As a follow up to the conference held on 12-13th December 2015, CONGOMA held a second conference on 24th -25th November 2016 to report on progress made on tackling issues that were raised in the previous conference which among others were signing of the MOUs with the District Council, Participation of Civil Society Organizations in DEC meetings, relationship with the District Council, Reporting but also issues to do with allowances.
The networks being a stronghold of the districts, has a mandate not limited to only implementing development projects , but also checking the levels of compliance and accountability of the councils at undertaking development projects. As partners with the Councils in development it has been and continues to be the desire of CONGOMA to strengthen these structures, capacitate them with expertise they are lacking to undertake their work, ensure their ability to resolve issues that can be handled at district/council level but also advance all issues that need to be tackled at National level.
With the continued link with the District Civil Society Networks (DCSN) and the National Sector networks, this project, funded by IM Swedish Development Partner has managed to establish a linkage between the two structures who are able to recognize their different roles in development. This linkage has necessitated the recognition of the DCSN as an entry point for all Civil Society work at District level. The strengthened collaboration has also led to some District Councils recognizing the DCSN structures as an entry point of all new projects that come into the district.
The Chairpersons of the respective District Networks reported on the gaps present and as team the conference agreed on issues that the National Sector Networks will advance in the year 2017. CONGOMA with the mandate of progressing networking, collaboration, advocacy and communication, with funding from IM Swedish partner has the mandate of strengthening the District CSO networks to ensure collaboration, networking, synergies and collective action for sustainable development at district level.