Our Strategic Plan
2022-26
For 20 years we have talked about Raising Futures Kenya (formerly Vision Africa) as being one organisation. The reality is we are two organisations working in close partnership. a Charity Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in the UK, and a registered Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Kenya. We’re both called Raising Futures Kenya and we’re both working towards the same vision and mission. We just have very different roles to play in achieving those goals. From the UK our primary function is to fundraise, and from Kenya the primary function is to deliver the programmes.
We recognise the power imbalance between charities and NGOs in the Global North, who historically have more access to funding and grants, versus the charities and NGOs in the Global South who are working in the communities and delivering the projects where the need is. We are proudly committed to ensuring our partner NGO in Kenya, who directly works alongside the young people we support and delivers the programmes, increasingly takes on the strategic decision making power to work autonomously, and increasingly accesses funding directly. Working towards delivering the most effective and efficient programmes which are needed most in their communities.
To continue this work we have developed individual strategic plans for the first time. Raising Futures Kenya in the UK has its own strategic plan, outlined below. And Raising Futures Kenya NGO in Kenya has their own, focussed on programme delivery and diversifying their income.
Strategic Themes for Raising Futures Kenya in the UK
Underpinning all of our work over the next 5 years will be the following themes:
Do good, be better
Learn from the Shift the Power movement and embed it throughout our organisation. Embed a culture of reflection and respond to changes in society. Actively reflecting on our own actions, admitting to failure, looking for opportunities to learn, to act, to be better, to share and to ensure no one is left behind and everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
Sustainability
This theme cuts across all of our work, from; increasing the sustainability of our programmes in Kenya, increasing the sustainability of our income through income generating activities, increasing the long-term sustainability for young people and communities who are benefiting from training and skills development at Seed of Hope and increasing self-reliance and using environmentally sustainable working practices wherever possible.
Wellbeing and thriving
Our Seed of Hope programme centres on the wellbeing of students, ensuring they are in the best position to be able to thrive. We will ensure this is extended to all staff, volunteers and anyone working with Raising Futures Kenya. We will advocate for wellbeing in the sector.
We consider the whole person in our work. Sustainable development isn’t simple, solutions are often complex and unique to each individual. We work closely alongside children, young people and families to ensure they have all the support they need to break the cycle of poverty and inequality.
Our Future UK Vision
“Ultimately we don’t want to exist in the UK” – Kirsty Erridge, CEO
In 15 years we would like Raising Future Kenya’s (UK and Kenya) unique evidence based approach to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to be integrated into Government, NGO and private TVET provision across Kenya – creating better outcomes for young people engaging in TVET.
In 15 years we would like RFK UK to be an influential voice in the UK development sector, advocating for localisation of development work and funding.
Our ultimate long term goal is for there to be no need for a UK Raising Futures Kenya. We want RFK in Kenya to be fully autonomous and donors and funders happy to fund them directly. We realise this requires a big shift in the UK/Global North funding sector so we are committed to being here for as long as our partner NGO needs us, and the support we offer will be led by their needs and requests.
UK Strategic Outcomes 2022-26
Guiding our work over the next 5 years will be the following 3 outcomes:
- Outcome 1 – Raising Futures Kenya has an evidence based, independently reviewed and replicable model for holistic Technical and Vocational Education and Training provision in Kenya.
- Outcome 2 – Facilitate Raising Futures Kenya NGO in Kenya to become the lead partner.
- Outcome 3 – Raising Futures Kenya in the UK have diversified our income sources and reduced RFK Kenya’s reliance on our/overseas funding.
To view our full UK Strategic Plan 2022-26.
If you have any questions about our Strategic Plan, or would like to find out more, please do not hesitate to contact our CEO, Kirsty Erridge, kirsty@raisingfutureskenya.org.uk or our Chair, Andy King, andy@raisingfutureskenya.org.uk