Grassroots CBOs in Uganda are transforming local governance practices

What are the methodologies used by intermediary NGOs as they work to build advocacy capacities of grassroots organisations?

How do the overall development practices of such intermediaries increase the participation of grassroots communities in shaping local governance and social service delivery?

Participants in a Facilitation Skills for Fieldworkers (FAF) course conducted by EASUN for nine NGOs in Tanzania raised important questions regarding the extent to which existing organisational development practices will support the transformative interventions enabled by their newly acquired knowledge and skills. Others posed the question differently; i.e., whether their organisations would create opportunities for them to influence systems and practices to uplift the relevance and quality of interventions for empowerment and transformation of grassroots communities.

Evidence of the impact of the Tanzanian fieldworker's new knowledge and skills came from EASUN's follow-up visit, in April 2008, to a particular organisation in Uganda that received FAF training for 23 fieldworkers in 2007. Six FAF trained community monitors of social government service delivery in three districts, were visited. The visits demonstrated how the fieldworkers were able to apply the tools and techniques acquired from the training with great effect. Grassroots groups and social institutions that they were mobilizing for participation in monitoring activities had significantly improved their report writing abilities and increased their presence in district-level discussions about improving people's access to, and effective delivery of, social service projects (such as schools construction, water supply, health and local communications infrastructure).

New relationships of mutual respect and collaboration had emerged between grassroots communities, their CBOs and district government officials. The community monitors attributed such changes in the levels and quality of community participation to their new abilities to facilitate shared learning in ways that transfer control of the learning process from the facilitator to the learning individuals. This approach is at the core of the methodology transferred through FAF training.

The new facilitation skills demonstrated by the community monitors have the quality that can also shift the overall practice and impact of the intermediary organisation that had organised their training - towards methodologies that are more likely to lead to community empowerment. This fact lies at the heart of the question raised by the Tanzanian fieldworkers: "What are the entry points that will enable fieldworkers acquiring new facilitation and leadership skills for community empowerment, to positively engage and transform the institutional practices, methodologies and systems of the organisations that sponsor them?"

To inquire about FAF training, contact: edna.chilimo@easun-tz.org

To inquire about OD interventions for alignment of structure / systems with field practices contact: wangui.karanja@easun-tz.org
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OD/ID Networking Meeting: 30th June - 2nd July 2008

THEME: Managing Change Through Participation

There is a "will" and "practice" behind the use of the concept of participation in development. The OD/ID networking meeting in 2008 will bring this understanding to life again for the development sector in East Africa.

EASUN invites you to an inspiring networking meeting for individuals and organisations interested in Organisational Development (OD), Institutional Development (ID) and other capacity building approaches for civil society organisations (CSOs) in East Africa. The OD/ID networking meeting is a yearly event, which has in the past generated much excitement, learning and new connections for those attending.

This year's meeting will explore the relationship between participation and change management, as well as the consequences for social and organisational development today when "participation" is used as rhetoric to empower intermediary local NGOs, transnational NGOs and donors. From EASUN's experience with various organisational struggles to foster sustainable development in internal organisational processes and in outreach for social development, we believe that exploring the theme "managing change through participation" with an eye to advocating for more transformative participatory interventions is good for civil society in East Africa today.

The meeting will take place in Moshi, Tanzania, from June 30th to July 2nd 2008. It will be facilitated by Brenda Sonn - an experienced OD practitioner. Notably, Brenda is the Director of TIP (Transforming Institutional Practices) at the University of Western Cape, South Africa.

Come and share in a great learning and networking experience with other prominent CSOs in the region. 20 places are available for full room and board sponsorship. These shall be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. All participants pay their travel costs to the meeting in Moshi and a registration fee of USD $60 only.

For more information about participation contact: doly.anyona@easun-tz.org
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Apply now to become a real practitioner with OD skills

EASUN is now taking applications for those interested in attending the Facilitating Organisational Development Course (FOD) advertised previously. This is a course for leaders and senior program staff of CSOs in East Africa. Make sure you secure a place in this course that will transform your outlook on organisations and leadership, and equip you with skills and tools in facilitating organisational, human and social development. The first module of the next cycle will run from 2nd - 8th November 2008. The next two modules are planned for one week in March and another in June 2009.

For information about the course program / costs and/or for application materials, contact: lydia.bwenda@easun-tz.org
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EASUN Centre for Organisational Learning
P.O. Box 6120 Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-(0)27-2548803
Fax +255-(0)27-2548289
info@easun-tz.org
www.easun-tz.org
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