County Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Training Course

This advanced course develops technical skills in devolution and intergovernmental relations management, covering functional assignment analysis, coordination structure use and dispute resolution mechanisms between national and county government. Participants work through real functional boundary disputes and coordination failures rather than devolution theory alone, examining where the intergovernmental system most often breaks down. The course closes with a coordination strategy designed for a defined functional boundary dispute.

Devolution transferred substantial functions and resources from national to county government, but the functional assignments that looked clear in legislation have generated persistent coordination disputes in practice, particularly where functions sit at the boundary between levels of government.

County and national government officials frequently manage devolution relationships through improvisation rather than a structured understanding of the intergovernmental coordination architecture designed to resolve exactly these disputes. This advanced course moves beyond devolution principles into the functional assignment analysis, coordination structure use and dispute resolution mechanisms that determine whether devolved governance functions coherently.

• Explain the constitutional and legal architecture of devolution
• Analyse functional assignments across national and county government
• Assess coordination structures within the intergovernmental relations framework
• Identify common sources of functional boundary disputes
• Apply dispute resolution mechanisms available within the devolution framework
• Design coordination protocols for shared or unclear functions
• Evaluate resource sharing arrangements between levels of government
• Assess capacity requirements for effective intergovernmental engagement
• Advise county leadership on intergovernmental relations strategy

This course is ideal for:

• County executive committee members and chief officers
• County intergovernmental relations focal points
• National government liaison and coordination staff
• Council of Governors and intergovernmental forum staff
• Public administration and devolution technical advisers
• County assembly committee staff
• Development partner governance programme staff
• Legal counsel working on intergovernmental disputes

The programme is delivered through facilitator-led technical sessions combined with functional assignment case studies, coordination structure analysis and a dispute resolution simulation, structured around small-group work and real or anonymised intergovernmental case material rather than lecture alone. Each module closes with a short applied task so participants leave with working tools rather than notes alone.

Institutions sending staff on this course can expect:

• Clearer, more confident navigation of functional assignment disputes
• Improved use of formal intergovernmental coordination structures
• Stronger dispute resolution outcomes protecting service delivery
• Better-structured resource sharing arrangements between government levels
• Reduced disruption from unresolved functional boundary conflicts
• Improved relationships between county and national government counterparts
• Increased development partner confidence in devolution governance
• A documented intergovernmental relations strategy
• Stronger, more coherent devolved service delivery

Participants leave this course with:

• Advanced technical skill in devolution and intergovernmental relations management
• Confidence to analyse functional assignments and boundary disputes
• Sharper ability to apply dispute resolution mechanisms effectively
• Practical experience designing coordination protocols
• Stronger standing in intergovernmental relations discussions
• A completed coordination strategy for direct application
• Improved ability to design resource sharing arrangements
• A specialist network across Kenyan devolution practice
• A foundation for senior intergovernmental relations leadership roles

At Strategic Revenue Africa, our certification goes beyond proof of attendance—it represents practical competence and measurable capability. Upon successful completion of our training programs, participants are awarded a Certificate of Completion from Strategic Revenue Africa, recognizing their ability to apply acquired knowledge in real-world settings. As an organization focused on architecting sustainable revenue and strengthening organizational performance, our certifications signal that participants are equipped with skills that drive results, not just theory.

Prior experience in county or national government, public administration or intergovernmental affairs is expected. This is an advanced, practitioner-level course.