MCDF: Giving a voice to the community

In four bomas in Mugwo Payam, Southern Sudan, the community members have agreed on their development needs and will now bring their prioritised list to their local administrations.

Presentation during boma development plans workshop in Payawa Boma, Mugwo Payam, conducted by MCDF. Photo: Amule Felix.

A primary health unit, better roads or a water point? What are the needs of your community? And which one should come first?

These were some of the questions Mugwo Community Development Forum (MCDF) asked the people of Longamere, Yari, Jambo and Payawa Bomas in Mugwo Payam. From September to November 2009, MCDF conducted five-day workshops in each of the four bomas. Approximately 25 people attended each of the workshops and there were representatives from different groups including church representatives, disabled, widows, youths, farmers, women, teachers, chiefs, elders and the boma administration.

The organisation asked the communities of the four bomas to voice all their concerns about the development of their boma and to prioritise their needs. The idea for this project came in a review meeting at MCDF in 2009.

“Some of our members mentioned that very often, development projects introduced by NGOs are not really in the interest of the people. Therefore, we decided that we wanted to engage people in developing the plans for their area,” says Amba Faustine Joseph, programme officer for MCDF.
The next step for MCDF will be to collect all the inputs in a document. The final document will be handed over to the boma administrations and the payam administration in an official ceremony.

“Our hope is that these documents will form the basis for future development and strategic plans in the four bomas and in Mugwo Payam as a whole and that the administration will use the documents as reference when NGOs come to them with project ideas,” says Amba Faustine Joseph.

For more information about MCDF’s activities, contact Amba Faustine Joseph, programme officer, MCDF (+256 477 134 784 or mugwo@yahoo.com).

Group work during boma development plans workshop in Yari Boma conducted by MCDF. Photo: Amule Felix.