ToroDev M&E team holds consultative meetings with members of advocacy forums that want to partner with ToroDev in the districts of Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Kyegegwa and Ntoroko in a way to expand the work of Advocacy forums in other sub counties where they do not exist in the Rwenzori Region

Since 2011 ToroDev in partnership with the local citizens has been involved in encouraging the initiation of rural advocacy forums to improve on service delivery monitoring and accountability and the participation of marginalized population groups of rural youth and women participate in government planning and budgeting processes in the seven districts of the Rwenzori Region.  Since 2011 ToroDev has been working with 15 advocacy forums spread in the 7 districts of the Rwenzori Sub Region but in 2016 ToroDev is currently working with 12 forums since 3 were suspended due to lack of performance after being motivated  time and again.  

“The partnership we are looking for with the organized groups located in different sub counties is  to increase the number of  advocacy forums from 12 – 20 this year 2016,  this will expand the work of monitoring, advocacy and demanding accountability from leaders through organized groups.  ToroDev held meetings with groups that already exist to know what they do, vision and mission,  how they operate, the challenges they face ,  area they want to partner with ToroDev, way forward and future  plans of the groups” Said  Sheila Amanya   the M&E Officer ToroDev

As a way of  expanding the work of advocacy forums in other sub counties of Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Kyegegwa and Ntoroko , ToroDev  M&E team  held  field visit  on 16^th/ 3 / 2016 to meet the members of   Rwenzori Rural & Urban organization in Bukuku subcounty,    Rwenzori youth leaders forum in Buhesi Subcounty, Bukuku Forum for development in Kiguma parish,  Harugogo community forum  in  Harugogo sub county and  Governance  media initiative  in Kabarole district.

On 23^rd /3/2016 ToroDev M&E team visited the organized groups in Kyegegwa District and   3 groups were met to see how ToroDev can work with them.  After all the visits are carried out  in Kyenjojo and Ntoroko ToroDev will organize a general meeting to speak and train the new advocacy forums  that ToroDev will partner with for the next years. 

ToroDev M & E team meeting new Advocacy forums from their locations

''The groups that qualify and meet our expectations will be invited at ToroDev offices on 31^st / 3/2016 to give them skills and training in policy making, service delivery monitoring, lobbying and advocacy, roles of advocacy forums, criteria for partnering with ToroDev, etc. The meeting will also help the leaders to share their progress, challenges, way forward and the future plans.” Said Sheila Amanya M&E officer ToroDev.   

ToroDev Ms Amanya Shiela & Florence meeting new advocacy forum leaders

“The meeting ToroDev is organizing will empower new members/leaders of the new initiated rural advocacy forums with skills and knowledge in policy advocacy, service delivery monitoring and broadcasting for accountability.” Said Florence Githinji M&E consultant ToroDev 

"So far the 8 groups we have  met are in line with the objectives of ToroDev, they are very organized but lack skills in advocacy, they lack platforms to engage leaders in demanding accountability, they have limited skills in documentation, computer and advocacy, so ToroDev wants to partner with these forums to address some of these challenges faced by these groups”. Said David Kugonza, the Documentation and communication Officer, Torodev 

 We are thankful to our partners for the support given to ToroDev to increase the work of advocacy forums.