Training to strengthen citizen participation and social inclusion.
The first training course for PASCAL Civil Society Organization (CSO) Assistants, a project funded by the European Union, ended today, September 20. The event, which took place from September 18 to 20 at the ENAPP facilities in Luanda, trained 16 professionals, including the five CSO Assistants from the five provinces supported by PASCAL: Inácio Tomás (Benguela), Alberto Mango (Huambo), Daniel Chissumba (Huíla), Apolónia Gabriel (Luanda) and Custódia Lopes (Malanje). The main aim of this action was to equip these professionals with the necessary tools to effectively support CSOs in promoting citizen participation, good governance and social inclusion in their communities.
The training focused on developing practical skills and technical knowledge, enabling the assistants to play a more active and inclusive role in local governance processes. Among the main topics covered were participatory governance, spaces for participation, the institutional diagnosis of CSOs, as well as monitoring and evaluation. Participants were also instructed in data collection strategies, activity planning and strengthening the involvement of young people, women and people with special needs in decision-making processes.
The assistants reported that the training had a positive impact, highlighting that they now feel prepared to support CSOs more effectively and contribute to building more inclusive and democratic communities. This training represents an important step in PASCAL’s commitment to promoting transparency, good governance and social inclusion in the provinces where it operates.