The division is responsible for:-

• Spearhead formulation, review and implementation of policies and Bills on Social Development and Community Development (CD). 
• Community mobilization and sensitization, 
• Community group registration and development, including refugee groups. 
• Capacity building and empowerment of communities for social economic development. 
• Establishment and maintenance Community Development Management Information System (CDMIS) for Social Development, including the Economic Inclusion module. 
• Spearheading development, review and implementation of policies and guidelines on volunteerism. 
• Coordination and promotion of volunteerism and Good Deeds activities. 
• Spearheading the implementation of Economic Inclusion programme (EIP). 
• Spearheading development, review and implementation of policies, legislations and guidelines on Social Risk Management (SRM). 
• Provision of oversight to the Association of Community Development Practitioners- Kenya (ACDP-K). 
• Support to donor funded Community Development Programmes e.g IFAD. 

The division has the following programmes :-

Community Group Registration

Community Groups Registration Act 2022 – the Act provides a regulatory framework for registration and regulation of community groups. The President enacted the Act on 16th June 2022, the Directorate has embarked on the process of developing a strategy, aligning the tools and instruments for registration as well as development of standard guidelines that will aid in the implementation of the Act in the Country. 

• Registration of Self –Help Group and CBOs- The Directorate mobilizes and registers self-help groups and Community–based organizations in the all Sub-counties and 53 Huduma centers across the country as well as Integrated Groups for Refugees. 
• The groups are linked to state, non-state actors and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) for support. 

Community Groups Registration Act 2022 

The Community Group Registration Act 2022, part II , 2(d) provides for the function of the Director to establish and maintain a community management information system (CDMIS). 

• In this FY 2022/23, the Directorate with support from World Food Programme (WFP) and Development Pathways have developed initial modules of the systems awaiting User Acceptance Testing by DSD officers.  Plans are underway to capture the community groups data into the CDMIS in all the sub-counties across the country.

KSEIP -Economic Inclusion Programme (EIP) 

This is a pilot Programme implemented under component of KSEIP. The objective of the program is to enhance access of 7500 extremely poor households to social and economic inclusion services by increasing access of households to skills, productive inputs, asset, finance and economic opportunities. The programme targets beneficiaries of National Safety Net Programme (Inua Jamii) and non-NSNP beneficiaries. 

• Its implemented in five selected counties and two sub-counties from each county namely: Muranga (Kiharu & Maragua), Taita Taveta (Mwatate &Taveta), Marsabit (Saku & North Horr) Kisumu (Nyando & Kisumu West) and Makueni (Kibwezi & Mbooni). The Programme was  to target and enroll 7500 participants across the five counties with each county having a target of 1500 and each sub-county a target of 750 in Cohort 1. 
• Participants are receiving  a consumption support of KES 2,000 per month for one year and an addition of KES 30,000 for asset transfer/seed capital to start businesses to improve their livelihoods. 
• Financing Locally Led Climate Action Program (FLLoCA)-The State Department has been included in the Financing Locally Led Climate Action Program, a five year project funded by World Bank , executed by the National Treasury . The State Department is responsible for implementation of Social Risk Management component under FLLoCA program. The aim of the project is to strengthen county governments’ capacity to plan, implement, and monitor resilience investments in partnership with communities. 

Social Risk and Impact Management 

The Directorate is spearheading the establishment and implementation of Social Risk and Impact Management (SRIM) for development and infrastructural projects in the Country including establishment of structures and mechanisms for operationalization of SRIM. This aims at protecting local communities from the unintended negative effects of development projects.The Directorate has initiated a process of developing a national policy and capacity-building framework for social risk& impact management with key stakeholders and academic institutions in the country.

Volunteerism 

The Directorate coordinates volunteerism sector in the country. This is done in collaboration with volunteer involving organizations Society that constitute member volunteer organizations and community based organizations spread across the country. A National Volunteerism Policy (2016) developed to promote and guide the development of a strong volunteer sector in order to optimize the sector’s contribution to Kenya’s economic, social and political development. The Directorate has targeted to review the policy this FY 2022/23

The division is responsible for various prorgrammes :-

Community Based Rehabilitation 

Community Based Rehabilitation was promoted as a strategy to improve access to rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities in low-income and middle-income countries by making optimum use of local resources.

Community Based Rehabilitation focus on five components; Social, Health, Education, Empowerment and Livelihood

Formation of the CBR committee was done in 290 sub-counties whose role is to  advocate  for the rights of persons with disabilities  within the community and assist the Directorate in the development and management of CBR programmes

CBR guidelines have been developed to enable the following:

• Provide guidance on how to develop and strengthen CBR programmes in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• To promote CBR as a strategy for community-based inclusive development to assist in mainstreaming of disability in development initiatives
• To support stakeholders to meet the basic needs and enhance the quality of life of persons with disabilities and their families by facilitating access to the health, education, livelihood and social sectors.
• To encourage stakeholders to facilitate empowerment of persons with disabilities and their families by promoting their inclusion and participation in development and decision-making processes.

