______________________________________________________________________________________________

QUARTERLY TECHNICAL REPORT

1. Project Profile Organization name Youth Activists Initiative Organization (YAIO)

Contact Address Po Box 2925 Blantyre Email: yai.org2003@yahoo.com

Project Title

Increasing young people’s participation and voice in Blantyre City

Contract number of the project with Tilitonse

TIL-CB2-16-033-G

Person(s) preparing this report: / responsible for the contract

Tony Khanyepa (Executive Director)

Reporting Quarter and Year

January 2017 to March 2017

Tilitonse Fund – CBO Window 2

2

2. Introduction

Youth Activists Initiative Organization (YAIO), a Blantyre based youth organization, with funding from Tilitonse Fund is implementing a project called “Increasing young people’s participation and voice in Blantyre City”. The project is aiming at bridging the gap that exist between young people and duty bearers by creating a common ground for ward councillors and members of parliament to collaborate in dutifully serving their constituents. This project is also working towards building the capacity of the young people in advocacy and policy dialogue, enabling them to responsibly and continually engage duty bearers at various levels within their constituency and ward in a bid to influence much needed change. In addition, the project will increase the young people’s voices towards claiming their rights. Their active participation and inclusion will be achieved through engagement and dialogue thereby ensuring increased transparency and accountability on all wards and constituency affairs. The project will also facilitate the strengthening of accountability structures and other organisations at ward and constituency level in order to promote collaboration hence ensure increase in young people;s voice for action.

Goal of Project

To lobby for the inclusion of young people to participate in the designing, implementation and monitoring of CDF and LDF projects

Purpose of Project

To increase young people’s participation and voice in Mbayani, Chilomoni and Blantyre central wards to claim their rights to CDF and LDF projects through dialogue and engagement

Implementation Area The project is targeting 6,000 young people in 3 wards (Mbayani, Chilomoni and Blantyre Central wards) which are in Kabula and Blantyre City West constituencies, Traditional Authority Machinjiri in Blantyre City to ensure that their views are taken into account. Key/Expected Results/Outputs

1. Young people empowered with knowledge and skills to claim and defend their rights to CDF and LDF.

2. Improved dialogue and engagement between young people and duty bearers.

Tilitonse Fund – CBO Window 2

3

Project Partners

No Name of Partner Role In project

1 Department of youth

Involved in identifying young people and youth groups/structures in the targeted wards and encourage their effective involvement and participation on decision making process on issues that affect their day to day lives and the community they live in.

2 Duty bearers(Blantyre City authorities, Ward Councillors, traditional and opinion leaders):

Helped in identifying and mobilizing local resources i.e. local developmental community structures and involvement of community leaders who also provided reassurance for equal participation

3 Kabula Zone Youth Network and Zingwangwa Youth Network

Involved in mapping of existing youth groups and their potential and influence to contribute to the achievement of projects goal

Summary of Activities implemented and result achieved in the Quarter Capacity building training for VDCs and community leaders on LDF and CDF guidelines

and processes: YAIO conducted Capacity building trainings for VDCs and community leaders on LDF and CDF guidelines and processes. The trainings were aimed at empowering members of VDCs and community leaders with information on CDF and LDF guidelines and processes. Participants were empowered to understand the ladders of youth participation, roles and responsibilities of VDCs and enable them play their role to support youth inclusion in local governance structures and development projects. The training focused on the relevance of frequent VDC meetings and the impact young people will bring to the structures.

In Chilomoni Ward, the training was conducted on the 27th March 2017 and was attended by 34 participants (27 males & 7 females) which included the Councilor for the ward, Village heads Chilomoni & Chibwana, CBO leaders, members of VDCs and ADCs. The training was facilitated by Mr Adrian Mpinganjira from Blantyre City Council.

In Mbayani Ward, the training was conducted on the 28th March 2017 and was attended by 20 participants (13 males & 7 females) which included the Councilor for the ward, the Blantyre District Youth Officer, members of VDCs and ADCs. The training was facilitated by Mr Adrian Mpinganjira from Blantyre City Council.

In Blantyre Central Ward, the training was conducted on the 30th March 2017 and was attended by 37 participants (24 males & 13 females) which included a representation of Village head Chiyimile, members of VDCs and ADCs from the ward. The training was facilitated by Mr Harvey Chimaliro from Concerned Youth Organization.

4. 0 Analysis of Progress in relation to project outputs and indicators

Work planned Milestone for the quarter Actual Progress1 and Result

Reasons for Deviation

Output 1: Young people empowered with knowledge and skills to claim and defend their rights to CDF and LDF

Indicator 1.1 Percentage of young people participating in community activities on LDF and CDF projects

0 23% Based on Follow up on LDF and CDF community assessment report

Indicator 1.2

Indicator 1.3 Number of T/Shirts distributed

100 88 Quarterly and Advocacy/Interface meeting

Indicator 1.4 Number of leaflets distributed

1000 700 Through quarterly meeting, Advocacy/Interface meeting and other project partners meetings

Indicator 1.5 Number of young people trained on LDF and CDF guidelines and processes

120 0 Budget reallocation not approved on time

Indicator 1.6 Number of lobbying meetings between young people and duty bearers on the inclusion of young people in Local Governance Structures

3 0 Planned for next quarter

Indicator 1.7 Number of young people tained on Leadership

120 0 Budget reallocation not approved on time

1 For every activity (where ever not possible please provide estimation) include numbers of people separated into male and female.

