Zengo Mikomanwa, Programme Officer for Heifer International, introduces the livestock-component of the Maisha Bora programme to the village committee members in Magadini village.

From 12th until 29th of April local partners of the Maisha Bora programme organized the first village committee meetings. The village committees are made up of 12 members, both women and men, who represent the interests, needs and wishes of the local communities. The members of the village committee will oversee the implementation of the programme activities in the villages, advise local partners, ensure communication and information sharing within the communities and facilitate community participation.

These ambitions were put into practice with the organization of the first village committee meetings. Committee members and programme partners got introduced to each other, the different Maisha Bora components were explained and the roles and responsibilities were discussed.

During the course of the programme field officers of the Maisha Bora partners will coach these committees to increase their capacity to become stewards of the Maisha Bora programme and advise the partners accordingly.  The committees will be the crucial link between the communities and the Maisha Bora programme to create mutual accountability in our programme.