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Mobilising Support

 
Date
2022-08-01
 
 
Days
8
 
 
Location
Banjul - The Gambia
 
 
Type of event
Classroom course
 
 
Language
English
 

 

 

Over the past three decades Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across West Africa played a complementing role to the government through the provision of social services to various communities. This has sustained their position within the region as key stakeholders in the development process.

In recent years, there has been significant improvement in state building efforts across the region. Most countries in the region have adopted measures of decentralise governments as a means to improve the quality-of-service delivery, increase responsiveness and enhance socio-economic inclusion. These efforts have led to greater responsibility of the state, that has made service provision role of CSOs to seem obsolete.

In the Gambia particularly, efforts have been made over the last 5 years towards stronger political stability largely thanks to a proactive citizenry, participative civil society that has taken advantage of the democratic opening, and new leadership. The poverty rate declined from 9.2 % in 2020 to 8.5 % in 2021, lifting over 10,000 people out of poverty.

Despite this positive outlook, majority of the Gambian continue to struggle to access basis services with widespread poverty and multidimensional vulnerability as well as gaps in the provision of social services.

Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the capacity of local CSOs to mobilise stakeholders to engage government at both local and national levels, holding the government accountable and building partnerships for adequate service provision.

In response to this challenge, the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) in partnership with Wilde Ganzen Foundation and under the Change the Game Academy Programme (https://www.changethegameacademy.org) is running the advocacy for change training for selected civil society organisations in The Gambia. The course seeks to strengthen their capacity to influence decision-making process and hold government accountable at the local and national levels.

The course will provide participating organisations with requisite knowledge, skills, and techniques to effectively engage a broad range of stakeholders at local and national level. It will help participants to make strategic choices and engage duty bearers effectively.

The course is made up of two trainings including:

  • Starter Training (5 days), 01 – 05 August 2022: It will cover modules such as problem analysis, solution analysis, tactics for mobilising stakeholders to influence public policy, mobilising allies, and analysing policy implementation and negotiations skills among others. An action plan will be formulated by participants by the end of the 5-day training with the guidance of the facilitators. Participating organisations will receive technical support to implement their action plans.
  • Skills Perfection Training (3 days), 18 – 20 October 2022: This component of the training will focus on enhancing the participants’ skills and strengthening their capacity to further integrate changes that occurred during the implementation of their action plan. It will be support participating organisations to embrace rights-based approach to development and understand state obligations as well the responsibility of duties bearers and rights holders.

Eligibility Criteria:
CSOs that are interested in applying must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be a CBO, Self-help group or NGO operating in The Gambia.
  • Must be legally registered as a non-profit organisation based in the Gambia.
  • Must have a good track record within its community of operation.
  • Must have strong leadership and governance structures.
  • Must have a minimum of 2 years operational experience.
  • Must be willing to pay a commitment fee of 5,500 Dalassi after the organisation has been selected.

How to Apply: Kindly complete the online application form https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XYLQGND by Friday 17 June 2022. For inquiries contact us via capacitybuilding@wacsi.org and copy byleandre@wacsi.org

Download: 2022 Call for Applications - Advocacy for Change Course in The Gambia