CediA-Utawala is a partnership of the Community Economic Development Institute of Africa (CediA) and the Utawala Applied Research Institute whose purpose is to provide customized strategic support to county governments and donors, investors, NGO’s and other entities working at the sub-national level in Kenya. We are engaged in participatory data collection and analytics, policy analysis, program/project development and other areas of applied research related to community economic development and devolved governance.

 

In the year 2014 CediA-Utawala collaborated with the Transition Authority, the Office of the Controller of Budget, the Commission of Revenue Allocation and the Council of Governors in a Partnership Consortium which was initiated through the Kenya Governors Strategic Execution Support (KEGOSES) Project funded by the Ford Foundation. The aim of the KEGOSES Project was to give strategic execution support to governors and county governments by providing customized services such as hands-on budget and public participation training within the context of a community-based approach to economic development at the sub-national level.

 

CediA-Utawala has capacities in multiple areas including:

• Comprehensive data survey collection and GIS mapping of infrastructure and county indicators and facilities (more than 200 indicators and sub-indicators to choose from);

• Continuous access to up-to-date data, information, and research results relevant to county jurisdictions and responsibilities;

• Ongoing advice and support for resource mobilization and utilization;

• Engaging potential donors, investors and collaborators on mutually acceptable and favorable terms in accordance with priorities established by the Counties themselves.

 

CediA-Utawala employs nine (9) permanent members of staff as research associates, all of whom are graduates of Kenya Universities, with sectoral specializations in agriculture, health, water and sanitation, education, fisheries, natural resources, forestry, livestock, finance/economics, statistics, trade, etc. Of the nine (9) researchers, two have post-graduate degrees and two are enrolled in post-graduate courses. In addition we employ six (6) research interns and a part-time accountant. All our research associates are university graduates. If they are not pursuing post-graduate studies we encourage and help them to enroll for further studies while they are working with us.

 

For more information, go to www.utawalaafrica.org