Poverty Eradication Network (PEN) for the last four years has been leading a collaborative initiative involving more than 20 CSO networks and capacity building organisations in Kenya which has led to the development of a set of long-term aspiration standards, a Code of Practice and a Self Assessment/Enhancement tool for Kenyan CSOs. The standards are organised under the following groups: legal and statutory requirements; identity; governance; culture and leadership; management; systems and policies; resource mobilization and resource utilization; work planning and programming; partnerships and external relations. The standards are complete and a new and independent certification body, “Viwango,” has been established by representative organisations engaged in this process. “Viwango” is the Kiswahili version of the word “Standards”. PEN has provided the secretariat support to this important initiative.
A discussion during the process of making Viwango Strategic Plan, 3rd and 4th September 2010
Viwango is here with us
With the leadership of Poverty Eradication Network (PEN), a group of like minded organizations have formed, Viwango. This new organization is as a result of over four years work by leading Kenyan CSOs working in collaboration with many civil society networks.
The size and complexity of the Civil Society Sector in Kenya is changing at a fast rate. The proposed new legislative and regulatory environment for CSOs in Kenya is expected to bring on greater demands for better governance and accountability within the sector. The government, development partners and the general public will demand, and deserve, increased transparency in the workings of CSOs.
All stakeholders expect CSOs to be properly managed and governed by an effective board to best practice standards. The provision of standards and certification mechanism to the civil society sector by Viwango is one of the many ways of encouraging CSOs to adopt best practice in corporate governance. Viwango will be reaching out to all the stakeholders as it prepares to launch it products and services to the sector.
The organization will be responsible for driving a new agenda for professionalism and integrity within the civil society in Kenya. It will also promote adherence by CSOs to generally acceptable ethical standards and operational norms. It will set principles and standards of conduct for responsible practice, to protect the credibility and integrity of Civil Society Sector in Kenya.
