MEMBERS OF DISTRICTS Joint Action Development Forums (JADF) have been urged to strengthen their role in enabling people to claim their rights, contribute to shaping development policies and oversee their implementation as a way of speeding up local development.This was during a two-day workshop on Voice and Accountability organised by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), in collaboration with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).The workshop, which was concluded last week, brought together five JADF members each from Ruhango, Ngororero and Gisagara district. It was the last in a series of trainings started early this month targeting JADF members from 15 districts who met to discuss the concepts of Voice, Accountability and service delivery.The concepts of ‘Voice and Accountability’ refers to the role of JADF members in  enabling people to claim their rights, promoting rights-based approach, shaping development policies and partnership and overseeing their implementation, according to Benjamin Ndahirwa, a consultant with the Kigali-based Capacity Development Advisors (CADEA), a local consultancy firm which was hired to conduct the trainings.Role of JADFJADF is a consultative platform for information-sharing and cooperation among the many actors involved in districts’ socio-economic development process. It brings together representatives from civil society organisations, private and public sector, NGOs, local authorities, faith-based organisations and cooperatives."Strengthening voice and accountability among JADF members increases the visibility of their development interventions, helps avoid duplication and has significant impact on local development,” Ndahirwa said.Jean Esper Niwemfura, one of the participants, said, "Understanding the issues relating to Voice and Accountability can make JADF more efficient in their interventions.”