BACKGROUND
1.1 About Teso Citizens Advocacy Forum
About Teso Citizens Advocacy Forum is a registered Community Based Organization (CBO) from Teso working together to promote professional ethics, integrity and accountability in management of public affairs and service delivery. The Association was established in 2010 primarily as a response to mounting concerns over poor service delivery, low productivity of public investments; escalating corruption in Teso; the need for CSOs 'watch dog' initiatives to enhance solidarity and build bridges with government oversight Institutions; emerging issues on management of Service Agencies; and concern over the largely docile populace that is unable to take charge of the governance and democratic processes in the country.
The Association’s underlying premise is that the quality of service will improve only when civil society (citizen) is aware and active in demanding greater service and accountability from government and its agencies.
Teso Citizens Advocacy Forum `s strength and credibility lie in its independence and commitment to strengthening civil society institutions and blending the brain and civic powers to generate greater impact. Our approach hopes in cashing on forging a close working partnership between professionals (who possess brainpower) and communities (who posses civic power) to achieve results.
Vision: “A healthy, Prosperous, happy and development oriented population of Teso.”
Mission Statement: “To effectively contribute to enhancing effective service delivery through objective reporting, writing, dialogue and advocacy.”
The principal objectives of TECAF that guide its activities are: -
a) To assist in enhancing the quality of public programs and services of direct concern to citizen through systematic research, education, advisory services to citizen; government and donors as well as fighting corruption;
b) To use the findings of the Association's research to inform the public and to encourage and support collective action by citizen groups to improve accountability and performance in government and other non-state development actors;
c) To contribute in building the civic competence of citizenry and transforming them into confident, public-spirited and politically active citizen that provide a foundation for democratic governance and accountable leadership in the country;
d) To network and build alliances with other organizations, public and private, national and international, to further these broad objectives.
1.2 TECAF `s Philosophy and Core Values
Our values as TECAF are rooted on our strong belief in improved service delivery and an overriding desire to advance and improve the human condition. These values include:
a) Respect for the rights, culture and dignity of men and women served or affected by the organization’s work;
b) We cherish our freedom and liberty, equity and liberating education; the fundamental elements that trigger our innovativeness and creativity in problem solving; on these we shall not negotiate;
c) Devoting the maximum possible proportion of resources available to the task at hand;
d) Ensuring that the organization remains true to its mission, objectives, identity, integrity, methods and activities;
e) Promoting meaningful participation and Involving, whenever possible, of all stakeholders;
f) Willingness to collaborate and network with other agencies around issues of mutual concern and interest rather than compete with them;
g) Maintaining high professional and ethical standards at both an organizational and personal level;
h) We cherish the power of collective action- the people-power dimension to public management, transparency and accountability, a people-driven democracy.
1.3 Work principles
TECAF members, staff and associates are guided by the following principles in execution of their duties and sustaining productive work relationships:
a) Promoting positive social change;
b) Working in partnership;
c) Cultivate mutual respect;
d) Open and accessible;
e) Champion accountability;
f) Practice consistency;
g) Adopt professional and effective approaches;
h) Reflect and nurture diversity.
Strategy and Scope of TECAF:
The Association has developed a six-pronged strategy to address governance issues experienced by the average person and upon which its agenda for improving the quality of governance is premised. These strategy instruments are:
a) Research to provide a systematic assessment of services offered by government and CSOs as experienced by citizen, and provided a basis for identifying actionable proposals;
b) Advocacy actions with NGO’s and citizens groups for improving citizen awareness and participation in service delivery and governance related issues;
c) Promotion of transparency and accountability in public management and social justice to empower the citizen to take the challenge of social injustice and corruption head-on so as to promote accountable public leadership;
d) Technical and advisory support services directed towards improvement in design and implementation of reforms to and performance of public institutions, non-state actors and citizens organizations; as well as donor /funding organizations;
e) Systematic capacity building and collaboration with interested institutions across Uganda and internationally so as to scale up impact;
f) Information development and dissemination through the media, publications, the website, Public Information Centre (PIC) workshops and other modes of communication to share learning and expedience.
It’s important to note here that while the six intervention programs are distinct areas where TECAF draws its cutting edge or niche, they are viewed as a complementary set of interventions operating in tandem for achieving specific out puts or impact rather than independent areas of action.ends.
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