Transaid expands with major new programme in Kenya - 20 Feb 06 : Transaid

Release date: 20 February 2006

TRANSAID EXPANDS WITH MAJOR NEW PROGRAMME IN KENYA

Transaid has begun work on a major new programme funded by DANIDA, the Danish Government’s international aid agency, which will see the charity’s proven transport management system introduced to the Kenyan Ministry of Health.

The programme will see Victor Mengot, Transaid’s Regional Programme Manager, relocate from London to Mombassa for 12 months, and in doing so transfer his responsibilities from West to East Africa. He will initially be working within the country’s Coast Province to improve the quality of healthcare by building the systems and skills to enable the Ministry to run its vehicle fleet more efficiently.

Victor has worked with Transaid for five years, and his new field-based position gives Transaid the perfect opportunity to develop its East African programme, building on the successes the charity has already enjoyed helping to put local transport solutions in place in West and sub-Saharan Africa.

“Transaid has reached the stage where it is critical to get capacity in the field, and having a member of the team permanently on the ground in Kenya is most timely,” explains Chris Saunders, Chief Executive of Transaid. “Kenya is the centre for the UN’s activities in Africa, and we can now be much more proactive, being able to knock on a given Minister’s door at a moments notice.”

Transaid is now recruiting a Programme Manager to operate its West African initiatives and placed an advert in two major national newspapers in Accra, Ghana, last week.

“We are looking to recruit someone at a local level with at least five years experience in development work with an international organisation,” adds Chris. “With this post filled Transaid will benefit from two senior field positions throughout 2006. Getting the go-ahead on the Kenya programme has proved a fantastic start to the year.”

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Note to Editor: Transaid is the leading UK-based transport Development Agency that works to put suitable transport solutions in place in areas of the world where little or no infrastructure exists. With strong backing from the UK Transport and Logistics industry, and the Patronage of HRH The Princess Royal, Transaid works in the poorest countries in the world to help eliminate transport barriers that lead to poverty and preventable deaths. www.transaid.org

For further press information please contact James Keeler at Garnett Keeler Marketing Communications on 020 8399 1184 or Caroline Beaumont at Transaid on

020 7387 8136.

TRAN/082/06