SPARK: Kenya
SPARK (Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge) is an ambitious and innovative global program to arm marginalized groups and activists with the tools necessary to engage in budget processes and affect transformational change in their lives.
Through SPARK, IBP Kenya is focused on supporting collective citizen action for improved service delivery – specifically health services in Busia county and water services in Baringo county – through accountable and democratic budget processes.
The Problem
Our work in Kenya is set amid a context of devolution where constitutional reform has yet to be fully realized. As a result, there has been acute cash flow challenges that have left marginalized people in the counties with both poor services and an inequitable share of resources. Health and water services are among the key devolved functions that have been affected.
Health Services
Local dispensaries are the primary contact with the health system for most poor and marginalized individuals, but they remain under-resourced and without the requisite infrastructure to function effectively. Multiple funding channels from the national government, county governments and development partners have complicated the flow of funds, further affecting service provision.
Water Services
Although the provision for domestic water services falls within the purview of county governments, there are several aspects that remain the responsibility of the national government. Lack of coordination between the two levels of government has meant that water service has been disjointed, leaving county residents with little recourse to hold government accountable.