↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier →

CITIZEN VOICE & ACTION NETWORK KENYA

profile · synthesized from sources

Community Voice Alliance (CVA) is a nonprofit organization focused on accountability to affected populations, community engagement, and localization in humanitarian and development work. It implements programs in Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), gender equality, youth civic engagement, and governance, with an emphasis on community-led solutions, feedback mechanisms, and local capacity building. The organization operates primarily in Kenya, particularly in marginalized counties, and partners with local organizations to promote sustainable development.

named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
Implements feedback mechanisms, transparency practices, community-based monitoring, and participatory decision-making to ensure communities guide humanitarian and development interventions.
Gender Equality and Women Empowerment
Advances women’s leadership, economic empowerment, health, education, and safety through training, advocacy, and programs like “Women for Leadership” and menstrual hygiene management.
Localization Strategy
Builds capacity of local organizations, decentralizes decision-making, and strengthens local systems to ensure community-led development and sustainability.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
Improves access to clean water, builds sanitation infrastructure, and promotes hygiene education through community-managed systems and behavior change communication.
Youth Civic Engagement and Governance
Engages youth in governance through co-creation labs, digital accountability tools like the PesaCheck Youth Dashboard, and advocacy campaigns on electoral reform and anti-corruption.
activities · 12 groups

what they do

  • Local Governance & Service Delivery Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Community-Led Development and Engagement
      Develops and implements robust feedback mechanisms for communities, including hotlines and digital platforms, and promotes transparency by sharing project details. It implements community-based monitoring systems and participatory decision-making through workshops. The organization partners with local NGOs and community-based organizations, with communities leading the design and implementation of over 80% of development projects. It also provides training and capacity-building to community leaders on rights-based approaches, advocacy, and mobilization.
  • Community-Led Tree Planting & Environmental Stewardship 1 activity
    • Environmental Conservation
      Plants trees to combat desertification, with 30 trees planted in Nairobi and Garissa. The organization aims to plant over 100,000 trees by 2029.
  • Organizational Operations & Management Support 1 activity
    • Field Program Implementation and Coordination
      Leads and oversees the implementation of field activities, community engagement, and coordination with stakeholders at the county level in Garissa County. It also supports the planning, coordination, and monitoring of field-based programs and community outreach efforts in Mandera County.
  • Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response 1 activity
    • Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response
      Manages a "Safe Haven" initiative in high-risk areas, providing shelters, counseling, and legal support for survivors of gender-based violence. It also conducts a "Men for Equality" campaign to encourage men's participation in eliminating gender-based violence and promoting equitable relationships.
  • Strategic Partnership Development 1 activity
    • Partnership Building
      Forges new partnerships with NGOs and county governments.
  • Community-Led Peacebuilding & Conflict Mediation 1 activity
    • Peace Ambassador Training
      Aims to train 500 community peace ambassadors by 2029.
  • Smallholder Agricultural Support Services 1 activity
    • Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
      Promotes sustainable agricultural practices, improves access to resources, and creates resilient livelihoods to address food insecurity. This includes supporting farmers in adopting climate-resilient crops, water-efficient irrigation systems, and crop and livestock diversification, which has led to increased productivity and reduced vulnerability to food shortages. The organization aims to promote climate-smart agriculture for 5,000 smallholder farmers by 2029.
  • Policy-Oriented Research & Publications 1 activity
    • Research and Knowledge Sharing
      Produces research reports focused on youth inclusion and development, including the Greater Inclusion Of African Youth Report (2020), GISEDP Main Report (2023), and KISEDP Reports (2023). It also leads evidence-based research, data analysis, and knowledge-sharing strategies to inform programming and advocacy, and produces and shares reports, toolkits, policy briefs, and learning materials to support sustainable development.
  • Clean Water Infrastructure Development 1 activity
    • Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Programs
      Invests in the construction and rehabilitation of water supply systems, including boreholes, piped water networks, and rainwater harvesting systems. It also builds and improves latrines, septic tanks, and public toilets, supports efficient waste management practices, and initiatives to create Open Defecation-Free (ODF) communities. The organization conducts handwashing campaigns and uses various communication methods to promote hygienic behaviors. It aims to construct over 50 boreholes in arid regions by 2029.
  • Women's Leadership & Empowerment Programs 1 activity
    • Women and Girls Empowerment
      Operates a "Women for Leadership" program to mobilize women for leadership roles and a "SheTrades" program to provide women with resources and skills for entrepreneurship. It also implements a "Girls Lead" program offering education and mentorship in leadership, health services, and gender-responsive curricula. The organization aims to provide skills training and mentorship to over 10,000 women by 2029.
  • Interactive Media for Civic Engagement 1 activity
    • Youth Governance and Civic Engagement
      Operates Kenya's first youth-led online governance platform, reaching over 200,000 users. The organization trains youth in governance, leadership, and advocacy, and conducts governance bootcamps for future leaders. It also supports youth in monitoring county budgets and tracking pending bills through tools like the "PesaCheck Youth Dashboard." The organization aims to train over 15,000 youth in leadership and civic engagement and establish youth governance hubs in all operational counties by 2029.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Advocacy for Good Governance and Accountability
      Conducts youth-led social audits that have resulted in the recovery of misappropriated public funds. The organization also participates in peace dialogues in conflict-prone regions to support crime and violence reduction and leads initiatives that promote access to justice and good governance for marginalized communities.
    • Internal Policy Development
      Develops and publishes internal policy documents on gender equality, whistleblower reporting, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, child and vulnerable person protection, financial integrity, and data privacy.
relationships · 6

who they work with

  • African Union Network — References and aligns with the African Youth Charter and Agenda 2063 developed by the African Union.
  • Community Voice Alliance Partner — Organization implementing food security and livelihood programs in East Africa and across Africa.
  • NGOs Partner — Collaborates with NGOs on community development initiatives.
  • PesaCheck Partner — Collaborated with CVA to develop the Youth Dashboard for monitoring county budgets and generating advocacy reports in Garissa and Wajir counties.
  • United Nations Network — References and aligns with UN frameworks including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the UN Youth Strategy "Youth 2030".
  • county governments Partner — Partners with county governments to implement programs on governance, peace, and sustainable development.