ToroDev Organized Planning and Coordination Meeting for Thirteen (13) Advocacy Forums.

ToroDev for the last 8 years has initiated a total number of Twenty One (21) advocacy forums distributed in 4 districts of the Rwenzori Sub-Region. The Twenty one advocacy forums were formed by 120 rural monitors who were trained by ToroDev in online advocacy, monitoring service delivery using online social media/ICT tools like Ushahidi platform for online documentation, visualization and mapping. Each forum has a maximum number of 50 members where 40% are women and 60% youths. They have played different roles including monitoring of public services, lobbying and advocating for improved service delivery, demanding accountability from duty bearers using both traditional and modern platforms, defending people’ rights, etc

Advocacy members who attended the training

The meeting aimed at planning, sharing work plans and suggesting ways of promoting MML e-participation system. ToroDev believes members of advocacy forums can be ambassadors in their respective districts and promote MML e-participation system. In this planning meeting advocacy forums members suggested different ways through which the system can be promoted and attract more participation. The meeting also helped both ToroDev and participants to plan together and get updates on how to conduct activities under SIDA Project. The meeting was organized on 19^th/ March / 2019 and a total number of Twenty Six (26) members’ from13 advocacy forums attended.

“We are here to plan together on how MML e-participation system can be promoted, share with you criteria of organizing accountability meetings and share work plans for 2019”. Said Amanya Sheila the M&E officer.

Amanya Sheila the M&E officer sharing with advocacy members

Sheila added ToroDev developed an online platform called “Me and My Leader” (MML) where citizens use Radio, internet, and SMs to participate in the discussions. The purpose of the system is to facilitate an open conversation between duty bearers and citizens to be more involved in government decision making, ongoing government initiatives in communities and citizens to engage duty bearers and express their concerns on the state of service delivery in lower level communities.

Outputs

MML e-Participation system promoted.
Participants equipped with knowledge and skills about MML system ,
Ways of participants to train others suggested
Action points captured

A participants sharing during the advocacy training

“I Thank ToroDev for organizing this meeting and we promise to mobilize other members of the forum and tell them about the system. This will be one of the ways of popularizing and promoting the system”. Said Gilbert Rwaheru leader of Kichwamba Forum

“MML e-participation system is a good initiative as Katebwa Forum we plan to move in villages sharing information about MML e-participation system and also share posters”. Said Ezra Muhindo , Leader of Katebwa forum

“Thank you ToroDev for organizing this meeting, we promise to hang posters carrying MML information in most public places in our community”. Said Pascal Rugomako from Kyegegwa

“I encourage everyone to use the system. We have been oriented let us go back and teach others about this system.” Said Muntu Willy from Ntoroko

“MML e-participation system will make our work easy, let us share issues and encourage our own members to use it”. Elizebeth Muntu from Ntoroko

Conclusively participants requested ToroDev to come up with an umbrella organization that can bring all the forums together and requested ToroDev to support this initiative for sustainability purposes and proper resource mobilization