Vocational Rehabilitation Centres for Persons with Disabilities

• The State Department is mandated to provide vocational training and rehabilitation for persons with disabilities 
• This is through the 12 VRCs run by the Directorate across the country which offer training and rehabilitation to trainees with disabilities for self reliance. 
• The 12 VRCs include Bura, Muriraranjas, Kakamega, Odiado, Machakos, Industrial Rehabilitation Center(IRC), Embu, Kabarnet, Nyandarua, Kericho, Itando and Kisii 

Disability Mainstreaming Programme 

• Through this program interventions in addressing stigma and discrimination in both the public and private sector through various strategies are developed. 
• The Disability Mainstreaming Committee is among the strategies that the Ministry implements in ensuring internal disability mainstreaming. The goal of disability mainstreaming is to realize maximal and sustainable enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities.
• Disability mainstreaming targets are reported to the National Council for Persons with Disabilities portal where its uploaded quarterly 

Disability Inclusion and Awareness Programme 

• This program deals with ensuring persons with disabilities are included in all aspects of development from initiation to implementation by empowering them through awareness raising and sensitization of both duty bearers and right holders.
• This is through forums such as the International Day for Persons with Disabilities celebrated on 3rd December, Global Disability Summit (GDS) celebrated after 4 years where commitments are made and the Conference of State Parties (COSP) celebrated yearly. 

The Inter Agency Coordinating Committee (IACC) 

• This is a committee established in the State Department mandated to facilitate effective implementation of the disability agenda by ensuring an inclusive approach in addressing disability concerns in Kenya
• The committee draws its membership from both State and Non-State actors including Ministries, Departments, Agencies, humanitarian actors, faith based organizations, private sector and Organizations for Persons with Disabilities
• Committee membership is renewed after 3 years 

Inclusive Data Charter (IDC)

• The IDC was launched in December 2021 which aims to guide in collection of disaggregated data for persons with disabilities.  Coordination was carried out through engagements with Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) and Non-State Actors 
• This guided in the Support Needs Assessment for Persons with Disabilities and their Primary Caregivers conducted in 10 counties in 2022 and is critical in the identification of gaps in services offered to persons with disabilities in offering support services and in making recommendations on programs that government and stakeholders can develop and implement to mitigate the gaps. 

Legal Frameworks

• National Policy for Persons with Disabilities
• Persons with Disabilities Bill 2021
• Disability Mainstreaming Strategy 2018-2022
• Inclusive Data Charter (IDC) Action Plan 2021-2025
• Disability Awareness Creation Booklet

Its mandates are :- 

• Coordinate development, review and implementation of National Policy on Older Persons and Ageing.
• Promote the National Guidelines and Standards for the Establishment and Management of Institutions for Older Persons.
• Promote intergenerational programmes in educational institutions and communities.
• Promote family and community based care to ensure that older persons remain in their homes and within their communities.
• Promote development and implementation of guidelines on management of elder abuse.
• Promote awareness about the importance of families through annual celebrations of the International Day of Families every 15th of May.
• Promote awareness about elderly abouse through annual celebrations of the World Elder Abide Awareness Day every 15th of June.
• Promote awareness about the plight of the elderly through annual celebrations of the International Day of Older Persons every 1st of October.
• Promote active ageing and volunteerism for older persons.
• Promote development exit strategy or post cash transfer management strategy for beneficiaries of OPCT programme.
• Coordinate development, review and implementation of National Family Promotion and Protection Policy.
• Promote development recovery and re-integration strategy to cushion families from shocks during emergencies and disasters situation.
• Provision of psycho-social support, linkages and referrals under distress.
• Collaborate with relevant agencies in provision of alternative family care support services.
• Promote family enrichment activities in partnership with FBOs.
• Promote establishment and management of family Resource Centers
• Promote sustainable livelihood support activities.

The division has two (2) programmes:

Older Persons and Ageing Programme

Kirinyaga Rescue Centre for Older Persons

• The Centre was officially launched on 15th June 2021 
• Since its launch 12 older persons have been rescued through the Centre. 

Upgrading of the Kilifi CCSP to a rescue Centre for vulnerable older persons 

Development of the Older Persons Bill

The National Standards & Guidelines on the Establishment & Management of Institutions for Older Persons

• Review guidelines and monitor compliance 

Currently developing a Sensitization Booklet on Older Persons 

Family Promotion and Protection  Programme

Draft National Policy on Family Promotion and Protection 

• Currently before cabinet awaiting approval

National Parenting Training Programme 

• Draft National Parenting Training Manual, Guidelines and Facilitator’s Guide
• The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of families to foster healthy family relationships, mental health issues, promote healthy child development, minimise the risk of separation and address the challenge of reintegrating children back to their respective family or community members under the national care reform strategy for children in Kenya (2022- 2032). 

Psychosocial Support programme 

• We have enlisted Lay Volunteer Counsellors (LVCs) in the Sub Counties majority of whom have been trained by DSD with support from our partners (UNICEF, MoH SOS, )who have to date been able to offer guidance, counselling and referral services to distressed individuals and families