Milestones Foundation 2014

MILESTONES FOUNDATION




ORGANISATION PROFILE

2014










Milestones Foundation 2014
NGO NAME MILESTONE FOUNDATION
ACRONYM MF
LEGAL STATUS REGISTERED BY THE NGO BUREAU, KENYA
PHYSICAL ADDRESS IMARA DAIMA ESTATE,
TEAK CLOSE COURT - UNIT 288
POSTAL ADDRESS P.O.BOX 1232 - 00100 NAIROBI, KENYA
CONTACT PERSONS DR. RODAH KIGOTHO PROGRAM DIRECTOR
TELEPHONE

+254 722 38 78 80 Program Director
+254 733 396 725
OFFICIAL EMAILS milesfoundation@gmail.com
wkigotho@yahoo.com







Milestones Foundation 2014
INTRODUCTION
Milestones Foundation (MF) is registered as an International NGO under section 10
of the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Act of Kenya.
It is an organization geared towards improving the socio-economic status of
marginalized groups in the community, strengthening capacities of youths and women
in areas of management and development. This objective is achieved by offering
support including trainings on Business start up skills, leadership and group
organizational skills, business counseling, mentoring skills and financial services. We are
specialized in training in areas of business management, financial management, credit
management, entrepreneurship, and management and gender issues.
Milestones Foundation, generally, works with Community Based Organizations
(CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), development partners, bilateral and
multilateral development agencies in the pursuit of its vision. It is the aspiration of the
Foundation to work closely and sustainably with grass root collaborators in empowering
communities through problem identification and solutions. The Foundation supports
such groups through building their capacities and providing technical support,
Milestones Foundation also does solicit resources from partners for onward funding of
grass root projects.
MF also offers a wide range of financial services in form of savings and credit to
grassroots people in Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Thika, Muranga and Naivasha districts.
The Foundation encourages progressive and innovative ideas to inspire youth career
development; entrepreneurial development; propagation of liberal ideas; good
governance; promotion of peaceful coexistence, equitable distribution of resources;
poverty alleviation and sustainable development. As a natural consequence, the
Foundation facilitates the building of the capacities of individuals, associations,
Community Based Organizations, and both civil society and private sector practitioners
through innovative initiatives and programs for their development.

BACKGROUND
Milestone Foundation was set up to pursue and institutionalize the ideas and vision
of its founding fathers, The foundation strongly believes that the problems and
challenges facing Africa today and in the 21st Century can be tackled through
innovative ideas, project and programs that should be initiated and implemented by the
joint collaboration of Africans themselves and development partners. It is important to
educate and sensitize the people and especially the younger generation on possibilities
Milestones Foundation 2014
and opportunities open to them in tackling both their problems and challenges facing
their immediate communities.
MF believes in people centered participatory development and promotes debate and
dialogue. Consensus is akin to democracy. Hence the Foundation provides a debate
platform for like-minded people (and think tanks); promotes independent
developmental and scholarly research; individual and collective understanding that
represent grassroots realities. The Foundation carries out systemic research in various
critical developmental areas and undertakes advocacy activities to promote healthy and
sustainable development.
The Foundation believes that Africas development can only be achieved through the
concerted efforts of the citizenry, its professionals, and the participation of various
stakeholders and development partners. Such development activities presuppose that
the efforts and initiatives are institutionalized.

MF PHILOSOPHY
There is no youth empowerment that is devoid of financial empowerment and capacity
building
Development that excludes one gender or any segment of society is shortlived and not
genuine
The bottom up approach of development is the most viable if sustainability of
community projects is to be realized.
MF exists to reduce poverty and vulnerability through sustainable fostering of
community empowerment and facilitation of education, livelihoods development,
governance and water sanitation and hygiene(WASH) related programs hence helping
the country move towards the realization of the Millennium Development Goals.
MF believes in at all times remaining non-profit, non-political and non-partisan.

MFs VISION
To be the leading provider of socio-economic interventions that addresses the needs
and concerns of the marginalized communities in Africa.

Milestones Foundation 2014
MFs MISSION
MFs mission is to empower the marginalized communities through capacity building,
promotion of appropriate technology, enterprise development, health and
environmental conservation.
MFs CORE VALUES
Milestone foundation is founded upon the following core values:-
- Accountability, Transparency, Honesty and Integrity
- Prudent management
- Gender equality
- Creativity and innovation
- Team work and Democratic leadership styles
- Environmental conservation

MFs OBJECTIVES
Our main objective is to improve living standards of the poor and marginalized people in
the operational areas especially women, children and youth.

