ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Riamiriam is a ngakarimong word meaning” coming together” or” let us meet”.
Riamiriam civil society network- Karamoja is non-governmental organization which was established in 2003. The Organization is registered with the national NGO board with the registration number MIA/NB/2004/06/2677. The establishment of the network was made following the realization that most of the international NGOs were withdrawing from Nakapiripirit and Moroto districts as a result of intensified insecurity in the region, this was therefore, meant to bridge the gap left by the international organizations but also to provide a common forum through which the civil society organizations can articulate issues of concern and advocate for improvement of the state of Peace, Education, Health, Human Rights, Governance, Livelihoods and Development In Karamoja.
The network has over 88 subscribed registered member organizations, which are either community-based organizations or faith-based organizations that are local, national, and international non-governmental in nature. The Network is mandated to coordinate, and advocate for the rights of vulnerable people (Girls and Women, Elderly, People with Disability, Children, etc.) and facilitate capacity building of civil society organizations operating in the Karamoja region.
Riamiriam’s linkage with local communities and Civil society organizations
Riamiriam related with the communities in Karamoja in different arenas right from the grassroots to the regional level. At the grassroots level, it relates with them through the local structures like Community Parliaments, Resilience action committees (RACs), Council of Elders, Peace Committees, Community Monitors, and Para social workers.
Riamiriam works with and through community structures with the aim of building their confidence and capability to meet their own needs and to influence those who make policies and decisions that affect their lives. Network provides a forum through which the communities can enhance their capacities in the fight against socio-economic injustices as one strong voice and force that can effectively engage government on issues of service delivery for the general populace in Karamoja.
Civil society organizations in Karamoja maintain a strong influence on communities and Riamiriam invests working with or through them to build their capacity for humanitarian, development and advocacy work for sustainable services and self-Reliant communities.
The organization brings together like-minded entities and individual actors whose preoccupation to provide or advocate for the improved governance, service delivery, food security and nutrition, curbing of corruption in Karamoja.
Riamiriam has been steadily monitoring and advocating for zero tolerance to corruption on the major sectors affected by poor performance especially those that are meant to benefit the rights holders. The network has also continued to position itself to preventive strategies that seek to reduce human rights abuses (especially of women, children), poor governance at all levels and corruption through strengthening public accountability and transparency systems as well as rebuilding societal values of integrity. Some of these strategies include; conducting issue and sector based campaigns e.g. in the Education sector, Health sector, Water sector, Environment and Natural Resource sector; using community based monitoring structures like the grass root Community parliament; exposure through the media; conducting Social Audits.
Riamiriam ‘s initiatives are aimed at empowering civil society to effectively engage governments to act against corruption so as to strengthen accountability for improved service delivery. We achieve this by strengthening scrutiny of local government plans and budgets, providing forums for citizen's voices to be heard and providing platforms for public debates on local priorities in the different sectors. This is supported by raising awareness of the citizen's and local government rights and responsibilities under a decentralized government framework.
In Riamiriam programming, civil society empowerment centers on the beneficiaries’ capacity to analyze, organize and mobilize (for action) as a prerequisite for collective change. Often times its related to the human rights-based approach to empowerment, i.e. empowering citizens to claim their rights and entitlements focusing on ensuring transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
Beneficiaries/Stakeholders
The local communities, Civil Society organizations and the local Governments.
Area of Coverage
The networks operate in all the Nine districts of Karamoja:
- Moroto
- Napak
- Nakapiripirit
- Nabilatuk
- Amudat
- Kotido
- Abim
- Kaabong
- Karenga
