Following the establishment of eight county Information Centers and various information points in the Rwenzori Region and the recruitment of Information Officers and Coordinators to manage information services offered in the different Centers, coupled with the new developments and changes in the world of information and communication today, RIC-NET finds it pertinent that individuals’ capacities are built and made compliant to the transitions there in.
In light of the above RIC-NET organized a two days training of Information Officers and Coordinators of the eight county Information Centers on 25.08.11 to 26.08.11 at Kabarole Information Center board room. Twenty three people (6 females and 17males) participated in this training.
The purpose of the workshop was to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in information, information sourcing, documenting and dissemination and to also share the HIVOs and RWECO work plans with the members.
The participants were taken through what information and documentation is, what type of information can be sourced and documented and how, from whom it should be collected and when, among others.
Facilitating the session, James Mwirima noted that when collecting, documenting and disseminating information, emphasis should be put on who we are targeting, where they are located and the economic, social-political issues around them.
Explaining why we share information, James highlighted causing positive change, awareness creation, skills development, influencing policies, adoption of new methods, attitudes and improving governance as some of the reasons why information sharing is done.
James also encouraged the participants to learn how to document their success stories very well and also use every strategic fora available to share them, asserting that this would win publicity and consequent funding for the Information Centers. However in disseminating information we should always be mindful of two things; use of the right fora and the quality of information to be disseminated/shared.
During the training, the Information Officers also shared experiences of their work with each other; these included achievements, target communities, activities being conducted and services offered by the Information Centers as well as the challenges encountered in their day to day work.
Cross cutting challenges faced by the centers included inadequate funding to facilitate smooth running of activities, inadequate equipments (computers, and cameras among others),high financial expectations from the community during engagements with them, unreliable internet connection, high rental charges and lack of permanent/personal office premises, and lack of staff among others.
Other issues shared were the HIVOS, and RWECO work plans; RIC-NET Executive Director informed the participants that the Information Centers were going to receive some funding under RWECO to work on a number of program areas like; citizenship expression and engagement, social inclusion of the vulnerable and minority groups in the community, use of electronic media-UDUMA and voicing the silence.
He cautioned the participants that in the social accountability- citizenship expression and engagement program evidence based monitoring reports will be required and paramount to engage duty bearers geared at causing positive change in the community.
He appealed to the participants to verify every information they land their hands on before sharing it.
In his presentation, the Executive Director tasked the participants to be accountable and transparent before they can begin holding others accountable. He also encouraged participants to attend and participate in meetings in their communities, explaining that this will help us to keep abreast with what is going on and also provide foras for disseminating information.
About the use of online platforms, the Director informed the members that bulk Sms is going to be adopted for disseminating information to the community. A short code 6333 had already been procured to facilitate the same and that Information Centers will be expected to collect contacts of different stakeholders that they engage with in their activities.
Wrapping up the sessions, it was agreed that all information centres should develop concepts on which centers they are going to be working with in the RWECO program, the target groups and what kind of information they intend to be sharing with them and to ensure that these concepts are submitted to RIC-NET by 02.09.11 such that their funds can be advanced to them to begin implementation.
In addition to this, participants agreed that two success stories from every Information Center should be documented and sent to RIC-NET by 10.09.11 for inclusion in the upcoming RIC-NET Newsletter.
Conclusively it can be noted that participant’s skills and knowledge on information sourcing and documentation was enhanced. Participants understanding of the RWECO project and what is expected of them was also created.
The trainings were facilitated by Mr. James Mwirima, Mr. John Silco and the RICNET Information officer Alice Mbayahi and Program Manager Ms. Kyomuhendo Joselyne.
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