DAWEO successfully launched a comprehensive dialogue and advocacy workshop series from July to September 2024, comprising four distinct rounds designed to engage and empower internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees. The first round of the workshop took place from July 21 to July 25, followed by the second round from August 3 to August 7.
The third round occurred from September 17 to September 22, and the final round took place from September 1 to September 5. Throughout these workshops, we were pleased to report that a total of 15 males participated in each of the first three sessions. In the final session, we made a concerted effort to ensure gender representation by inviting 15 female IDPs and returnees to join the workshop. In total, 60 IDPs and returnees benefited from this initiative, gaining valuable skills and knowledge that will assist them in their reintegration and advocacy efforts. We meticulously documented the workshop activities and outcomes, sharing comprehensive summaries and reports in our previous biweekly updates and our quarterly progress report. Additionally, a detailed needs assessment report—including a list of participating IDPs and returnees—was compiled and shared with IDLO to ensure transparency and facilitate collaborative efforts.
As a part of our commitment to comply with best practices in participant oversight, we conducted a sanctions checklist review across three specific websites for all 60 participants. Following this thorough vetting process, the compiled list was submitted to IDLO for approval, which we are pleased to report was granted without delay. This enabled DAWEO to advance with the workshop sessions as planned. During the execution of the workshops, we ensured systematic communication with IDLO by sharing various reports, including biweekly updates, an event tracker report, a quarterly progress report, and the previously mentioned needs assessment report. To further enhance collaboration, we also organized a Zoom call, allowing IDLO to monitor the dialogue and advocacy workshops in real-time, thereby providing an opportunity for them to offer insights and feedback. We are delighted to highlight that all planned activities were executed smoothly and efficiently, with no significant challenges encountered. The unwavering support from the IDLO teams throughout the implementation of this project proved invaluable, providing us with the guidance and resources necessary to expedite our activities effectively. In conclusion, the successful execution of this workshop series marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to advocate for the rights and needs of IDPs and returnees.
We remain committed to fostering an inclusive environment that empowers these communities, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with IDLO in future initiatives. This initial segment aimed to create a safe space for participants to share their experiences, perspectives, and challenges related to their situation as IDPs and returnees. Facilitators encouraged open communication, allowing participants to express their concerns and aspirations, which laid the groundwork for the advocacy activities that would follow. During the 5 days of the action-oriented dialogue and advocacy workshop, returnees and IDPs practically worked on the proposal; they learnt how to ask and propose about their needs, problems, and demands in the format of a proposal. The proposal should be submitted to whom, where, when, and what will be the result. The template of the proposal was shared with our team by IDLO along with the action plan which were the important parts of the workshop. The participants were divided into different groups and worked on the action plan based on the workshop proposal they prepared. The facilitator taught them how to list their activities, how to set their goals, how to determine the responsible person, and how much time they needed to achieve their goals.
