The value of creating a platform for partners to interact, share, get challenged, and learn is critical to our work at Children’s Rights and Violence Prevention Fund (CRVPF). We, therefore, make space through forums for partners to meet and discuss the most effective interventions in their work and communities.

The Youth and Capacity Development Program (YCD) organized a learning forum that lasted for four days targeting 77 program partners within Uganda from Refugee camps, host communities, and slum communities.

During the forum, partners shared the interventions which worked well. They included work readiness skills, VSLA formation and support, financial literacy support, community mobilization, and group formation. It was also noted that information and technology skills as well as accelerated education were lacking.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, of Children’s Rights and Violence Prevention Fund (CRVPF), appreciated all the partners present for relentlessly working closely with young people to equip them with work readiness skills that make them self-reliant with dignified formal and informal employment. He encouraged participants to use this opportunity to engage and learn from each other.

“We started as a regional intermediary organization; we now have 210 partners in all programs and 77 are under the YCD program.”

The YCD program coordinator during the discussions urged participants to document the success stories, lessons, and gains from all program interventions and not forget cluster partnerships.

Partners had the opportunity to attend sessions on best practices in communication, particularly on branding principles, and social media guidelines. Partners also had their challenges in data entry addressed during the MIS presentation.

All sessions were interactive, many questions were asked, and partners shared insights that we will capitalize on to improve our programming. For example, partners highlighted that Community organizations have proven to be invaluable in meeting the needs of vulnerable communities because of proximity, credibility, and adaptability, especially in critical times like the pandemic response. This fosters community ownership and buy-in of program interventions, especially among important stakeholders like local leaders and influencers. Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLAs) groups remain significant as an entry point for various development interventions in communities. These groups build cohesiveness and are a source of social capital and accountability simultaneously promoting economic empowerment and development at the grassroots.

It’s without a doubt that Learning forums enable partners to identify their strengths and gaps to improve their programming for children and young people, and as CRVPF we will continue to listen and learn with our partners to address some of the challenges highlighted and structure interventions that suit their needs at the community level.