Minister of Public Service Hon. Muruli Mukasa with delegates at the launch of the Gender Based Violence (GBV) responsive planning and budgeting Online Self Paced Course at CSCU today

The Ministry of Public Service in partnership with UNDP is implementing the Spotlight Initiative, an EU/UN funded joint programme to eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Violence Against Children (VAC) Harmful Practices (HP) and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).  One of the interventions supported by this programme under Ministry of Public Service is the development of an online course on Gender Based Violence Responsive planning and Budgeting by Civil Service College Uganda, for Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Local Governments. The GBV Online Course has been designed to strengthen Government response to gender-based violence by increasing the capacity of key government officials to develop and deliver stronger evidence-based, gender-responsive programmes. Using a whole of Government approach, this initiative targets all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and District Local Governments (DLGs) to influence planning and budgeting for effective and inclusive service delivery that reaches vulnerable GBV survivors.

On 23^rd September 2021, this online course was officially launched at the Civil Service College Uganda in Jinja by Hon. Wilson Muruli Mukasa, Minister for Public Service alongside the Minister of State for Public Service, Hon. Mary Grace Mugasa, Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Gender and Culture) Hon. Peace Regis Mutuuzo and the Deputy Resident Representative for UNDP Ms. Sheila Ngatia. In attendance were Chief Executive Officers, Political Leaders of Jinja City, Security organs, Technical Officers from MDAs and LGs, as well as other partners.

In his remarks, the Minister of Public Service, Hon. Wilson Muruli Mukasa emphasized that at institutional level, we should see better management of GBV cases; strengthening institutional readiness to support survivors, strengthening system readiness to prevent and respond to SGBV cases specifically through adequate integration of access to sexual and reproductive health and rights in previous SGBV interventions. He also went ahead to extend his appreciation on behalf of Government and his own behalf to the Development partners from the European Union and United Nations Development Programme, for the support they have extended to the Government of Uganda in strengthening its institutions to deliver meaningful services to our citizens.

The Minister further appreciated and acknowledged the support of the Political and technical leadership of Jinja City who continuously provide an environment in which the College can operate. In the same vein, he recognised all the other partner entities of Government with whom this journey had been walked, all the Consultants contracted by both UNDP and Ministry of Public Service to support this process, as well as all the technical staff from the Ministries of Public Service, specifically Civil Service College, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and Local Government, the Press, and everyone that attended the launch.

The Deputy Resident Representative for UNDP Ms. Sheila Ngatia in her remarks, expressed her delight for UNDP to be able to partner with Ministry of Public Service and the Civil Service College in enhancing knowledge and capacity of MDAs and LGs, as well as   positioning them to be able to handle GBV issues strategically with emphasis on Planning and Budgeting. She hoped that the hybrid training and the online course can positively impact on Government efforts to nurture GBV prevention and Response in all MDAs and LGs. She called upon the MDAs and LGs to become change agents and prioritize Gender issues in their plans and Budgets. Ms. Sheila Ngatia also emphasized that UNDP would continue to work with Government in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and National Development Plans with  regards to Gender Equality concerns and GBV elimination.

The GBV Responsive planning and Budgeting course is a 90 days self-paced programme, that will be undertaken by government officials at all levels. It will enable participants to; Appreciate GBV concepts, GBV in Uganda and the effects on society; Gain knowledge and skills to identify GBV prevention and response measures and review plans and budgets with a GBV responsive lens; and Increase responsiveness and financing for GBV response and prevention within government programmes.

In his closing remarks, the Hon. Minister called upon all Accounting Officers to embrace this course and mandated all technical staff to undertake the course to improve their capacity for planning and budgeting that is GBV inclusive and responsive.