(2004/C 88 E/0451)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2972/03

by Bill Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 October 2003)

Subject:   EU funding in Kenya

Where have EU funds given to Kenya, particularly to the Gitaru Sub-location, gone and how are they tracked? What mechanisms exist to monitor the dispersal of these funds? If no such mechanism exists, could the Commission explain why this is the case? Furthermore, is the Commission able to provide information on the source of funding for places in secondary education for children in Kenya and the Gitaru Sub-location?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2003)

The basis of cooperation between the Community and Kenya is the Country Strategy Paper (CSP), which includes an indicative programme. The CSP has been negotiated with the Government of Kenya in support of sectoral and macroeconomic policies. The 9th European Development Fund (EDF) Country Strategy Programme approved by the Commission on 16 September 2003 (EUR 215 million of programmable aid for the period 2003-2007) mainly focuses on general budget support, rural development and road transport. Education is not a focal sector for Community co-operation. A copy of the CSP is forwarded directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

All actions financed by the Community are subject to detailed appraisal to establish clearly identified objectives, beneficiaries and results to be achieved by a set of activities. They also have monitoring schemes adapted to the different activities, providing regular operational and financial information. This may also include external monitoring. Furthermore, Community programmes are, in general, subject to mid-term and end of term evaluations in order to learn lessons and improve performance.

On the financial side, increasing use is being made of regular external audits to confirm that funds have been utilised correctly. The Finance and Contract section of the Delegation in Kenya (deconcentrated since April 2002) also carries out its own controls on the use of funds.

Whilst education is not a focal sector for Community support in Kenya, assistance to a certain number of individual schools has been provided under the Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF), which aims to support self help programmes. A list of secondary schools supported by CDTF is being sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. The CDTF has not supported any projects in Gitaru sub-location to date.