MNYPA, FOR EFFECTIVE BUDGETING & PLANNING THROUGH ADVOCACY

 Group Photo Of Participants powered

 by MNYPA@2024

              Preparatory training going on 

Mbale Network For The Young People Living With HIV AND AIDS today commenced a three day training to equip the young people with knowledge on budget processes of local governments which is crucial for young people, as well as for SRH-led Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). 

Through informed advocacy, young individuals are equipped to engage strategically with policymakers, championing the cause for enhanced funding for SRH programs. The transparency of these processes ensures the efficient utilization of funds, while accountability mechanisms hold local governments to their responsibilities. 

The participation of young people is aimed at fostering a sense of ownership, allowing for the tailoring of SRH services to meet the specific needs of their communities.

Over 30 youths participated with targeted interventions designed to bridge critical service gaps, and advocacy based on solid evidence draws a clear connection between funding and improved health outcomes. 

By taking an active role in decision-making, the youth transform into dynamic agents of change, empowered to influence policies and direct resources towards the betterment of SRH services.

The CAO delegate, Mutuwa Regina Mabonga during the remarks, appreciated MNYPA for the resilience and bridging the gaps between youths and Mbale district on sexual reproductive dominance among young mothers. She stressed this while opening a training for non residential training at Sunrise Hotel in senior quarters, Mbale City.

 Mbale District trainers included District planner, HIV AND AIDS focal person, Health educator, DCDO and political representatives for youths and PDWs in the district.

The objective of this training is to;

✓ To enhance the capacity of Minoritized young people, SRH led CBOs, and CSOs in understanding and actively participating in the budget processes for Mbale District Local Government.

✓ To assess the Mbale District Budget allocations specifically for youth-friendly SRH services and identify advocacy issues.

✓ To collaboratively develop a comprehensive action plan with clear commitments, strategies for follow-up, and mechanisms for monitoring impact.

Besides the training objectives above,this will also leverage on the experience of the Make Youth Panel member, Mbale District Make Way mapped allies and MNYPA as a collaborative Partner to ensure commitments to include SRH intersectionality issues in the Mbale District Budget are clearly captured, followed up and reported on. The training was divided into two groups to help participants have interactive discussions on budgeting allocations from available resources.

During the recap for day one, the participants had a catchy moments to retail on the previous sessions highlighting more on budgeting advocacy with young people inclusive. Magomu Abdullah, the district planner previously had taken the participants through a training where preparatory elements of budgeting and planning were key.

MNYPA were able to make assessments, calling it a take home knowledge baseline to their formation as a community organization society. The relevance of the recap stood as a measurement on whether the trainees understood the day one session aligning it to the second day program.

It is from this background that few challenges affecting their organization were cited right from the central government.

~ Inadequate funding 

~ Untimely funding 

~ Political interference 

~ Bad history 

~ Resource constraints 

~ Limited advocacy 

~ Ignorance of own rights 

And lastly, the limited information.

The concept of lobbing was emphasized with steps on how to start and what approach to frontier when lobbing.

While the above stood on record, challenges accrued as follows; 

~ Suppression of voices 

~ Bureaucracy and red tape 

~ Conflict of interest 

~ Limited skills 

~ Lack of will and zeal 

~ And lastly, the poor legal and policy framework.

Intersectionality was another vital area during the training by Mwebaze Coreen, a panelist and program coordinator for MAKE WAY organisation with the mission statement: Embracing intersectionality for health equity and justice.

Mwebaze recalled that valnerability among young people doesn't mean exclusion because their impairedness has full functionality in their understanding. Awareness and environment contributes to intersectionality on marginalized viz vi discrimination. She asserted that young people need to be engaged on intersectional values on privileged rights.

The trainer didn't forget reminding the young people of their rights, most importantly the insurance Bill which is under way and the East African countries have implemented it except Uganda. It is one the NRM core values to guarantee the citizens of their  national health by insuring health safety for all.

MNYPA was embraced with distinctive knowledge and skills for casting better budgeting and planning starting with advocacy towards mindset change among the young generation.

The district health educator, Masagwayi Agnes credited MNYPA's initiative of training the advocacy team on proper budgeting and so forth so as to create an impactful team.

Masagwayi called this engagement as an essential moment to embrace the trending dynamics in health affecting youths.

The district HIV AND AIDS focal person, Wandwasi Robert capitalized on influence, projection that the action plan should be adopted to foster good policies into advocacy. He added that intersectionality helps the young people to match into privileged rights at the right time with informed mind.

Lastly, the district chairman representative Masaba James who also doubles as secretary for education and health while closing a three day training which was held at Sunrise Hotel in Mbale City said this; " every time you learn, you gain knowledge and skills, today this gives a rich ponder in mind to the Young persons for the love and resilience among you".

Information is so important in realizing advocacy whenever times call. As youths, we should be purposeful to the society we belong. Budgeting and planning should be able to help us the young people table accountability demands to the leaders.

Masaba closed the budgeting and planning advocacy training emphasizing zeal to create harmony for the a meaningful living since MNYPA is so close to the district in terms of it's exceptional working relationships. He noted!

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