Africa Local Government Action Forum (ALGAF): Experiences of Ghana

1. Africa Local Government Action Forum (ALGAF):Experiences of Ghana Prepare for FALGAF Session May 14, 2009 by Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah GIMPA DLC By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

2. Coordinating AGLAF: What’s at stake? • ALGAF as a capacity building initiative addresses numerous local economic development issues such as: • Inadequate human resource capacity • Poor and high cost of service delivery • Vicious cycle of poverty within communities • Poor governance • Exclusion of the poor and vulnerable i • Misuse of resources • Etc. By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

3. Role of the Coordinator • Identify target audience • Position/title • Background, expertise, work, publications, contributions and assignments in a particular area • Role of that person in his community, subsector, industry or field By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

4.  How To Make Coordination Effective? • Logistics • Knowledge of topics, dates, presenters, presentations, invitations sent out with follow-ups • Conducting evaluations • Keep contact and some details on past and potential participants • Send materials to participants ahead of session • Record of institutions that are likely to benefit from a particular topic or theme By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

5. World Bank Support for Coordinator • Get to know focal person in the World Bank Country Office • Assist with identifying participants and presenters • Attends sessions • Keep him posted on events of ALGAF By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

6. Being A Facilitator: What Does It Mean? • Create right environment for participants to enjoy all aspects of session • Make learning experience motivating for all participants • Make sessions interactive • Manage sessions by giving every participant the opportunity to be heard • at pre-video or during the video conference By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

7. What Is Expected From Facilitators During And Between VC? By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

8. Facilitators Role During VC • Ensure registration of participants prior to VC • Ensure participants are seated before VC • Introduce participants • Reproduce and distribute presentations , reading materials and running order • Discuss presentation with participants • Take note of emerging issues to be shared with participating countries or presenter during Q & A • Ensure orderliness in the way interactions take place • Control microphone at the local site • Arrange refreshment By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

9. Facilitators Role Between VC • Liaise with principal coordinator, country coordinators/facilitators, partners and participants • Participant’s list, evaluations, questions, comments, certification, contributions, etc. • Stay in touch with participants • Prepare towards next event • Communicate within coordinators’/facilitators‘ loop • Communicate with target audience, participants, LAs, MDAs, Public and private service providers, CSOs, NGOs and FBOs • Send feedback - country reports, By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

10. Difficulties (Challenges) • Lack of response from invitees • Late submissions from invitees • Lack of cooperation from local government authority • Low participation from local government officials • Institutional transition • Late submission of presentations • Late issuance of certificates By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

11. How Does The Coordination Support The Facilitators? • Through regular contact with local coordinators/facilitators • Follow-ups with presenters and sponsors • Payments • Compilation of consolidated reports and their distribution By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

12. How To Decide On Themes/Topics For Sessions • Participatory • ALGAF evaluation with all participating sites • Participants • Coordinator/facilitator • Institutions that have attended • End of theme evaluation • Grouping/clustering of topics for themes • Topics grouped under these themes • Prioritization of themes and topics • Suggestions of topics • participants • local coordinator/facilitator By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

13.  How To Identify Presentations • Issues of national or regional concern • HIV AIDS • Global financial, fuel and crises • Climate change • Conflict management • Availability of resource person/presenter in- country By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

14. How To Make Sure Participants Benefit Fully From Presentations? • Country perspective is given • Localization of concepts • Organize local discussions on topics before or after presentations • Invite a subject expert to assist with answering and addressing issues • Follow-up with presenter for clarification and answers By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

15. Conclusion • Cost effective capacity building event • Rich country experiences • Sharing among participants • Africa’s solutions by Africans • Emerging youth groups on various aspects of local economic development By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org

16. Thanks for Your Patience! Contact: gha_vattah@gdlnmail.org Links for the GDLN Centres: www.gdln.org www.aadlc.com GHANA By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009 gha_vattat@gdlnmail.org