On 21st March 2023, key Go Blue Kenya stakeholders came together for the 2nd Go Blue Kenya Steering Committee meeting. The Steering Committee meeting was to undertake a comprehensive review of the project's achievements at mid-term and to draw valuable lessons for the inclusion of best practices into the County and national government planning frameworks; Scaled up into national and county governments' operational budgets and inform the design of other project/programs.
The steering committee functions include; serving as the apex governing body and decision-making organ overseeing the project's direction, progress, and strategic decisions; Providing guidance and strategic direction on activity implementation; Assessing the program's progress, monitoring the achievement of targets and milestones, and recommend joint corrective actions where necessary; To facilitate effective communication and coordination among implementing partners, county governments, national government departments, and other partners, promoting collaboration and synergy and Conduct lessons learned and recommend their scale-up and their inclusion.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Fisheries Service KEFS, KENYA MARITIME AUTHORITY, Bandari Maritime Academy, Kwale County Government, County Government of Mombasa, Taita Taveta County Government, County Government of Kilifi, Tana River County Government, Lamu County Government, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation - Nairobi Office Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Camões - Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, I.P. UN Environment Programme UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) Expertise France European Union Jumuiya Ya Kaunti Za Pwani.
Membership of the steering committee
The Steering Committee comprises of high-level officials from participating national state departments responsible for some aspects of the project and the six coastal county governments, implementing partners institutions (AICS, GIZ, CANOES, UN-Habitat and UN Environment, and Expertise France) and the EU as the donor who acts as an observer.
Steering Committee Chairmanship
In the spirit of collaboration and cooperation between the national and county government, as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, the steering committee is co-chaired by HE Salim Mvurya, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, and H.E. Issa Timamy, the Governor of Lamu County and Chairman, Council of Governors Blue Economy Committee.
Members
Members are drawn from participating national and county government departments, the implementing partners, and the European Union
National Government
Principal Secretary, State Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture, Blue Economy
Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Principal Secretary, State Department of Tourism
Principal Secretary, State Department, Vocational & Technical Training.
Secretary, the Oceans and Blue Economy Office, Presidents Office
JKP County Governments
County Executive Committee members responsible for Fisheries, Blue Economy, Livestock and Cooperatives Development, Lamu County
County Executive Committee members responsible for Blue Economy, Agriculture and Livestock, Mombasa County
County Executive Committee members responsible for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Kwale County
County Executive Committee members responsible for Agriculture, Livestock Development and Blue Economy, Kilifi County
County Executive Committee members responsible for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Irrigation, Taita Taveta County
County Executive Committee members responsible for Lands, Physical Planning, Agriculture, Co-operative Development, Fisheries, Livestock and Veterinary Services, Tana River County
Go Blue Implementing Partners
These represent the implementing partners for the project namely AICS, GIZ, CAMOES, UN-Habitat and UN Environment and Expertise France
Regional Director for Africa, UN-Habitat
Head of Marine and Freshwater Branch, UNEP
H.E. The ambassador of Portugal to Kenya
Head of Cooperation, AICS Nairobi
Head of Division - Global Threats, France
European Union
The Head of Cooperation
Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani
The Chief Executive Officer
The Technical Advisor
Terms of Reference (ToR) for Steering Committee Members
1. To provide guidance and strategic direction to the Go Blue programme activity implementation.
2. To approve decisions
3. To monitor and assess the program's progress, monitor the achievement of targets and milestones, and recommend joint corrective actions where necessary.
4. To facilitate effective communication and coordination among implementing partners, county governments, and national government departments, promoting collaboration and synergy.
5. To report to national and county stakeholder on program achievements, challenges, and recommendations on smooth implementation of programme activities.
6. To define the communication channels and mechanisms for sharing information among steering committee members and other stakeholders like the media fraternity, encourage active participation, engagement, and collaboration among all members.