Elder Care


The Elder Care

By Child And Elder Care Foundation

  1. Executive Summary

The Child And Elder Care Foundation Seeks To Create A Sustainable Financing Mechanism That Addresses The Growing Care Needs Of Vulnerable Children And Elderly Persons. By Mobilizing Resources And Supporting Critical Interventions Both Governments Led And Independently Run By The Organization In Partnership With Private Care Giving Partner. The Foundation Aims To Promote Dignity, Protection, And Well being For These Groups, While Empowering Caregivers And Communities. This Proposal Outlines The Purpose, Structure, And Functions Of The Fund And Calls For Partnership Among Government, Private Sector, Development Agencies, And Civil Society.

  1. Background And Rationale The Care Burden For Children, Elderly Persons, And Persons With Disabilities Remains A Significant Challenge, Particularly In Low-Resource Settings In Kenya, Currently The Government Has Put In Place Various Interventions Like Inua Jamii Senior Citizens’ Scheme, Which Provides A Bi-Monthly Stipend To Those Aged 70 And Above Not Receiving A Pension
  2. The Older Persons Cash Transfer (OPCT) Program Targets Vulnerable Older Individuals, Initially A Pilot Program Targeting Households With Individuals Aged 65 And Above, It Has Evolved Into A Program Providing Individual Benefits To Those 70 And Older Who Are Not On A Pension Other Social Protection Initiatives.
  3. The Government Is Currently Working On Expanding The OPCT Program To Include Those Aged 60 And Above. There Are Also Efforts to Develop A Comprehensive Older Persons Bill To Address The Needs Of Older People.
  • The Government Recognizes The Challenges Faced By Older People, Including Limited Access To Healthcare, Economic Disparities, And Ageism,On Legal Framework,The Constitution Of Kenya, Specifically Article 57, Mandates The State To Protect And Support Older Persons, Ensuring Their Participation, Personal Development, Dignity, And Freedom From Abuse.
  1. The Constitution Of Kenya, Specifically Article 57, Mandates The State To Protect And Support Older Persons, Ensuring Their Participation, Personal Development, Dignity, And Freedom From Abuse.
  2. The Government Is Promoting Entrepreneurship Among Older Persons Through Initiatives Like The Hustler Fund And Women Enterprise Fund.

The Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Act, 2013 (Though Not Yet Fully Implemented) Is The Legislation In Kenya That Aims To Foster Partnerships Between The Government And Civil Society Organizations (Csos) To Address The Financial Gap And Improve Public Service Delivery-this Is To Ensure That The Vulnerable Populations Often Face Neglect, Abuse, Inadequate Access To Essential Services, And Limited Protection Mechanisms.

Child And Elder Care Foundation  Has Sought A Collaboration With The State Department For Labour  And Skills Development And The State Department Of Social Protection And Senior Citizen Affairs To Address The Existing Care Systems That Are Fragmented, Underfunded, And Highly Dependent On Unpaid Or Informal Care Providers, Most Of Whom Lack Training And Support. There Is A Pressing Need For A Coordinated, Well-Resourced Approach To:

  • Strengthen Care Systems
  • Provide Quality Services
  • Support Caregivers
  • Enhance Legal Protections
  • Respond To Emergencies Affecting Vulnerable Groups

The Child And Elder Care Foundation Will help Address These Gaps By Mobilizing Resources And Strategically Financing Interventions To Protect And Empower Vulnerable Populations.

  1. Objectives Of The Foundation

The Overarching Objective Of The Foundation  Is To Provide Financial And Technical Support  For Sustainable, Quality Care Services For Children,PWDs And Elderly Persons.

Specific Objectives:

  • Mobilize And Pool Resources From Diverse Partners To Support Care Initiatives.
  • Provide Direct Financial Assistance To Caregivers, Families, And Care Institutions.
  • Support Capacity Building, Training, And Accreditation Of Caregivers.
  • Fund Infrastructure Development And System Strengthening.
  • Promote Policy Advocacy And Legal Reforms To Protect Vulnerable Groups.
  • Enhance Emergency Response Mechanisms.
  • Support Research, Innovation, And Knowledge Sharing.
  • Foster Public Awareness And Community Engagement.
  • Strengthen Partnerships For Coordinated Care Delivery.

