ACBF GRANTS TWO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS US$2.402 MILLION

Dr. Soumana Sako (left), Executive Secretary of ACBF, exchanging instruments of the grant agreement with Ms. Marian Munyinda, Chair, Board of Directors, NGOCC (right), Harare, Zimbabwe

On October 4, 2007, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and the Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (LCN) and Non-Governmental Organizations Coordinating Council (NGOCC- Phase II) of Zambia concluded grant agreements totaling US$2.402 million. The grant in the amount of US$ 1.2 million to the Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (LCN) is aimed at facilitating the effective participation of NGOs in national efforts to address Lesotho development challenges by enhancing their capacity to engage government policy-making process. The grant in the amount of US$1.204 million to the NGOCC is aimed at empowering NGOCC and its member organizations to contribute to the promotion of gender equality and equity in Zambia. Both projects fall under ACBF’s core competence area of professionalization of the voices of the private sector and civil society.

Speaking at the grant signing ceremony that took place at ACBF Secretariat in Harare, Dr. Soumana Sako, Executive Secretary, ACBF emphasized the importance of civil society organizations participation in national development processes and their role as watchdogs. He encouraged both organizations to adhere to their visions and missions of serving their respective communities. To NGOCC he challenged the organization to go beyond their expectations to ensure that women participate fully in the building of Zambia and not for them to be seen in their stereotypical roles. To LCN he encouraged the umbrella organization to engage and interface in meaningful dialogue with government, private sector and other civil society players. In response to the challenges posed, Ms. Mariam Munyinda, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of NGOCC thanked ACBF on behalf of NGOCC members. She emphasized that NGOCC is committed to the implementation of Phase II of the project and as a learning organization NGOCC will continually work in partnership with its partners. Representing the LCN, Mr. Mabusetsa Lenka, President of Board of Directors, also extended thanks to ACBF. The grant, he stated, is new energy for LCN and the organization is dedicated to the empowerment of the people of Lesotho.

Dr. Soumana Sako (left), Executive Secretary of ACBF, exchanging instruments of the grant agreement with Mr. Mabusetsa Lenka, President, Board of Directors, LCN (right in Harare, Zimbabwe

The overall goal of the four-year LCN Capacity Building Project is to facilitate the effective participation of NGOs in national efforts to address Lesotho development challenges by enhancing their capacity to engage government’s policy-making processes. This will help to promote efficient service delivery and overall accountability and good governance, for the betterment of the quality of life of Lesotho citizenry. The project will address aspects of identified weaknesses of NGOs that still need redress, based on lessons drawn from previous capacity building interventions. The project is geared towards, firstly, ensuring effective leadership and better governance of NGOs through an emphasis on institutional and organizational strengthening of LCN and its members; secondly, provision of timely and reliable evidence-based knowledge resources through research and the establishment of a library/online resource center; and thirdly, the project will build strategic alliance among NGOs and other relevant partners in the development process by facilitating well-targeted outreach and advocacy strategies at the national and regional levels. The project specific objectives are to:

• Enhance the substantive participation of NGOs in the implementation of key development frameworks among them the PRS, PRISP, and Vision 2020, through effective advocacy, monitoring and partnership building with government, business and development partners, especially donors to Lesotho, and
• Strengthen the organizational and institutional capabilities of LCN, including its staff skill base, in order to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness and maintain its leadership role as the coordinating body of NGOs in Lesotho.

Established in 1985, NGOCC is an umbrella organization for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) addressing gender and development issues in Zambia. The establishment of NGOCC in 1985 was based on the need for a more coordinated approach by NGO's in pursuit of gender equality and women empowerment. The main objective of NGOCC was to facilitate and coordinate networking of its member organizations. Over the years NGOCC's profile has transformed to a focal point of the Women's Movement in Zambia, working towards the empowerment of women. NGOCC has played a significant role in strengthening and linking women organizations in Zambia. It has contributed to put the women’s agenda on the policy map in Zambia. NGOCC membership has increased from nine in 1985 to 69 in 2006 and 83 in 2007. ACBF’s has been supporting NGOCC capacity building project since 2001. Phase I sought to contribute towards building women’s capacity to participate in decision making in Zambia.

The specific overall goal of Phase II is to empower NGOCC and its member organizations to contribute to the promotion of gender equality and equity in Zambia. The specific objectives of the project include: (i) to increase the institutional capacity of NGOCC and its member organizations to contribute to the promotion of gender equity and equality in Zambia; (ii) to contribute towards empowerment and enhancing socio-economic status of women in Zambia; and (iii) to build a critical mass for stepping up the promotion of gender equality and equity in Zambia.

The expected impact of Phase II is the empowerment of NGOCC and the women movement in Zambia to contribute towards achievement of the third Millennium Development Goal, which is to Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women and impact on government’s polices, budget and programs in pursuit of poverty reduction and sustainable development in Zambia.

Group photograph of grant recipients with the diplomatic corps present at the signing ceremony and ACBF staff of Zone I