The goal of the initiative is to strengthen capacities of citizen groups and government to work together in order to enhance quality of public services delivered to citizens. It seeks to give voice to the needs and concerns of all citizens on the delivery and quality of public services. Africa Youth Movement will facilitate the implementation, guidance and supervision by a steering committee formed of representatives of citizens, government, and civil society. AYM will be responsible for the coordination and provision of capacity development, training, technical guidance and support to partners to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the initiative.

Capacity development and training is essential components of the initiative to enable grantees implement social accountability tools and mechanisms. It will focus on increasing the capacity of citizens, CSOs, policy-makers and service providers to respond to community and citizens’ needs and preferences. Emphasis on the inclusion of disadvantaged groups like women, children, and people with disabilities, people living with HIV and AIDS and the elderly will be given in a more active form. African Youth Movement (AYM) will work closely with CSOs to build their own internal capacities, achieve the initiatives’ objectives, and to increase the awareness of citizens of their rights, responsibilities and entitlements to public services and empowering them to demand better quality public services and hold government policy-makers and service providers accountable. Monitoring and evaluation is also essential part of managing the performance of the initiative, particularly in determining how well the initiative is doing and if it is meeting the outcomes of the social accountability activities. It is important to track the progress of the initiative and facilitate decision-making. By closely examining the initiative it is possible to design programs and activities that are effective, efficient, and yield powerful results for the community. AYM will commission baseline data collection to guide the implementation. It will roll out a web-based reporting system for the sel ected CSOs. CSOs are responsible for data collection and are requested to report on a quarterly and annual basis to AYM. The data collected will also help the CSOs get insights into the progress of the initiative, take timely informed measures if required and thus maximizing sustainability of the grantees’ work to the extent possible. Monitoring and early evaluation will help the CSOs in determining how well the initiative is achieving its objectives. The finance and grant management is the other crucial implementation mechanism of the initiative. The very purpose of this mechanism is to administer the grant fund so that to ensure the fund is used properly for the intended results of the initiative. This mechanism will be used to sel ect grantee; the grant negotiation and contract; facilitate disbursement; check the financial performance of the grantees as well as the proper utilization of funds through the quarterly financial reports. The mechanism makes rigorous review of the quarterly financial report and this will enable AYM to take immediate corrective measure whenever there is irregularity in the grant/financial management areas.

Capacity development and training is essential components of the initiative to enable grantees implement social accountability concept and tools. It will focus on increasing the capacity of citizens, CSOs, policy-makers and service providers to respond to community and citizens’ needs and preferences. Emphasis on the inclusion of disadvantaged groups like women and children will be given in a more active form. African Youth Movement (AYM) will work closely with CSOs to build their own internal capacities, achieve the initiatives’ objectives, and to increase the awareness of citizens of their rights, responsibilities and entitlements to public services and empowering them to demand better quality public services and hold government policy-makers and service providers accountable. Monitoring and evaluation is also essential part of managing the performance of the initiative, particularly in determining how well the initiative is doing and if it is meeting the outcomes of the social accountability activities. By closely examining the initiative it is possible to design programs and activities that are effective, efficient, and yield powerful results for the community. AYM will roll out a web-based reporting system for the sel ected CSOs. CSOs are responsible and requested to report on a quarterly and annual basis to AYM. The data collected will also help the CSOs get insights into the progress of the initiative, take timely informed measures if required and thus maximizing sustainability of the grantees’ work to the extent possible. The finance and grant management is the other crucial implementation mechanism of the initiative. The very purpose of this mechanism is to administer the grant fund so that to ensure the fund is used properly for the intended results of the initiative. This mechanism will be used to sel ect grantee; the grant negotiation and contract; facilitate disbursement; check the financial performance of the grantees as well as the proper utilization of funds through the quarterly financial reports. The mechanism makes rigorous review of the quarterly financial report and this will enable AYM to take immediate corrective measure whenever there is irregularity in the grant/financial management areas.

The main coordinating body will be the African Youth Movement, which is an African membership based civil society movement. Africa Youth Movement will facilitate the implementation, guidance and supervision by a steering committee formed of representatives of citizens, government, and civil society. AYM will be responsible for the coordination and provision of capacity development, training, technical guidance and support to partners to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the initiative.

APRM, IGAD, AU, youth organizations, youth clubs, Civic organizations, youth networks, UNDP, Africa Governance Initiative, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, UN Youth, governments Sector Ministries, Network of Social Accountability Associations, Global partnership for Social Accountability, World Bank, DFID, African youth, universities, research institutes, politicians, elected councils