Specific objectives

Milestones specific objectives target the pillars of social-economic empowerment and
livelihood, health, cultural practices, disaster preparedness and management and
environmental conservation as follows:-
To alleviate poverty and improve the economic status and livelihoods of the
marginalized people.
To improve health and nutrition status of the marginalized people.
To reduce the level of socio-cultural practices that have negative impact o the
marginalized people
To conserve and manage the environment sustainability
To improve disaster preparedness and management

Milestones Foundation 2014
PROJECTS & PARTNERS
Since inception MF has designed and implemented a number of intervention Programs
targeted at poverty alleviation, these are:
Activities
1. A revolving loan fund
2. Promotion of innovative approaches in agri-business technology
3. Building capacities of communities in enterprise development
4. HIV/AIDS programs
5. Health and nutrition programs
6. Water and sanitation programs
7. FGM and other cultural practices
8. Environment management programs
9. Disaster management programs.
Milestone Foundation has reliable and stable partners such as Plan International, Action
Aid, Oxfam, World Vision, FIDA, COVAW, KHRC, Save the Children, Medair, Maendeleo
ya Wanawake Organisation, NACADA, Kenya Forest Service, AGRA, UNICEF and the
UNDP.

Legal Status:
MF is duly registered by the NGO Bureau Republic of Kenya
Registration Number : OP.218/051/2009/0377/5944

Field of Operation
MF has its main office in Nairobi and lots of outreach missions in the Counties, more so
in Isiolo, Kajiado, Marsabit, Busia, Naivasha, Machakos, Makueni, Muranga, Thika and
Meru.
Milestones Foundation 2014

GOVERNING SYSTEM
Board of Directors:
The Foundation has a strong Board of seven (7) that is made up of accomplished and
respected members of society who have an impressive track record in good
governance, gender mainstreaming and poverty alleviation in the humanitarian circles.
The board mentors and advises the organizations management as it carries out its
work.
It also helps in the raising of funds for the organization through project proposals,
appeals, lobbying and other channels.
The Board also ensures the smooth running of the organization by checking the
Program staffs performance
Oversees the progress of the organization
The Board meets twice a year
The Board members are the Foundations ultimate authority and liability.
MFs Approach
MFs edge is linked to its approach which is based on participatory community
development. MF applies a participatory bottom-up approach in all its activities right
from the needs assessments, baseline surveys, to implementation as well as the general
monitoring and evaluation of all the projects it implements.
All the community needs cannot be met by the government or by an individual NGO,
hence we value collaborations and partnerships and this has seen us work very closely
with churches, CBOs, the local authorities as well as government ministries and
departments.
The fact that we have embraced community participation has come with numerous
benefits, apart from the fact that the beneficiary community has a major say in the
projects in their area, the approach has:
Increased the Foundations understanding and appraisal of local circumstances,
needs and priorities.
It helps ensure genuine local involvement and ownership in the planning and
management of development projects.
Milestones Foundation 2014
It has seen the reduction of reliance on expatriate technical assistance.
It has created a long-term opportunity for capacity building.
It has so far helped ensure long-term sustainability of projects and programmes.

Mobility/Communication Facilities
MF has adequate assets to facilitate mobility and communication. These include;
Two saloon car (2), two (2) motor bikes for errands out of the city, three (3) laptops,
three (3) desktop computers, a reliable internet connection and a spacious office within
Nairobis Imara Daima Estate.

MFs PROGRAM AREAS
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Program
This program enables MF to address problems that community members face in their
daily quest to access clean and safe drinking water, this has seen projects implemented
that shorten the long distances covered to reach water points.
Also addressed by this program are issues of poor management of water resources, low
quality & quantity of water as well as limited access to sanitary facilities and waste
disposal.
This program thus ensures that there is a continuous access to sufficient portable water
as well as proper hygiene and sanitary conditions in the areas we opearte.
Projects so far carried out include
1) Capacity development of the community members, formation of water
management committees and then their sensitization on issues of hygiene,
sanitation and early warning systems as regards waterborne diseases.
2) Construction and or improvement of water structures e.g. tanks, boreholes,
wells, dams, rock catchments, sand dams etc
3) Conducting water resource mapping hence establishing and updating our
database.
4) Water quality testing
5) Construction of sanitary facilities such as pit latrines
6) Water boozers/trucking during drought emergencies.
7) Borehole repair and rehabilitation plus the general maintenance of water
sources.
Milestones Foundation 2014
Gender Program
This is the backbone of MFs work as it recognizes the fact that gender inequality in
highest in Africa, hence women in Africa and in Kenya for that matter are the poorest of
the poor, they remain largely left out of the financial system.
MF thus collaborates with microfinance institution in aiding various women groups,
other interventions include protection of the girl child in pastoralist communities that
still embrace practices such as FGM, wife sharing etc.
Food Security and Livelihoods Program
It is sad to note that a huge majority of the Kenyan families remain food insecure and
vulnerable to hunger and starvation.
This program thus seeks to boost the self reliance of communities more so the
pastoralist communities that largely rely on livestock production, MF thus aids in the
marketing of livestock products as it strives to transform livestock production into a
viable and sustainable source of livelihood.
This program largely encourages micro enterprise development so that community
members are aided in the setting up of income generating initiatives. There is thus the
provision of startup capital or seed money as well as a revolving funds for small
businesses.

