The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), through their ‘Advocacy for Development programme’ are empowering communities to champion their own development.

Speaking at the closing of a workshop to align ADRA staff to the new program, the Deputy planning and programmes director, Martin Rutazigwa, said that they were looking forward to the change in approach.

"In the past, we have been involved in direct service delivery, where we have been doing things for people, but we are now changing towards facilitating people to own and spearhead their own development through good governance,” said Rutazigwa.

He added that the service delivery approach was not contributing to sustainable development "…since people have been labelling the activities as ours.”

In the long run, the participation and good governance is expected to lead to poverty alleviation among rural communities.

According to Rutazigwa, the new approach will give the communities the capacity to participate in identifying and prioritizing problems, and come up with solutions.

In her speech, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Jean d ‘Arc Mujawamariya, commended ADRA for the part it has been playing in implementing government programmes in areas where they operate.

"ADRA has done a lot in empowering women and children, which has helped in the reduction of domestic violence, since women are now seen as partners in the development of the family,” said the Minister.

The Minister also called upon the participants to confront the social change advocacy with zeal because "development cannot be achieved without change in behaviour and mindset.”

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