From Monday, 12th to Thursday, February 15th, a team from Management Systems International (MSI), a renowned consulting firm specializing in international development based in Washington DC, visited Children’s Rights and Violence Prevention Fund (CRVPF) at our regional offices in Kampala, Uganda.
At the heart of our discussions was the imperative to scale up our impact through our three core programs: Prevention of Violence against Children and Young People (PVAC), Adolescent Girl’s Power Program (AGPP), and Empowering Youth Through Data and Community Development (EYDCD). The objective was to ensure that our violence prevention strategies not only reach everyone in the communities we serve but also ensure that our impact is sustained beyond the lifespan of individual projects, potentially through collaborations with governmental bodies to ensure sustainability. During the initial phase of their visit, the MSI team engaged extensively with CRVPF’s Executive Director, program coordinators, and our entire staff to gain comprehensive insights into our organization, its values, vision, and programs. Together, we brainstormed strategies to amplify the reach and effectiveness of our initiatives.
Furthermore, discussions were held concerning the review of the cluster partnership grant-making model, which fosters collaboration among 2-5 community organizations operating within a shared geographic area. These discussions also encompassed the significance of the six-month Planning and Learning grant, which afford cluster partners the necessary time and space to acquaint themselves with each other, listen to children, young people, and families, and collaborate with both formal and informal community leaders to pinpoint joint project areas. Moreover, this six-month period serves as an opportunity to gauge the organizational capacities of cluster partners, thereby informing potential future capacity development initiatives. MSI consultants expressed their appreciation for the cluster partnership approach, acknowledging its role in facilitating collective action among community organizations to enhance their impact, expand their reach, and amplify their voices within their respective communities. However, the challenge of attaining the requisite visibility for securing additional donor support remains a concern.
On Wednesday, February 14th, MSI and CRVPF’s collaboration extended beyond the confines of our offices as we journeyed to Luweero to meet partners implementing CRVPF’s violence-prevention strategies and interventions. The visit commenced with discussions with the Luweero VAC Cluster, focusing on the formation, dynamics, benefits, and challenges of cluster partnerships, which are at the heart of CRVPF’s approach. Subsequently, a meeting was held with a parenting group, a key component of the PVAC program. This provided an opportunity for MSI partners to interact with program participants and Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs), gaining insights into the functioning of the groups, including components such as Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).
During the field visit, we had the opportunity to explore an AGPP safe space. The participants showcased the diverse life skills they had acquired within the safe space, ranging from tailoring and making liquid soap to baking and hairdressing, along with learning how to save through the VSLA tool. Beyond gaining tangible skills, the young mothers among them shared how the program had profoundly impacted their self-perception. They spoke of overcoming the belief that their worth diminished after childbirth, expressing newfound confidence in their ability to pursue any goal. One of the inspiring stories shared was about a young lady who had been working as a domestic worker and experiencing mistreatment from her employers. Upon joining the safe space, she acquired skills in hairdressing. Utilizing this newfound skill, she moved away from her previous employment and currently earns a living by braiding hair within her community. These testimonies highlighted the transformative influence of safe spaces, enabling its participants to overcome barriers and carve out more violence-free paths for themselves.
The field visit concluded with a meeting involving partners from all CRVPF core programs to discuss program scaling plans and gather their input on scalable components. Partner feedback was positive, with existing informal scaling efforts being recognized and suggestions provided for further a scale-up of these efforts.
MSI’s visit to CRVPF concluded on Thursday, February 15th, with the team sharing their findings and recommendations for CRVPF’s future direction and providing insights on our plans to increase our impact. They highlighted various avenues through which CRVPF can extend its reach through our programs and delved into potential challenges when enhancing impact and effectiveness. Overall, MSI’s visit served as a valuable platform for collaboration, reflection, and strategic planning, advancing CRVPF’s mission of promoting children’s rights and preventing violence in homes, schools, and communities, the three settings where violence often occurs.
