Kenya ranks 148 out of 177 Countries

Each year, the U.N. releases the Human Development Index (HDI) , which focuses on three measurable dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life, being educated and having a decent standard of living. Thus the HDI combines measures of life expectancy, school enrollment, literacy and income to allow a broader view of a country's development than does income alone. Kenya ranks 148 out of 177 countries. Norway ranks number one, Sweden ranks number two and the United States ranks number eight.

The poverty line adopted by Kenya is US$17 per month per adult in the rural areas and US$36 per month per adult in the urban areas. More than half of Kenya's population (56%) live below the national poverty line. This percentage is projected to increase to 65.9 percent in 2015 if the current trend continues. Poverty remains a major impediment to fulfillment of basic needs of Kenyans, especially woman and children. Life expectancy at birth in Kenya is 45.2 years.

The United Nations created the Millennium Develop Goals to coalesce objectives of governments and aid organizations in all developing countries. Kenya adopted the goals in 2000 and is tracking progress. VSO, working in Kenya to achieve the goals, uses three approaches to develop: empowerment, partnership and commitment to learning. My role as marketing advisor is a tiny, tiny piece of Kenya's development puzzle. In my job, I'll focus on empowering co-workers and others, on partnering with them so their participation fosters ownership in their achievements, and on continually learning so I can understand their culture and their true needs.