INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
The institutional strengthening programme aims to bolster the institutional and organizational development of UWONET so that the organization can be effective both in lobbying and advocacy as well as networking ' both aimed at improving the status of Ugandan women. Through this programme, UWONET seeks to develop and implement a fundraising strategy that will make the organisation sustainable. The programme also works to review and implement organisational guidelines in the area of governance and decision-making, management and financial systems. Through the programme, staff capacity building is envisioned to ensure effective coordination by UWONET.
Strategic Objective:
To develop a dynamic, proactive and all-inclusive system of management that is strategic on issues and approach, effectively influences policy and decision-making and provides leadership on women's issues.
UWONET will focus on:
* Searching for and re-orienting itself to adopt methods of work that consciously involve membership to identify and own strategic issues of women's concerns. The membership will be involved in defining how UWONET should function and provide direction through various policies.
* Building the capacity of the secretariat to adopt dynamic work methods that enhance coordination rather than implementation of the Network's activities.
* Developing internal systems of continuous reflection and learning that promote and maintain dynamism as well as a sense of direction and continuity.
The key activities under the institutional strengthening and capacity building programme will include the following:
Activity 1: Expand Establishment
The Secretariat, the administrative arm of the network headed by the Coordinator is responsible for implementing programmes of the Network and coordinating membership. However the Secretariat is currently understaffed and lacks personnel to undertake specific tasks, which is detrimental to UWONET's performance. UWONET would therefore like to recruit the services of 2 programme officers (information and communication and; monitoring and evaluation) In order to effectively implement and manage the organisation's financial commitments, UWONET plans to recruiting the services of a financial manager. The recruitment of more staff will intensify the fundraising activities of all the programme areas.
Activity 2: Developing and Reviewing Various Gender Sensitive Policy Documents
As part of the institutional development, UWONET plans to develop policies such as the resource mobilization manual, human resource manual, HIV/AIDS workplace policy, board manual, networking policy and financial manual. In addition, the Network will undergo review of existing policy documents like the UWONET Constitution, personnel policy.
Activity 3: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of understanding will be signed between the Network and the membership so as to set out the modus operandi as well as increasing commitment to Network activities and clarification of roles and responsibilities. Signing MOU is imperative because it will strengthen the role of the membership in the programme since the new approach is that of greater involvement of the membership implementing the activities.
Activity 4: Executive Committee Induction
UWONET administrative structure is made up of the General Assembly, the Executive Committee and the Secretariat. The General Assembly, which is the supreme organ of the network, comprises of all members - organisations and individuals. The Executive Committee is made up of nine members elected by the General Assembly. The implementation of programme activities is under the general supervision of the Executive Committee. This makes it imperative for the Executive Committee to have annual induction sessions so that they can effectively support the secretariat.
Activity 5: Developing and Implementing a Monitoring and Evaluation System
As a follow-up of one of the recommendations of the previous mid-term evaluation, UWONET as a learning organisation plans to develop a monitoring and evaluation system in placeto inform UWONET on progress and impact of the advocacy initiatives of the organisation.
Activity 6: Undertake Staff Development
UWONET will maintain a qualified, organised, pro-active staff that will effectively and efficiently coordinate the programme. In order to have such staff, the Network will work towards development and capacity building programmes for staff though induction and training.
Activity 7: Implement Internship Programme
UWONET will continue to encourage volunteers and interns to participate in UWONET activities. Since UWONET operates on a small secretariat and a skeleton staff, there is need to implement the proposed activities in a cost-effective way through recruiting talented university graduates into the women's movement. Through this methodology, UWONET will build the capacity of more human rights activists by providing young interns who will gradually carry forward the activism for women's rights. By making use of volunteers, UWONET will be contributing to the strengthening of its members.
Activity 8: Conduct Network Meetings
As management of programme activity progress, there will be a series of meetings to plan, monitor and evaluate programme activities. These meetings will include: Annual General Meetings, annual planning retreats, staff and Executive Committee meetings.
Activity 9: Conduct Evaluation
UWONET plans to undertake a mid term evaluation in 2006 and end of programme evaluation in 2008. These evaluations will be aimed at measuring the impact of UWONET programmes as well as inform future programme design.
Activity 10: Fundraise for the Implementation of the Strategic Plan
UWONET will aspire to have a sustainable resource and financial base that will enable for the implementation of this strategic plan. UWONET will fundraise in accordance to the fundraising policy of the organisation and its strategy to diversify the funding base of the organisation in the short and long run. The fundraising will be a team effort done through establishing partnerships, donor conferences and proposal writing.
Activity 11: Programme Administration
In order to enable the secretariat staff to effectively execute their duties and fulfil programme activity demands, UWONET plans to avail appropriate equipment and space through: purchase and maintain of equipment such as computers, scanners, printers, photocopier, generator, and multimedia/ power point projector as well as pay monthly operational costs including fuel, telephone, utilities, email among others.
Activity 12: UWONET Staffing
In order to maintain a highly efficient, motivated and qualified staff, UWONET plans to pay competitive salaries to their staff, regularly review staff remuneration and motivate them, recognise and acknowledge staff contribution to the network.
Activity 13: Keep Proper Books of Accounts
UWONET will endeavour to keep proper books of accounts through daily balancing of books of accounts, producing monthly financial reports, annual financial reports and annual auditing of accounts.
Activity 14: Design of a New Strategic Plan
By the end of the Programme period in 2008, UWONET plans to engage the various stakeholders ' membership, allies and development partners in the designing of a new Strategic plan 2009-2013.
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