In July 2019, RWI commissioned an independent expert evaluation of its Kenya Programme to assess the operation of the programme as a whole, and to provide a basis for decision-making on future best alternatives by looking at best practices and lessons learnt.
The RWI Kenya Programme, funded by Swedish Development Cooperation (Sida), had an overall objective to enhance compliance with international human rights standards in the management of Kenya’s correctional system, including through supporting more human rights responsive and coordinated approaches in the administration of justice in Kenya. The main component and focus of the Programme during this period concerned creating sustainable capacity within the Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) and Kenya Probation and Aftercare Service (KPAS) to meet relevant international human rights standards, in particular the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and the Rules for Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty. Within this, there was an important sub-project focused on the human rights standards concerning assessment and classification of offenders. The Programme also included a smaller component designed to contribute to enhanced human rights perspectives in efforts for a coordinated, effective and consultative approach in the administration of justice and reform of the justice system in Kenya.
The evaluation of the Kenya Programme intended to serve the purpose of informing dialogue between Sida and RWI on a new programme provisionally planned for 2020-2024, and contributing to design by RWI and partners of the planned new programme phase. The objectives of the evaluation were to assess the operation of the Programme as a whole, in particular as regards achievement of expected results; to analyse the reasons underlying results achievement or non-achievement, as well as identifying and analysing any unexpected results; and to provide recommendations on future programme strategies, with an emphasis on sustainability of results achievement and potential new programme directions. The evaluation was limited to assessing Programme operations between April 2015 and June 2019, with possibility to consider additional developments occurring the period July-September 2019.
The evaluation was carried out during September 2019 – January 2020 by a team comprising Debra Long and Rachel Murrary, from the Human Rights Implementation Centre, University of Bristol, UK, as well as Hindpal Singh Bhui, from HM Inspectorate of Prisons and University of Oxford, UK. A final report from the evaluation was submitted to RWI in January 2020 and was subsequently shared and discussed with Sida and Programme partners.
Evaluation ReportManagement Response – Evaluation of the RWI Kenya Programe 2015-2019