About Us

ABOUT INTERGRATED INTITIATIVES FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWEREMENT (IICEP)

IICEP is registered in Kenya under the Ministry of National Heritage (NGO Coordination Board) officially registered in 2013. IICEP team is driven by a collective mission to harness resources within and outside the country to build resilient communities that are socially and economically empowered. IICEP has and continue to foster an impactful partnership with the US Embassy Nairobi for the last 5 years. This has enabled the organization’s strong presence in the main Counties of Kenya, viz Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru but has also worked with other Practitioners to execute programs in the larger Coastal and Norther regions of Kenya. These are areas, historically known for peace challenges. Some of IICEP programs include those targeted for interfaith collaboration, youth and women focused peace and non-violent initiatives. Examples of these programs include Amplifying Women’s voices in PVE, Peace without borders and Youth for Peace (Youth Bila Noma) implemented in Nakuru, Nairobi and Mombasa Counties giving youth an opportunity to come with positive narratives in PVE.

Five years down the line IICEP US Embassy PVE Youth and Women mentorship program has given birth to a number of Women and Youth Led organizations. The Youth and Women who went through IICEP, US Embassy mentorship are now leading voices in their own communities/counties.IICEP has also been playing a leading role in validation of PVE Polices both at International, Regional, National and County Level. Just to mention a few, the Nairobi and Nakuru Rapid County Action Plans (R. CAPS) the Regional Youth P/CVE Engagement Strategy and Regional CSO P/CVE Engagement Strategy at the IGAD Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE). IICEP’s effort on women peace and security agenda cannot go unmentioned with publications to voice out challenges in implementation of gender policies. The latest contribution has been outlining to policy makers the breakthroughs and challenges of the UN Resolutions 1325, 20 years down the line

Projects under IICEP

To achieve our goal, we work under the following IICEP projects.

Peace Without Boundaries

IICEP is working with South Sudanese refugees’ youth living in Nairobi. This initiative convenes Sudanese youth from diverse ethnic backgrounds for training, dialogue forums and psychological support. The objective of the program is to contribute to a peaceful and stable Sudan by building a group of peace ambassadors who will go back home with a message of peace. In this session Generation Change Kenya Fellows had an opportunity to exchange with the South Sudanese Youth.

Amplifying Women’s Voices in Peace Building

Women’s voice is vital towards a just and Peaceful Society. The program was intended to give women a voice and to increase their participation in Peace building. Women with representation from various informal settlements in Nairobi were taken through peace building training which was accompanied by dialogue forums.

The Moderation Project

Enhancing the role of youth in realizing sustainable peace This is a component of the wider IICEP campaign in enhancing the role of youth in realizing sustainable peace. The initiative reached out to youth in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area to initiate and/or strengthen youth peace building networks. The program has been addressing alternatives to non-violence, religious tolerance and shunning extremism and general negative influence on youth. In this program IICEP is working closely with the Somali United Youth for Peace and Somali Women Refugees. The project also fosters economic empowerment for the women; supporting them to engage in Income Generating activities. These women are traders at the Eastleigh business hub.

Peace & Conflict Resolutions Capacity Building

The program offers non violent conflict resolution and leadership skills, targeting youth, religious leaders, women and law enforcement agencies. It incorporated training which adopted the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) curriculum on Leadership and Conflict Management. The initiative reached out to youth in Nairobi’s informal settlements to build their resilience and strengthen their capacities on leadership and conflict mitigation. It addresses alternatives to non violence, religious tolerance, shunning extremism and general negative influence on youth. In 2016 under the auspicious sponsorship of the US embassy , IICEP successfully trained and graduated more than 500 peace ambassadors who are now serving as peace ambassadors in their community.

Peace Through Arts

The project aims to enhance the capacity of youth to make informed choices and encourage them to promote peace through arts. In November 2016 IICEP held a Peace Training and Arts Exhibition for 150 AOGA (Association of Ghetto Artists) members. AOGA is an umbrella body for Artists; (musicians, sign writers, actors) coming from the informal settlements of Nairobi. These artists were taken through training on Leadership and Conflict management, and graduated as Peace ambassadors at a ceremony held at the August 7th Memorial Park (Commonly referred to as Bomb Blast), Nairobi.

Playing for Peace

IICEP sees sports as a productive intervention to engage youth in peace building. In particular, IICEP would like to leverage the experience of its Board Member, Daniel Eck, who has coached American football for hundreds of players across a diverse spectrum. Informal settlements are known for breeding famous footballers playing in Kenya and abroad. Notable figures like Mac Donald Mariga and Denis Oliech who played for Italy and France both have roots in (Majengo and Kibera respectively) in informal settlements.

Key Archivements

Mentored youth and women at community level who are now taking leadership roles in implementation of PVE. Approximately 8000 both online and offline. Just to mention a few; built a strong network of more than 500 Peace Ambassadors in Nairobi County, Nakuru Youth Bila Noma, Kenya Economic Youth Network in Kakamega County and
Young Africans for Peace and Development in North-eastern.

Gave marginalized communities especially women a voice by facilitating platforms where they shared their views openly but also making publications to lobby for women space in PVE.

Promoted Women and Youth Networking in different Counties on exchanges through thematic Whatsapp groups and other platforms.

Linked organization with PVE interventions to funding, networking and capacity building opportunities.