  1. Functions Of The Foundation

The Foundation Will Perform The Following Core Functions:

4.1 Resource Mobilization And Fundraising

  • Secure Financial Contributions From Government, Private Sector, Development Partners, And Individuals.
  • Establish Endowment And Sustainability Funds For Long-Term Impact.
  • Launch Targeted Fundraising Campaigns.

4.2 Financial Support For Care Services

  • Provide Grants Or Subsidies For Health, Nutrition, Education, And Home Care.
  • Support Vulnerable Families And Institutional Care Providers.

4.3 Capacity Building And Training

  • Fund Training Programs For Caregivers, Community Groups, And Trainers.
  • Facilitate Accreditation And Continuous Professional Development.

4.4 Infrastructure And System Development

  • Invest In Care Facilities Such As Day-Care Centers, Elderly Homes, And Protection Centers.
  • Develop Digital Systems For Caregiver Registration, Data Management, And Monitoring.

4.5 Policy Advocacy And Legal Support

  • Fund Initiatives That Advocate For Legal Protections, Caregiver Rights, And Policy Reforms.
  • Support Integration Of Care Work Into National Labor And Social Protection Policies.

4.6 Emergency And Crisis Response

  • Provide Rapid Support During Health Crises, Natural Disasters, Or Conflicts.
  • Support Emergency Shelters, Health Services, And Psycho-social Assistance I.e mobile clinics and mobile ex-ray units to address emergency health crisis.

4.7 Research, Innovation, And Knowledge Generation

  • Fund Research To Identify Emerging Needs And Develop Innovative Care Models.
  • Support Monitoring And Evaluation Of Care Programs.

4.8 Public Awareness And Community Engagement

  • Implement Campaigns To Promote Rights, Care Standards, And Community Participation.

4.9 Partnership And Collaboration Support

  • Facilitate Multi-Sector Collaborations with  Governments, CSOs, FBOs, And The Private Sector.
  1. Governance And Management Structure

A Robust Governance Structure Will Be Established To Ensure Transparency, Accountability, And Effective Management:

  • Steering Committee: Representatives From Government, CSOs Private Sector, And Development Partners.
  • Foundation  Secretariat: Responsible For Day-To-Day Operations, Fund Management, Project Appraisal, And Reporting.
  • Technical Advisory Group: Experts Providing Guidance On Care Standards, Policies, And Innovations.
  1. Funding Sources

Potential Funding Sources Include:

  • National Government Allocations
  • Private Sector Contributions (CSR)
  • Development Partner Grants
  • Philanthropic Foundations
  • Community Fundraising
  • International Donor Agencies
  • Income generating activities .
  1. Expected Outcomes
  • Improved Access To Quality Care Services For Vulnerable Children And Elderly Persons.
  • Empowered, Trained, And Supported Caregivers.
  • Strengthened Legal Protections And Care Systems.
  • Increased Public Awareness And Reduced Stigma Around Care Work.
  • Enhanced Resilience In Responding To Emergencies Affecting Care Systems.

  1. Conclusion And Call To Action

The Establishment Of The Child And Elder Care Foundation Represents A Critical Step In Promoting Inclusive Development, Safeguarding Vulnerable Populations, And Recognizing The Value Of Caregiving. We Invite All Stakeholders To Partner With Us In Operationalizing This Fund And Jointly Building A More Compassionate, Equitable, And Resilient Society.

  1. Next Steps
  • Convene Stakeholder Consultations To Finalize Foundation Structure.
  • Establish The Foundation Secretariat And Governance Bodies.
  • Launch Initial Resource Mobilization Campaigns.
  • Begin Phased Implementation Of Funded Interventions.