The Goal
To enlarge the civic space for CSOs and young people to be active citizens participating in public social development and policy processes to enhance a more equitable, open and democratic society in Zimbabwe.
Objectives
- Strengthen the role of civil society as non-State actors that catalyse citizen actions and aspirations to hold governments to account through participating in policy making spaces, advocating with and for young citizens.
- Prepare young people for the engagement role through increasing their understanding and articulation of basic tenets of the new Constitution, particularly those relating to health, education and social services.
- Provide the space and opportunities for young people to engage in dialogue with public authorities to promote a culture of accountability and good governance, and subsequently accelerate the implementation of social development programmes.
Expected Outcomes
- Increased understanding of civic and social rights as enshrined in the Constitution by young people and civil society organisations.
- Increased participation by young people in decision making spaces where they can influence key policy decisions around access, budgeting and service provision.
- Increased citizen participation and influence in public policy making.
- Increased dialogue involving public authorities, young people, communities and CSOs on social policies and laws that impact on access to services.
Methodology?
The approach to implementation is non-political, non-confrontational, sincere and constructive engagement between citizens and policy makers through up and down dialogues on social services provision and access. All this is worked through capacity development on civil and social rights, community mobilisation, setting up of community accountability mechanisms to identity and track gaps in policy implementation; tripartite social dialogues, strengthening of an advocacy network for CSOs; young people-led research, and learning and sharing of experiences across communities.
