The Great Lakes Union for Inclusive Development (GUIDE) has hosted a team from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) and UN Women on a monitoring mission of the Institutional Strengthening Project.
The monitoring mission aimed to assess the progress made towards the WPHF-funded project on GUIDE’s Institutional Strengthening in M&E, Financial Management and Resource Mobilization.
The monitoring team comprised of Ms. Ahra Jo, the Programme Officer – Women, Peace and Security & Disaster Risk Reduction and Ms. Diana Haguma, a UN Women, Programme Associate Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Evaluation.
The team reviewed activities implemented in the first quarter, discussed progress in intervention areas, and received updates on achievements so far made by the project.
Interacting with the monitoring team, GUIDE’s Director for Monitoring and Evaluation Mr. Abas Ruhweza pointed out enhancement of staff skills in M&E and information management systems, as well as endowment of the organization with tools for information and data analysis, as some of the key achievements attained by the project in the first quarter. “A midterm evaluation indicates that the skills of GUIDE staff have improved by over 80% in three major areas: Designing a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, Data Analysis for M&E and Basic Lessons Learned Process”, said Mr. Ruhweza. “I am glad to report that information and communication materials are now available for use by GUIDE staff, both online and offline”, he added.
Under the project’s first quarter, GUIDE procured 5 computers and 1 projector, trained 9 staff members in M&E and Information Management Systems, and installed an information management computer software (GUIDEStat).
Ms Diana advised GUIDE to consider implementing programs under consortiums. “Developing projects under consortiums of like five organizations will leverage your expertise and increase your chances of funding”, Diana said.
Ms. Ahra urged GUIDE to consider working with the host local government in project implementation. “Working with your local government or informing them about an upcoming project will enhance your resource mobilization and influence”, Ahra remarked.
Ms. Ahra Pledged WPHF’s further institutional strengthening support for GUIDE in areas identified by the latter.
She also advised GUIDE to always invite a UN Women team to participate in their future training pieces to enrich their expertise.