MWARP Hosts Community Engagement Forum in Msambweni

The Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) organized a community engagement forum in Msambweni sub-county, Kwale County on Monday to empower local communities and tackle systemic governance issues.

The event was held in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Amkeni Wakenya UNDP program on Governance.

It aims to foster social accountability and equip community members with the necessary knowledge and skills to actively participate in the development process.

The forum brought together 60 participants from the village units of Mvumoni, Gombato, and Bongwe in the Bongwe-Gombato ward.

They discussed promotion of social accountability and empowerment of attendees to effectively follow up on development projects proposed during public participation forums.

Discussions at the summit revealed the existence of a gap that would have ensured the full implementation of projects agreed upon during budget formulation and approval stages.

Mr. Tumaini Kassim Chaunga, the area’s Member of County Assembly (MCA), attended the conference and called for an increased community engagement and oversight.

Mr. Chaunga praised MWARP for hosting the forum in his ward and promised to emulate such initiatives. He commended the organizations leadership in fostering community engagement.

Stakeholders at the conference noted the importance of bridging the gap between policymakers and the community. They are targeting to foster a sense of accountability, and ensuring that development initiatives align with the needs and priorities of the local populace.

Experts also emphasized the role of civil society organizations and grassroots initiatives in promoting inclusive governance and sustainable development.

The engagement forms part of the broader Amkeni Wakenya, UNDP program on Governance, implemented in Kwale County with funding from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kenya through UNDP Kenya.

Both policymakers and grassroots organizations at the summit have committed to enhance meaningful change to address local challenges and promote sustainable development.

The UNDP-led initiative has been dedicated to empowering citizens to participate effectively in democratic Governance by providing support through Civil Society Organizations.

Since its inception, Amkeni Wakenya has provided support to over 400 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across Kenya in form of grants, capacity building and learning and knowledge management.

Targeted organisations include, small grassroots-based CBOs as well as medium size and bigger national-level CSOs/NGOs.