Assessment of Collaboration Dynamics among Civil Society Organizations’ in Environmental Management at Siakago Division, Mbeere District, Kenya
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Date
2013-11-08
Authors
Kithumbu, Josphat Muriuki
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Abstract
This study was done at Siakago Division, Mbeere district, Kenya, a typical semi arid agroecosystem,
where many civil society organisations have heavy investments in community
development, yet land degradation and poverty levels remain high. As such the aim of the
study was to assess collaboration dynamics among these civil society organizations in
environmental management and suggest ways of maximizing on effective collaborations for
sustainable community development. A survey research design was used for this study. Both
quantitative and qualitative methods were employed for data collection. Being a survey, indepth
content analysis formed a major aspect in data interpretation. Results of the study
showed that lack of effective collaboration and partnerships amongst the development actors
is a key hindrance to environmental management at Siakago. In particular, unilateral
approaches in decision-making and implementation of action plans contrary to the multidimensional
nature of environmental degradation and community livelihoods, remains a key
obstacle to sustainable development. Siakago Division has a fragmented civil society sector
With 403 civil society organizations; each working at cross-purposes besides being
handicapped by budgetary constraints. As many as 85% of the sampled CSOs are involved in
environmental issues notably agroforestry and soil and water management.As such most
collaborations in this division revolved around this areas. Over 66% of these CSOs are
involved in some form of collaboration notably tripartite and bilateral collaborations. These
collaborations have four distinct characteristics namely: coverage, form, mode and motivation
Coveragerefers to the extensiveness of collaboration in terms of its functional competencies
and geographical area.Since majority of CSOs are the grassroot organizations, their
collaborations are confined to shared activities on single environmental themes,such as
agroforestry. The most notable forms of collaborations in Siakago are the tripartite because
they gurantee maximum participation. Further, they lack formal specifications and are often
initiated by at?-opinion leader targeting a felt need instead of developing spontaneously. When
collaborations develop spontaneously,they enhance maximum participation of partners and
hence the objectives of a collaboration are met. The effectiveness of collaborations in this area
was hindered mainly by both human factors and intra-policy differences such as clannism
(83%), high illiteracy levels (91%), unfavourable policies (80%) and weak governance
systems (80%). Since Siakago has many grassroot organizatins working at cross purposes,it
recommended that tripartite and multi-lateral collaborations be adopted to ensure that as many
CSOs as possible participate. Organizations working in different thematic areas need to be
encouraged to collaborate. This will enhance exchange of information not only on one another
but also on the environment.Since collaborations are influenced by changing variables such as
illiteracy and governance systems,stakeholders need to be dynamic and open to explore many
potencially viable options.Akey requirement in this endeavour is access to relevant
information not only on each other but also on environmental management.Conflict resolution
measures need to be adopted to solve the clan conflict in the area.In addition,capacities of the
community members need to be built to enable the collaborators cope with the myriad factors
that tend to inhibit collaboration initiatives.
Description
Department of Environmental Planning and Management,2007