LOKICHAR — The Turkana County Government has officially initiated the development of a Resource Mobilization Strategic Framework (RMSF). Led by the Department of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, this initiative aims to create a coordinated system for identifying funding opportunities, strengthening partner engagement, and bridging persistent resource gaps across the county’s economic and humanitarian priorities.
The Sustainable Development Through Improved Local Government (SDLG/VNGI) program is actively supporting the development process. SDLG/VNGI representative Isaiah Lomorkai Ekai commended the county’s initiative, emphasizing that a structured system is essential to identify high-priority investment areas, streamline donor engagement, and ensure resources directly benefit local communities.
The drafting process kicked off during a multi-stakeholder workshop at the Riamakori Hotel in Lokichar. Key organizations participating in the process include SDLG/VNGI, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Turkana University, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO).
Deputy Director for Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Coordination, Michael Aupe, highlighted that the RMSF will establish targeted thematic areas and formalize donor collaboration. Key components embedded into the framework include donor mapping, project pipeline development, structured results reporting, and ongoing capacity building for county personnel.
Upon completion, Turkana will become the third county in Kenya following Nairobi and West Pokot to establish a dedicated Resource Mobilization Framework. Aupe noted that the roadmap will eliminate duplicate development interventions and maximize project impact. Supporting this vision, Deputy Director of Youth Affairs Ekidor Linus Namoe highlighted the role of the Ushirika Plan, which maps and categorizes partners by their specific areas of development interest to streamline coordination.
Consultants from Turkana University, Dr. Obura Collins and Dr. Koross Benjamin, presented the situational analysis, roadmap, and seed budget allocation strategy required for implementation. Chief Statistics Officer Julius Ekal emphasized that the framework will align directly with the Third County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP III), noting that accurate assessments of existing funding gaps and the growth of Own Source Revenue (OSR) remain vital to sustainable internal resource mobilization.
Civil society representatives urged the county to embed key social issues directly into the final framework. Geoffrey Esibtar, representing the Girl Child Network, advocated for prioritizing girl-child education specifically Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) alongside structured policy interventions to eliminate early marriages.
The Lokichar consultative meeting marks the start of an overarching roadmap designed to provide Turkana County with a transparent, efficient mechanism for securing and managing local and international funding.
