The Civil Society Strengthening Academy (CSSA)

NAC conducted a 5-day intensive training using the Civil Society Strengthening Academy (CSSA) toolkit to enhance the capacities of 30 representatives from youth-led organizations across Yumbe, Kampala, and Mayuge from 4th to 8th June 2024. The training aimed to strengthen organizational planning, management, and advocacy for a supportive operating environment.

Key topics covered included legal and policy compliance, leadership and governance, resource mobilization and partnerships, advocacy for an enabling environment, strategic development and direction, and monitoring and evaluation. Following the training, each participating organization was assessed using the Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) tool to evaluate institutional strengths, identify capacity gaps, and inform tailored future capacity-building support.

Training Modules and Content Covered:

• Legal and Policy Compliance : This module focused on understanding the legal and regulatory framework governing civil society organizations. Participants were guided on compliance requirements, organizational registration, reporting obligations, internal policies, and risk management to ensure lawful and accountable operations.
• Leadership and Governance : The module addressed effective leadership practices and sound governance structures within youth-led organizations. Key areas included board roles and responsibilities, ethical leadership, decision-making processes, accountability, transparency, and organizational culture.
• Resource Mobilization and Partnerships : This module equipped participants with skills to diversify funding sources and build strategic partnerships. Topics included fundraising strategies, proposal development, donor engagement, financial sustainability, and forming collaborative partnerships with stakeholders.
• Advocacy for an Enabling Environment ;Participants explored advocacy concepts, strategies, and tools for influencing policies and practices that affect civil society operations. The module covered stakeholder mapping, message development, policy engagement, coalition building, and civic space protection.
• Strategic Development and Direction : This module focused on organizational planning and strategic thinking. Participants learned how to develop clear vision and mission statements, set strategic goals, align activities with organizational priorities, and guide long-term organizational growth.
• Monitoring and Evaluation :The module introduced participants to monitoring and evaluation principles and tools for tracking performance and impact. Key areas included results-based management, indicator development, data collection methods, learning, accountability, and reporting for continuous improvement.

As  a result, 10 young people from Yumbe (5F and 5M), 10 from Mayuge (2F and 8M) and 10 from Kampala (6F and 4M) deepened their understanding on the policy and legal frameworks that inform and regulate CSOs in Uganda. As a result, CSOs developed necessary documentation and secured legal compliance: 11 organizations completed CSO registration (4 Yumbe,4 mayuge and 3 Kampala) , 6 renewed their CBO certificates (3 Mayuge and 3 Kampala), 10 board meetings were held to approve key internal policies (financial, human resource, and board charters) and financial management tools (7 in yumbe and 3 Kampala ), (1) organization opened an official bank account.