In a bid to foster stronger citizen participation in governance, Mukamira Community Based Organization (MCBO), in partnership with Never Again Rwanda (NAR), organized a workshop aimed at equipping local decision-makers in Musanze and Nyabihu districts with skills in the Tubategamatwi participatory model. This model is designed to increase citizen engagement in both decision-making and policy-making processes, with a focus on improving service delivery and strengthening community-based governance.
The workshop, held on August 5, 2024, in Musanze, brought together local leaders, community representatives, and volunteers to deepen their understanding of how the Tubategamatwi program works. The event was initiated by a welcome from the executive secretary of Kimonyi sector, encouraging participants to actively engage and gain insights that could improve the services they provide to the community.
Saphie Mategeko, the Executive Director of MCBO, took the stage to express her gratitude to the attendees and share MCBO’s experience with the Tubategamatwi model. She explained how the program has empowered citizens in Nyabihu district to address local issues independently and collaborate effectively with leaders in achieving the district’s targets. She urged leaders from Musanze to embrace the model to achieve similar success, emphasizing the power of collaboration between local leaders and community volunteers in transforming service delivery.
One of the key takeaways from the session was the importance of timely and accurate reporting from volunteers working in Musanze. The session revealed challenges with communication, especially with volunteers who had been reassigned to new roles, leading to reporting delays. However, the leaders committed to resolving these challenges to ensure better coordination and timely reporting in the future.
The Kimonyi sector data manager also contributed by reminding leaders of their responsibilities in achieving district targets for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. He urged participants to set clear goals, be role models, and maintain consistent communication to successfully implement and sanctify their vows and targets.
The training concluded with a renewed commitment from local leaders to work closely with MCBO and its volunteers, ensuring a leadership model based on community involvement and government collaboration. The executive secretary of Kimonyi sector, Mukasano Gaudence, thanked MCBO and NAR for their efforts in enhancing community-based governance, vowing to maintain the good partnership in improving the lives of local citizens.
Achieved Outcomes:
The workshop successfully clarified the roles and responsibilities of local leaders in working with MCBO, leading to a renewed commitment to fostering participatory governance. Participants, including women, youth, and people with disabilities, actively contributed, ensuring diverse voices were heard.
Women/Girls Engagement:
Women participated equally with men throughout the session, voicing their opinions freely and contributing significantly to the discussions.
Participation of Special Groups:
The workshop ensured that youth and people with disabilities played an active role in the discussions, with no challenges reported in their participation.
Lessons Learned:
The training demonstrated a strong desire among participants to learn more about the Tubategamatwi model. Future sessions will likely be extended to allow for deeper exploration of key topics.
Challenges and Recommendations:
No major challenges were encountered. However, it was recommended that volunteer leaders improve their reporting processes by submitting reports on time and communicating any obstacles early.
Conclusion:
The workshop concluded on a positive note, with local leaders committed to working closely with MCBO and NAR in fostering community-based governance. The leaders pledged to uphold government programs and ensure that district vows and targets are achieved at a higher rate, with an emphasis on timely reporting and effective collaboration.
This initiative highlights the growing recognition of the importance of participatory governance and the role that empowered citizens can play in shaping the future of their communities.