CAPACITY BUILDING FOR NDI DISTRICT PARTERNS

ACFODE in partnership with National Democratic Institute (NDI) provided organizational/technical support to NDI district partners in proposal development from 18^th – 21^st May. These included Renewed efforts to alleviate Poverty (REAP) and BUGANDA MAAMA KWEKULAAKULANYA (BUMAKWE). The partners were facilitated in reviewing their proposals to clearly align the project back ground with the problem statement, objectives and activities.

A Consultative meeting with REAP (Masaka) was held from May 18^th to 19^th, 2011. The organization’s proposal titled “Empower Women to Effectively Participate in Local Government Plans in Kitamba and Villa Maria Parishes - Kalungu District” was streamlined in line with donor and beneficaries’ expectations.

ACFODE also had another meeting with BUMAKWE on 20^th and 21^st May 2011. As was the case with REAP, the organization was mentored in resource mobilization (proposal development).

On the 4^th of May, ACFODE held a planning meeting with NDI staff and it’s objective was to discuss the performance of other NDI district partners (Uganda Catholic Secretariat (CARITAS), National Association of Persons Living with HIV/ AIDs (NACWOLA) , Munkunyu, Tweyambe, Participatory Initiative For Real Development (PIRD), Pentecostal Assemblies Of God( PAG) and Women and Child Advocacy Network (WACANE) in Arua, Kasese, Iganga, Kumi and Apac districts) - and resolve on ways how they would be institutionally capacitated.

Submitted By Sandra Nassali

Public Relations & Communications Officer

Action For Development

WHY ACFODE ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO SING AND PLAY

Children like songs, they love drama too! They learn a lot from the songs they sing, and out of the plays they act. Songs and plays encourage children to speak, and gives them a chance to communicate, even with limited language using non-verbal communication such as body movements and facial expressions. Singing and acting also involves children through their bodies, minds, emotions, language, and social interactions. That is why ACFODE encourages them to sing and play!

This too emerged last year during ACFODE’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations when a new theme; ‘25 years of Gender Equality Embracing the Youth and Looking Ahead,’ was unveiled. ACFODE realized that unless children, who are leaders of tomorrow, are inculcated into understanding the equality between women and men, and girls and boys, efforts to bring about gender equality in society will continue to face formidable hurdles.

To reinforce the above, 8 primary schools were registered for the Inter Primary Drama and Music Competitions in each sub county of Busanza and Nyabanbe ( Kisoro) and Butebo and Kasodo ( Pallisa) that took place from the 8^th – 9^th July 2011 under the theme: Enough is Enough – Stop Rape, Defilement and Sexual Harassment.

The core objectives of the competitions were to: expound children/ participants knowledge on the dangers of gender based violence, improve on their public speaking skills and provide a platform for networking amongst different stakeholders in the fight against sexualized violence (community leaders, parents, government representatives, law enforcers and civil society).

Scoring was used as a method of determining the best performing schools. Adjudicators focused on the tone quality, diction, subject matter, rhythm and general interpretation of the theme by ranking scores for music and drama to determine the best performer.

In Pallisa, Alok Primary School (Kasodo Sub County) emerged as the winning school while in Butebo Soub County it was Kasiebai primary school. In Kisoro, it was Gitovi Primary School (Busanze Sub County) and Mutolere Primary School (Nyakabande Sub County) that emerged as winners.

The winning Schools were awarded with Plagues. Other categories that were awarded included the best actor/ actress, and the 2^nd Runner ups. All participants were given a certificate and a hand ball.

The event was successful because of generous support from EIRENE (development partner) and MOVIT Products Ltd (Corporate Sponsor).

Submitted By Sandra Nassali

Public Relations & Communications Officer

Action For Development

EVALUATION OF “STRENGTHENING MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY (SMD) PROGRAM”

ACFODE participated in the evaluation exercise of “Strengthening Multi-Party Democracy (SMD) Program" facilitated by USAID/Uganda under Uganda Monitoring and Evaluation Management Services (UMEMS). The purpose of the evaluation was to judge the effectiveness of the project (outcomes, challenges and way forward) from 2009 to date.

The evaluation exercise took place at ACFODE house on 3rd May 2011 and was attended by. Mr DU PLESSIS Pieter - Team Leader, Susan Cowley - Expert Team Member, Patrick Oloya - Research Assistant, Paska Fortunate – Programs’ Officer ACFODE and Regina Bafaki – Executive Director ACFODE.

Submitted By Sandra Nassali

Public Relations & Communications Officer

Action For Development

LEADERSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR NEWLY ELECTED WOMEN COUNCILORS AT DISTRICT AND SUBCOUNTY LEVEL

ACFODE realizes that with the advent of multiparty politics in Uganda, women need to strategically participate in the politics so that their concerns are not marginalized. They should also be able to compete favorably with men in a pluralist system in order to build leverage around their political demands.

In 2010 therefore and in preparation for the 2011 election cycle in Uganda, ACFODE implemented a number of projects aimed at increasing women’s effective participation in politics and decision making. These efforts were not in vain as the number of women politicians/ leaders increased tremendously, with 30% women parliamentarian and 28% female cabinet/ state ministers.

However, most of these women leaders, especially in rural areas lack proficient leadership skills. Therefore, there is need for them to acquire skills in leadership to effectively engage the electorate and their male counterparts at different levels; justifying why ACFODE is now investing a lot in leadership training workshops meant to empower women leaders with resourceful leadership skills.

From the 25^th – 26^th of July 2011 therefore, ACFODE conducted a leadership training workshop in Soroti district. The objectives of the training were; to enhance the capacity of women councilors at district and sub county level in leadership and decision making processes, to identify advocacy issues/concerns that affect women at local level, and to draw action plans to address issues that affect women at the local level.

A total of 30 participants attended the workshop. Overall, there was a strong sense of appreciation articulated by the participants about the workshop. They were very passionate about the information shared by the trainers and appreciative of the skills acquired.

One of the participants said that: “As a new councillor, this workshop has been beneficial in terms of sharing ideas with other councillors from different sub counties especially on Action planning. I am now able to define my roles and responsibilities as a councillor; actually my mind is refreshed. I am now in a better position to advocate for women’s issues, and empower fellow women in my sub county”

The workshop composition entailed both new and old councillors from 7 Sub Counties, and therefore provided a good networking platform, and experience/ shared learning among the participants.

Several participants even expressed a desire to conduct leadership training in their sub counties. They also vowed to advocate for the following issues within their respective communities:

· Capacity building for women representatives in each sub county.

· Lobby for the inclusion of women on Executive Committee.

· Active monitoring and evaluation of implementation of women’s concerns in the local development plans and budgets.

Submitted By Sandra Nassali

Public Relations & Communications Officer

Action For Development

Job Opportunities in KAS and ACFODE under new EU Financed Project

The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and Action For Development (ACFODE) have received funding from the European Development Fund (EDF) as part of the Democratic Governance and Accountability Programme (DGAP) for the project “Action for Strengthening Good Governance and Accountability in Uganda”, to be implemented over a period of 24 months. Applications are invited from suitably qualified and immediately available individuals to fill the different project positions within KAS and ACFODE. These will be contract positions to last a maximum of 24 months, including two months of probation. KAS and ACFODE are equal opportunity employers, qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Click on the respective position for the detailed job profile and application requirements.

Project Officer ACFODE

Project Accountant KAS

Project Assistant KAS

Project Assistant ACFODE

Submitted By Sandra Nassali

Public Relations & Communications Officer

Action For Development