By HelpAge International
A senior government delegation of the Republic of Sudan is in Kenya on a five-day visit starting Monday, March 20th to learn about Kenya’s programmes and policies on the older persons and social protection.
Led by H.E. Ibrahim Adam Ibrahim Mohamed, the State Minister of Ministry of Social Security and Welfare, Republic of the Sudan, the visiting delegation will get the opportunity to also share their country’s experiences with their Kenyan counterparts.
Speaking about the visit, Dr. Prafulla Mishra, Regional Director, HelpAge International said one of the key approaches HelpAge has adopted in its work is to promote this kind of exchanges among governments so that they can share experiences and learn from each other.
“Many governments in the region are showing interest to ensure older persons’ needs and vulnerabilities are addressed,” said Dr. Prafulla. He added that this is attested by the recent decision by the African Heads of State and Governments to adopt the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa during the AU Summit held in Addis Ababa in January 2016.
“We are seeing a lot of interest by the Government of the Republic of Sudan to implement social protection programmes for the older persons, and we feel at this juncture that they could come and learn from the Kenya’s experiences in relevant policy making and implementing cash transfer programmes”, agrees Dialogue Kubvoruno, Country Director, HelpAge International Sudan.
The delegation which also includes Dr. Rida Ali Saeed, Director General, Directorate of Social Programmes, Ministry of Welfare and Social Programmes and Mrs. Safaa Elamin Ahmed, the Coordinator, Old Age programmes under the same ministry will further learn how the government supports the older persons through various Government policies, cash transfers as well as the operations of the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP), implemented by the ministry of Labour and Social Services and the Ministry of Planning and Devolution. HelpAge International is one of the partners in the joint DFID-Kenya Government funded HSNP.
The Sudan delegation will also have time to share experiences and learn from various National Social Protection (SP) and Safety Net Programme stakeholders in the country.
Currently the Government of Sudan is also discussing the policy of older person and is well on its way to enact an Act for older persons’ rights which is only awaiting the endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the government.
The exchange visit, organized by the HelpAge International Sudan and Kenya offices will involve one-to-one meetings, interviews and dialogue with the key stakeholders including beneficiaries from Murang’a and Turkana counties, Rights Committees from Turkana County, Kenya Government Officials and staff of HelpAge International.
HelpAge has contributed to the development of Kenya’s national policy for older persons and ageing in 2009. In 2014, HelpAge also assisted the government in revising the policy to align it with the constitution of Kenya 2010.
