KAMPALA — The Hunger Project Regional Director Dr Daisy Owomugasho has noted that the only way to achieve Civil Society initiative is to localise Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She made the remarks at a workshop about the Movement Community Led Development (MCDL) Uganda at Piato Restaurant in Kampala.
Dr Owomugasho revealed that the MCLD Chapters are already within in some of the East African Countries like Rwanda, Kenya and Ethiopia.
According to Dr Owomugasho, globally, the power and potential of CDL is changing lives everywhere because communities know better than anyone else.
“It brings processes that enable communities to recognise and leverage their assets and take action to achieve sustainable change and sometimes self-reliance and also resilience through making sure pieces are put into place and managed well,” she said.
She added that power is with the community globally as local communities are finding new ways of deciding and doing things themselves.
Dr Owomugasho said the ultimate power belongs to and resides within the community at large and it should be given to them.
“How can we give power to those who are supposed to be benefiting from the progress?” she asked.
She urged civil societies to have shared visions of CDL for the chapter to be able to plan together so that they achieve their vision.
“The movement needs to mobilise resources, create synergies with existing networks for solidarity and agree on so many aspects for a common CLD agenda.
In her remarks, the Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNFO) Head of Programmes (HOD) Sophie Kange said the movement is an empowerment to the communities to engage in the agenda.
She observed that equipping the Citizen with relevant information is vital for CLD to thrive.
“It’s important to provide spaces for citizens to interact with leaders. CSOs must act as a link for citizens at all levels of decision-making government structures, amplifying their voice and mobilizing them,” Kange said
“For CLD to be successful, it should be inclusive as that is the only they we shall live without leaving anyone behind,” she added
Ms Kange said that there is need to engage local governments while achieving CLD.
“Civil Societies need to work with local governments because it is the implementing engine of all programs. You cannot have successful programs unless the local governments are empowered.” She remarked.
She advised that the movement should know there will always be a fusion between politics and policy advocacy.
“Therefore, it’s important that political structures such as the Presidential Advisory Committee on Budget, NRM Concuss and the budget committee at parliament are reached to embrace the MCLD agenda,” Kange said.
The National Planning Authority (NPA) Senior Planner -Strategic Planning Vincent Oprimu welcomed participants to input in the National Development Plan III which will be concluded May 2020.
He noted that the theme on Community Mobilization and Mind-set change requires technical input from CSOs to share their experiences on CLD approaches that have worked.
“There is need for MCLD-U to engage youth in NDPIII debate to air their views using the UYONET structures,” he said.
A number of organizations volunteered to be part of the Interim Steering Committee to serve and provide technical guidance to the MCLD-U Chapter.
The MCLD-U Chapter has a 12-member committee.
