Promoting more effective citizen participation in governance processes to improve citizen-driven development.
Description
Funded by USAID, Restless Development Zimbabwe’s project called Citizen Engagement for Accountability Activity (CEAA) was implemented by a consortium of organizations, which includes Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) and Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ). The activity aimed to strengthen a culture of political and civic engagement in Zimbabwe by promoting greater and more effective citizen participation in governance processes at multiple levels, with an eye to improved, citizen-driven development.
CEAA’s objectives were to:
(1) Activate citizen agency for accountability,
(2) Strengthen women’s leadership and inclusion; and
(3) Enhance youth empowerment and positive engagement.
Restless Development Zimbabwe was leading the implementation of the third objective of the CEAA project, which focused on enhancing youth empowerment and positive engagement through the “Youth Community Leaders Program”. The program was imparting young women and men with the knowledge, skills and platforms to claim their rights, improve their quality of life, and develop their communities with support from key stakeholders.
Before the project was cut short by the US Government’s decision, the project was well on track to meet its objectives through impactful activities. Through the training sessions conducted by YCLs, 2,703 (845M & 1,858F) youth champions were equipped with knowledge and skills regarding their civic rights as enshrined in the constitution, which enabled them to identify shortfalls in the fulfilment of their rights and to challenge themselves to speak up in their communities. The knowledge and skills gained by the youth champions enabled them to act as agents of change who respond to the challenges faced by youths in their communities.
The skills and knowledge gained by youths played a significant role in their claiming leadership positions within community and district structures such as School Development Committees, Village Development Committees, and Gender Committees. The Collaborative events (such as the “meet your leader” engagement sessions) provided safe spaces for young people to share the real issues they face in their communities and to recommend solutions.
I am so proud that three of my youth champions chose to take part in leadership positions in the community after our sessions. Two female and one male youth champion were elected to be on the youth committee for Junior Achievement Zimbabwe. It made the champions feel that they owned the program.
– Charity Muzuli, a YCL in Mwenezi Ward 5.
