They are all linked by a common aim to acquire, share and utilise information
The objective of advocacy work is to facilitate well-informed dialogue among key policy makers in the private and public sectors, as well as civil society. This fosters an enabling environment conducive for low-income shelter development.
To this end, Shelter Forum has played a leading role in influencing policy on various issues such as the revision of the building codes and by-laws in Kenya. The revised laws emphasize use of inexpensive local building materials and techniques for low cost housing. These were gazetted in July 1995 and are now known as code 95. The Forum has subsequently, been involved in disseminating these revised building by-laws and standards. It has also been involved in the revision of the National Housing Policy for Kenya.
Shelter Forum is an active participant in the Nairobi Informal Settlements Co-ordination Committee (NISCC). It has led to the official adoption of the Nairobi Informal Settlements Strategy by the City Council and the Provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of Nairobi. Significant adoption of this strategy, was the policy-makers decision to officially recognise the informal settlements and above all, the pronouncement of a declaration of moratorium on evictions.
Currently, SF is actively involved in the proposed Government of Kenya/United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (GoK/UNCHS) Slum Upgrading Programme. It is the co-ordinator of the NGO Stakeholder Group and is also a member of the Joint Planning Steering Committee. SF, together with the Department of Housing, co-chairs the Policy Reform caucus of the slum upgrading initiative.
Participation and membership in these fora have been strategic for Shelter Forum. It has been possible to influence policy decisions on informal settlements and on upgrading. Through these channels, SF has been able to facilitae grassroots groups into participating in both the NISCC and the GoK/UNCHS slum upgrading initiative. The grassroots groups have, as a result, been able to articulate their own concerns to policy makers.
Shelter Forum is a member of the steering committee of the Basic Rights Campaign. This is an advocacy initiative that seeks for the expansion of the bill of rights within the Kenyan constitution to recognize basic rights (rights to shelter, education, information, health, food, water, land and employment) and group rights (rights for people with disabilities, women, minorities, children and youths.) The campaign's standpoint is that constitutional and legal infrastructure is fundamental for meaningful poverty reduction measures. Shelter Forum is among the twelve civil society organizations of the campaign where each member represents unique sectoral interests. ActionAid-Kenya plays host to the campaign. The campaign has partnership with other institutions such as the Office of the President, the Attorney General's Office, the Poverty Eradication Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The campaign has also initiated a process of building partnerships with local communities through an on-going research and training project entitled 'Communities participation in basic rights in Kenya.'
Extension involves the provision of specialized support to those who are comparatively disadvantaged through low capacity, inexperience or lack of resources or exposure. A key activity within Shelter Forum is its involvemet in organizing and sponsoring exchange visits between community members who are active in promoting innovative approaches to shelter development and improvement.
Over the past four years the Technical Enquiry Service of Shelter Forum has recorded an increase in technical enquiries directly from grassroots organisations and training institutions working with community groups. These come largely in the form of letters and, in a few cases, from workshops and exchange visits.
The Forum has organized successful exchange visits for members both locally and internationally whereby members were,as a result, enriched by experiences from different areas of the country and the world. For instance some CBO groups from Nairobi visited Voi where they learnt about the Community Land Trust Scheme. As a result, some of the groups from Huruma Redeemed and Kibera villages in Nairobi are now in the process of addressing security of tenure issues.
Research involves the collation of relevant data, critical analysis of local problems, in search of appropriate shelter solutions which support positive policies leading to action that benefits maginalised groups.
In the past, the Forum has conducted research on fundamental shelter issues so as to facilitate dialogue with policy makers in the public and private sectors. Key research carried out includes:
The Press and Land in Kenya
Land allocation procedures in Kenya
Shelter Initiatives in Kenya
Housing Conditions of women and children in Kenya
Networking promotes inter-connectivity and free flow of information. This facilitates information sharing and exchange of experiences and lessons on appropriate technology and other shelter solutions (e.g. policy, finance and secure tenure) at the local, national and international fora. Information is disseminated through various channels (mass media, newsletters, brochures, posters, workshops, drama, etc).
The Forum has strong links with like minded networks such as the Building Advisory Service Information Network (BASIN) and the Regional Appropriate Technology Information Service (RATIS). Shelter Forum also serves as the East Africa Region for Africaucus, the network of African NGOs implementing the Habitat Agenda. Since June 2001, is the continental secretariat for this network.
It is also the co-ordinator of the Kenyan NGOs Coalition on Urban Land Rights Campaign. This is a grouping of Nairobi-based NGOs who are campaigning for the recognition of land rights for residents of informal settlements in the city.
Shelter Forum is an active participant in the Nairobi Informal Settlements Co-ordination Committee (NISCC). It has led to the official adoption of the Nairobi Informal Settlements Strategy by the City Council and the Provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of Nairobi. Significant adoption of this strategy, was the policy-makers decision to officially recognise the informal settlements and above all, the pronouncement of a declaration of moratorium on evictions.
Extension involves the provision of specialized support to those who are comparatively disadvantaged through low capacity, inexperience or lack of resources or exposure. A key activity within Shelter Forum is its involvemet in organizing and sponsoring exchange visits between community members who are active in promoting innovative approaches to shelter development and improvement.