Tilitonse Fund – CBO Window 2

5

Output 2: Improved dialogue and engagement between young people and duty bearers

Indicator 2.1 Number of advocacy and dialogue initiatives undertaken by young people

1 1

Conducted as planned

Indicator 2.2 Number of people taking part in advocacy/Interface meetings

40 33 Some did not attend though they were invited

Indicator 2.3 Number of issues raised by young people brought to the attention of the duty bearers

0 10 Based on Advocacy/ Interface meeting and Follow up on LDF and CDF community assessment report

Indicator 2.4 Number of VDCs and community leaders trained on LDF and CDF guidelines and processes.

120 91 VDCs in Mbayani Ward have not been active in the past two years as such many VDCs member did not turn up for the meeting though they were invited thinking they are not part of the committees

Indicator 2.5 Number of dialogue and engagement meeting with city authority on young people’s inclusion in local governance structures (VDCs and ADCs)

1 0 Planned for next quarter

Indicator 2.6 Number of monthly youth forums

1 0 Budget reallocation not approved on time

5. Capacity Development and Learning

During the Third Quarter, YAIO participated in the following capacity development programmes:

1. Scorecard training workshop organized by Tilitonse Fund in Lilongwe.

2. Mentorship programmes by Tilitonse Mentors.

During the period between January to March, YAIO has been working hand in

hand with Tilitonse mentors specifically on; Financial Management, Human

resourse and Operations Logic & Technical Effectiveness.

6. Networking and Collaboration

During the quarter, Youth Activists Initiative Organization participated in other project activities

funded by Tilitonse Fund organized by Concerned Youth Organization (CYO). The activities

included:

Project annual workshop and

Quarterly meeting

7. Lesson Learnt/ successes

There is a willingness amongst members of different local governance structures

to effectively participate in the designing, implementation and monitoring of

community development projects.

Members of local governance committees showed interest to include young

people in the local government structures.

Some members of VDCs and ADCs didn’t know the guidelines and processes on

LDF and CDF.

Most participants didn’t know their roles and responsibilities as members of

community development structures, as most community developments are

initiated by the Member of Parliament and Ward Councilor.

Note: In Mbayani Ward, It was observed that since the establishment of the

Village Development committees two years ago, the committees have never met

and some members do not even know why they are in the committee.

8. Challenges

Delay by Tilitonse Fund to approve the Budget Reallocation which led to delayed

implementation of the project activities designed for the Third Phase (January 2017 to

March 2017).

9. Recommendations

It was recommended during the trainings that young people should be given space to participate

in the Village Development Committees.

Tilitonse Fund – CBO Window 2

7

Annex 1: Case studies and/or Pictures – evidence to achievement of results Reporting in pictures (Capacity building training for VDCs and community leaders on LDF and CDF guidelines and processes – Chilomoni Ward 27th March 2017)

YAIO representative making a presentation Section of partcipants

Mr Adrian Mpinganjira facilitating the training Phillip Kameta Councilor for Chilomoni Ward

(Left) Village Head Chilomoni giving a remark (Right) Group Photo after the training

Tilitonse Fund – CBO Window 2

8

Reporting in pictures (Capacity building training for VDCs and community leaders on LDF and CDF guidelines and processes – Mbayani Ward 28th March 2017)

Councilor for Mbayani ward speeking The BT District Youth Officer making a comment

Mr Adrian Mpinganjira from BT City Council showcasing his facilitation skills during the training

A participant offering a closing prayer Group Photo

Tilitonse Fund – CBO Window 2

9

Reporting in pictures (Capacity building training for VDCs and community leaders on LDF and CDF guidelines and processes – Blantyre Central Ward 30th March 2017)

Group discussions

Group Presentations

Mr Harvey Chimaliro facilitating the training Section of participants

Tilitonse Fund – CBO Window 2

10

Annex 2: Indicative Work plan for the Next Quarter

Work planned for next quarter under each output

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Coordinating person

Output 1: Young people empowered with knowledge and skills to claim and defend their rights to CDF and LDF

Capacity building training on LDF and CDF guidelines, processes and the roles of young people

XXXXXX Project Management Team

Youth Leadership training XXXXXX Project Management Team

Lobbying meetings between young people and duty bearers on the inclusion of young people in Local Governance Structures.

XXXXXX Project Management Team

Output 2: Improved dialogue and engagement between young people and duty bearers

Monthly youth forums XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX Project Management Team

Dialogue and engagement meeting with city authority on young people’s inclusion in local governance structures (VDCs and ADCs)

XXXXXX Project Management Team

Tilitonse Fund – CBO Window 2

11

Annex 3: Contribution to Tilitonse Results Framework

Tilitonse Indicator Reported Progress Verifiable source of progress

Number of organizations collaborating in funded

projects

29 Participant registration

Number of documented cases of influence at

national and decentralized levels of government

and on non-governmental actors, for instance in

the private sector.

Quantity of information products developed in

the projects

% of funded partners that are able to access

information on key issues from public agencies

and private sector actors

Number of people informed through funded

projects about their rights to public services

33 Participant register for

Advocacy /Interface meeting

Number of instances of media coverage of

issues related to funded projects

1 times

Number of monitoring initiatives undertaken

that address services and policy commitments

to excluded groups

Number of people consulted on the quality of

public services in funded projects

Number of representations based on monitoring initiatives made to traditional leaders, officials responsible for public service delivery, MPs

Number of advocacy initiatives that promote rights and access to services for poor and excluded groups

2 Quarterly meeting

Advocacy/Interface

meeting

Number of practices and issues promoted by CSO grant partners that are adopted by other CSOs and development actors

Total Number of people that are empowered to hold duty bearers to account (by gender and district)

91 (64 males & 27

females)

Capacity building training

reports