Partners
Polish Aid is Poland’s development cooperation programme. The programme encompasses measures taken by government agencies to provide Global South countries or their societies with:
- Development assistance, which specifically involves:
- promoting and supporting the development of democracy and civil society, including the development of parliamentary system, principles of good governance, and respect of human rights;
- promoting sustainable socio-economic development, taking action to reduce poverty and improve population health and improve the level of education and professional qualifications of the population;
- Humanitarian aid, in particular providing assistance, care and protection to populations affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters or other humanitarian crises caused by nature or man;
- Global education, aimed at raising awareness and understanding of global issues and interdependence between countries.
Thanks to continuous Polish Aid funding PCPM has been successfully implementing projects to increase the capacity and efficiency of the Kenyan fire and rescue services since 2017.
The programme implemented by Polish Aid and PCPM in cooperation with CFOA-K Association enabled for:
- Conducting firefighting and rescue training at various levels for more than 50% of firefighters in Kenya;
- Building a Fire and Rescue Training Centre - a training hub for firefighters from Kenya and in the future from other countries in the region;
- Creating a fire management curriculum at levels 3, 4 and 5 accredited by TVETA;
- Delivery of specialised equipment to units throughout Kenya;
- Production of the prototype of the fire engine entirely made in Kenya;
- Construction of fire brigades adapted to local conditions including budget
The Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM) is the largest NGO in Poland working in development cooperation, and one of the largest organisations in Poland delivering humanitarian assistance. Its mission is to provide humanitarian, development and medical relief assistance throughout the world, while maintaining the basic principles of humanitarianism, impartiality, neutrality and independence.
PCPM was established in 2006 and since then has implemented projects in Kenya, Lebanon, Ukraine, Nepal, Peru, South Sudan, Uganda, Tajikistan, Palestine, Georgia, Ethiopia, Zambia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and Burkina Faso.
PCPM focuses on activities that facilitate economic growth, job creation and increase emergency preparedness.
Its focus in Kenya lies on strengthening capacity building of emergency services. In partnership with local partners including CFOA-K:
- Since 2017, thanks to Polish aid funding, PCPM experts trained more than 50% of Kenyan firefighters on basic and advanced levels;
- Firefighters were trained in the specialised Fire and Rescue Training Centre located in Kiambu, Kenya;
- Specialised firefighting equipment and PPEs were delivered to 20 fire units across Kenya;
- First Kenya-made medium fire engine was produced;
- Profession of a firefighter was officially registered under TVETA (Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority);
- Firefighter vocational curriculum is now developed- first in Kenya and East Africa serves as an example for other countries;
- One of 20 curricula was implemented (Level 3- Pump Operator- 300 hrs);
- Training of Trainers was provided by PCPM to the Kenyan firefighting cadre;
- Vastly improved efficiency, wide networking and exchange of experience among fire units across Kenya.
Chief Fire Officers Association Kenya was created to express professional opinion of Chief Fire Officers in Kenya and beyond the borders by providing a forum of knowledge base, information sharing, education, research, networking and collaboration.
CFOA-K draws membership from Chief Fire Officers and Deputy Chief Fire Officers in all Fire and Rescue Services in Kenya, be they County, National, Military, Private, Volunteer or any other fire service. The association currently has 36 members from 25 counties. CFOA-K collaborates with PCPM in actions leading to more effective and professional fire and rescue service in Kenya.
The Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC) is a Government Institution under Ministry of Education, Directorate of Technical Education Vocational and Training (TVET) providing quality training in technical teacher education and technology by offering relevant programmes.
The Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC) opened its doors to the first students in 1978. Since then it became the leading college of this kind in Eastern and Central Africa.
With its help first certified programme of professional firefighting training (level 3) was developed in 2020.
