SPEECH BY NCPD BOARD CHAIRMAN, GEN. (RTD.) DR. JULIUS W. KARANGI, EGH, CBS, DCO, LOM ON OCCASION OF THE LAUNCH OF NCPD STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-2027 HELD ON 27th MARCH, 2024 AT KENYA SCHOOL OF MONETARY STUDIES, RUARAKA NAIROBI
SPEECH BY NCPD BOARD CHAIRMAN, GEN. (RTD.) DR. JULIUS W. KARANGI, EGH, CBS, DCO, LOM ON OCCASION OF THE LAUNCH OF NCPD STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-2027 HELD ON 27th MARCH, 2024 AT KENYA SCHOOL OF MONETARY STUDIES, RUARAKA NAIROBI
The PS State Department of Economic Planning, Mr. James Muhati, CBS
Director General of NCPD, Dr. Mohamed A. Sheikh
Representatives from Government Ministries, Departments & Agencies;
Development Partners and Stakeholders;
Members of the 4th Estate;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you today to this important occasion as we launch and disseminate NCPD Strategic Plan 2023-2027. As the Government Agency responsible for coordinating implementation of population policy and programmes, the National Council for Population and Development is mandated, through the Gazette Notice No. 120 of 2004, to; provide leadership and advise on Population matters in the country through; population programme coordination, research, advocacy and public education, and technical assistance on population and development issues. All these functions are pivotal to improving the well-being of Kenyans.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
NCPD has been executing its mandate by undertaking a number of activities that include: analyzing multi-sector population issues and developing policies relating to population; assessing and tracking the impact of population programmes; advocating for political and other support for population programmes; and, improving information base and knowledge on the three population dynamics of change namely; fertility, mortality and migration.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The NCPD Strategic Plan 2023-2027 provides the first phase of implementation of Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2023 on Kenya National Population Policy for Sustainable Development. This Strategic Plan was developed in a consultative and participatory approach in line with the Council’s core values, using guidelines from the State Department for Economic Planning. It is therefore a culmination of extensive consultation, collaboration and incorporation of feedback from both internal and external stakeholders. This approach will re-focus the Council’s mandate to contribute towards the achievement of the first five-year targets of Kenya National Population Policy for Sustainable Development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To ensure that this Plan re-orients the strategic direction of NCPD, it has been aligned to global and regional frameworks such as; the UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals, the ICPD25 Kenya Country Commitments, African Agenda 2063, EAC Vision 2050, African Demographic Dividend roadmap, and Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development, among other key development frameworks.
This Strategic Plan will also serve as a results-based management tool for good corporate governance, institutional efficiency and effective delivery of services. It has identified and prioritized programmes, projects and activities that are in tandem with the Council’s mandate and are essential in contributing to the implementation of the Fourth Medium Term Plan of the Kenya Vision 2030, the Government Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and regional and international frameworks
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With a vision of: “A well managed population for a prosperous Kenya”, this Strategic Plan has identified four Key Result Areas to guide the Council in contributing to the realization of population and development goals. These Key Result Areas are: Population Policy and Programme Implementation; Population Research and Analysis; Population Advocacy and Public Education; and Institutional Strengthening. The goal of the Plan is to guide NCPD in its quest to reposition itself as a leader in population policy formulation, its implementation and programming for sustainable development.
Ladies and Gentlemen
As we celebrate this milestone of launching NCPD Strategic Plan, I wish to state that the Council has faced a number of challenges in the past in its effort to coordinate implementation of the population programme in Kenya. These challenges range from: a weak legal framework that hampers effective coordination of population programme activities; and inadequate staff and low geographical presence that has limited visibility in all the 47 counties. Furthermore, despite having qualified, competent and dedicated staff, the Council faced challenges of inadequate resources that hindered implementation of planned population and development programme activities.
To address these challenges and enhance institutional capacity to deliver on NCPD mandate, the following will be pursued during the Plan period. Priority will be given to completing the process of enacting NCPD under an Act of Parliament. So far, a Bill to establish the Council under an Act of Parliament has been approved by cabinet and submitted to Parliament. In addition, the Council has a new organizational structure and staff establishment that will be implemented within the planning period in a phased approach. The financial resource gaps will be addressed through implementation of the Council’s resource mobilization strategy.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Population issues are dynamic and are implemented in a multi-sectoral approach. My appeal to all our partners is to join NCPD in the implementation of this Sstrategic plan.
THANK YOU ALL
