aware of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

3. If you answered ‘yes’ in 2 above, how did you become aware of the MDGs? (You can tick more

than one box)

(a) Seminar/workshop [ ]

(b) Media [ ]

(c) Government circulars [ ]

(d) Training [ ]

(e) Others specify [ ]

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………………...............................

………………...............................

4. Have you ever been sensitized /trained on MDGs

Yes [ ] No [ ]

5. There are 8 MDGs, which ones are being implemented by your organization? (You can tick more

than one)

Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger [ ]

Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education [ ]

Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women [ ]

Goal 4. Reduce child mortality [ ]

Goal 5. Improve maternal health [ ]

Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases [ ]

Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability [ ]

Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development [ ]

6. In your view what is the status of achievement of MDGs in your organization?

a. 0 - 20 % [ ]

b. 21 - 40 % [ ]

c. 41 - 60 % [ ]

d. 61 - 80 % [ ]

e. 81 - 100 % [ ]

7. Do you think the MDGs are reflected in your Organisational work plan?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

8. In your opinion, does the management support implementation of MDGs in your organisation?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

9. In your opinion, do other employees in your organisation show commitment towards achieving

MDGs?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

10. What challenges do public officers encounter in the implementation of the MDGs strategies?

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a. Bureaucracy [ ]

b. Lack of adequate financial resources [ ]

c. Capacity building [ ]

d. Human resources [ ]

e. Donor conditionality [ ]

f. Political interference

g. Corruption [ ]

h. Poor Coordination [ ]

i. Others ……………………………………

…………………………………...

11. Suggest possible solutions that can improve or counter the above challenges

a. ………………………………………………….

b. ………………………………………………….

c. ……………………………………………………

d. ……………………………………………………

e. ……………………………………………………

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