Pamoja Trust

Pamoja Trust is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote access to land, shelter and basic services for the urban poor. It owes its origins to the need for institutional support for the anti-evictions movement that arose and grew in Kenya in late 1990s and early 2000. The Trust collaborates closely with Muungano wa Wanavijiji, a federation of over 30,000 households living in 400 informal settlements across the country, helping to form daily saving groups through which poor communities can access crucial resources. VISION: An equitable and democratic society where urban citizens have adequate space MISSION: Pamoja Trust exists to facilitate and advocate for processes and approaches aimed at strengthening people’s organization formations to ensure better livelihoods for the urban poor. What they do: Pamoja Trust expansive focus recognizes the complex, multidimensional nature of poverty in today’s cities. With a vision of strengthening the voice and space for the urban poor, PTs core activities encompass the following areas: - Establishing and strengthening of savings and credit schemes; - The consolidation and political formation of Muungano wa wanavijiji and other people’s organization; - Precedent –setting urban planning, house modeling and community led construction; - Peer exchange with other federation and NGOs throughout Africa and beyond; - Participatory research, advocacy and lobbying; - Development of an Urban Poor Fund Objectives - Strengthen the capacity of Muungano groups to create and consolidate inclusive and democratic structures of governance; - Consolidate Pamoja Trust’s strategic partnerships to effectively and directly advocate for security of tenure and deliver adequate housing to its targeted areas; - Network with other actors in re-shaping the public discourse and influencing policy formulation and implementation on land, housing, basic services and livelihoods in favour of the urban poor; - Enhance the institutional capacity of Pamoja Trust to ensure effective and efficient management and governance. Approach Pamoja Trust uses several approaches to achieve its strategic objectives: - Together with Muungano, Mwamko wa Vijana and other like – minded civil society organizations, the Trust seeks to influence the development and implementation of national policies by creating replicable, pro-poor models and advocating for the participation of the urban poor. - The Trust seeks to strengthen urban poor federations and their capacity to participate in decision - making and influence politics in order to realize a more equitable urban society with a responsive leadership.