Public Affairs Index (PAI) Manual

Abstract

Indices are used in economics and governance sectors to measure, monitor and evaluate progress in the delivery of public goods and services. Indices are also critical in gauging public (dis)satisfaction with government provision of essential services critical to human development. In Kenya, the delivery of public goods and services is the mandate of the national government as well as the 47 county governments. The Kenya Constitution provides for public participation in the prioritisation and co-production of development budgets for effective delivery of public goods and ownership of these goods/services by citizens. The Public Affairs Index (PAI) developed by the Kenya Institute of Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) is a multi-dimensional measurement of government performance and citizen’s satisfaction in the provision of key public services at the county level. PAI is a data-driven measurement of the performance of County Governments against nine selected criteria (Pillars). The project that generated work on the PAI demonstrates the role of KIPPRA, as a think tank and research intermediary, in strengthening frameworks and tools for coordinating key stakeholders in the research ecosystem in Kenya to dialogue, network and enhance research uptake to inform the implementation of the devolved system of government. Through the project, five ecosystem strengthening goals have been achieved, as part of the RISA Fund, namely the building of human capital for the research stakeholders involved, enhancing research uptake into policies and regulations at the national platform as well as county level, equitable and inclusive participation devolved to each of the 47 counties, the networking of assets to drive collaboration between research actors and policy makers, and providing incentives for high quality research. Hence, based on the RISA project, this manual provides detailed indicators in the framework across nine pillars, namely fiscal management, economic performance, human capital development, essential infrastructure, environmental management, transparency and accountability, crime and justice, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and social welfare.