The Civil Society Organization Network for Western and Nyanza Province (CSO Network) draws its membership from Non Governmental Organization, (NGOs), Community Based Organization (CBOs), Faith-based Organizations (FBOs), and other Non State Actors in Western Kenya. The forerunner of the CSO Network was the NGO Network for Western Kenya, a network of the NGOs Council established in 1999, to create a platform for joint action in advocacy and lobbying, information sharing, building bridges for mutual partnerships in programme support and creating synergy of diversity of the member organizations for sustainable development within the region.
Until 2005, the NGO Network operated as a network of the NGOs Council, without an independent entity, exposing it to external challenges and threats beyond its scope and future sustainability. Despite all these since its inception in 1999, the Network registered major achievements especially in the areas of mobilization for participation, building capacities, disseminating information on resource opportunities and providing support services to members, the public, the Government and Private Sector.
In 2005 the environment upon which NGO network operated had undergone a series of rapid changes and transformations that required renewed interventions. For instance, the informal organizational structure and behaviour, managerial and governance structure could no longer sustain the demands of professionalism and quality of service delivery requirements. These challenges needed to be addressed to realign the organization in undertaking development concerns.
The Civil Society Organization Network for Western and Nyanza Province (CSO Network) has been operating as a Network of Civil Society Organization since 1999 with its offices in Kisumu. It covers both Western and Nyanza Province. The CSO Network has grown in stature and reputation, with a large participation from different development actors from the CBO, NGO and research institutions operating within the region.
Participation in the CSO Network is diverse with activities ranging from Education, Human rights, Women's Rights, Children's Rights and democracy, to Natural Resource Management, HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health, etc.
The priority areas of interest primarily focus on the following:
They operate at two levels First, at membership level for networking, skill development and advocacy. The second intervention is at community level for sensitization, mobilization and empowerment.
Vision
The CSO Network's vision is One Voice...One Purpose
Mission
The mission is Enhancing Collaboration and Diversity of Civil Society Organization in Western Kenya through Networking and Capacity Building