Disability Program/PWD
This program enables the Foundation to reach out to those who are marginalized due to
their disability.
It is not lost on us that whereas disability ought not mean inability, most African
cultures view it as a misfortune hence disabled children seldom get an education or
empowered to be self reliant.
This program thus engages in :
lobbying and advocacy for equal rights if not outright affirmative action that
considers the disabled
Focus on the disabled during emergencies, and other disasters as they are ill
equipped to rescue themselves.
Provision of wheelchairs plus other facilities.

Milestones Foundation 2014
Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Response
This program seeks address issues of community vulnerability to recurrent disasters
such as disease outbreaks, floods, drought and famine
This not only involves relief and emergency response, but also includes capacity
building of the locals to as to be able to withstand and resiliently survive and navigate
through hard times and hardships
Activities so far engaged in include sensitization on the need to avoid over grazing and
pasture depletion that results in environmental degradation hence vulnerability to
famine. Other projects include :
Mass treatment of livestock incase of animal disease outbreaks
De-stocking during drought
Livestock diseases control and management
Food for work interventions during times of hunger
Formation of livestock disease monitoring committees (para-vets).
Relief operations in case of fires, floods and other emergencies

Health & Nutrition
This program seek address the communitys health and nutritional needs
Activities include
HIV/AIDS awareness, counseling and support
Malaria intervention eg distribution of mosquito nets
Sensitisation on the benefits of hospital child delivery
Sensitisation on the need for vaccines and immunization
Introduction of innovative ways of producing fruits and vegetables eg the
growing of carrots and kales in sacks

Education
This program attempts to address issues such as low enrolment in schools (more so of
the girl child), high drop out rates due to early marriages and lack of fees as well as
rampant poor performance in national exams and poor management of some schools.
Other problems in some of the areas we work include inadequate physical facilities in
schools e.g. classrooms & dormitories plus the marginalization of children with special
needs.
Milestones Foundation 2014
MF thus collaborates with the both the central and the county governments as well as
other stakeholders in
Sensitizing the community on the benefits of education
Establishing and supporting the development of early childhood development
(ECD)centers
Capacity building of teachers as well as the school management committees
Raising awareness on the need to educate children with special needs
Supporting the education of bright & needy students through a bursary provision
Supporting price giving days at the various schools so as to encourage better
educational performance
Provision of teaching and learning materials
Infrastructural support to education institutions


NB:
MF projects normally targets the marginalized and disadvantaged groups in the society
hence Capacity development of Youths, HIV/AIDS, Child Protection as well as
Environmental preservation & conservation have been mainstreamed into all our
programs and intervention areas.

MF Program Staff
The Foundations program team is made up of individuals with relevant academic
attainments as well as a wealth humanitarian and community development.
MF core staff is based at the Nairobi office with volunteer staff based in the field sites
where programs are being implemented. MFs successful track record in Kajiado is
attributed to a team of committed and capable partners, professionals, and volunteers
including interns from local universities and colleges.
Ten full-time staff members are responsible for the implementation of each of the
Foundations projects.
The Program Director appointed by the Board of Directors is responsible for the day-
to-day running of the organization and is an ex-officio member of the Board. She offers
Overall direction, planning and supervision of the project. She liaises with donors and
submits project proposals and reports hence ensuring that MFs objectives are
systematically met.
Milestones Foundation 2014
The Program Manager supports the Program Director, handles the organizations
publicity and fundraising role plus donor relations in general. He is responsible for all
the projects, supervises the implementation, compiles the reports, designs monitoring
and evaluation tools, assess the needs of the community in the field and also designs
project proposals.
The Finance & Administration Officer handles all the financial and program
administration duties such as the service contracts, procurement of the materials,
financial management & the compiling of financial reports. She also handles day-to-
day financial transactions and accounting of project finances.
Program Officers are responsible for the management of the project. They conduct
day-to-day project execution, proposal and writing reports, monitoring and evaluation,
community training, needs assessment and donor liaison.
The Program Assistant supports the various Program Officers carry out surveys,
assessments and fieldwork in general also handles administrative tasks in the office.
The Program Intern helps around the office, assists in community mobilization, helps
set up training venues among other tasks that come up

MF STRUCTURE/ORGANOGRAM



Board of
Directors
Finance &
Admin
Officer
Program
Manager
Education
Prog Offr.
Food Security
&
Livelihoods
Health Prog
Officer
Driver/Logist
ics Officer
Gender Prog
Officer
WASH Prog
Officer
DRR &
Emergency
Response
Program
Intern
Program
Director
Disability
Program
Officer
Milestones Foundation 2014
Contact Details of The organization:
Head Office: P.O Box 1232 00100, Imara Daima Estate, Teak Close Court,
Unit 288
Nairobi, Kenya


Contact Person
Dr Rodah W Kigotho
Program Director
Cell: +254 722 38 78 80 / +254 733 39 67 25
Email: wkigotho@yahoo.com
Official Email: milesfoundation@gmail.com