National Consultative
Forum of Political Organizations

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

Based on the NFPO Strategic Plan (2011-2015), the NFPO activities are carried out based on the following strategic axis:

1. Promotion of consultation and political dialogue

• Regular sessions of the Forum General Assembly are held once within three (3) months;
• The General Assembly discusses on the national concerns and makes recommendations to the concerned national institutions;
• Organize national Seminar on high national political interest and career development.

2. Consolidate the national cohesion and political pluralism

• The Forum can give advice in resolution of internal Political Party’s conflicts, upon a written request. This help refers to advises and mediation.
• The Forum’s General Assembly can request for the Political Party’s struggling groups to have discussions for mediation.

3. Strengthening the capacity of political parties and their members

• Trainings carried out by the Forum

(i) « Party Leadership Program » developed in 2004 which was targeting the Senior Political Leaders with funds from the European Union (E.U)
This program covered the following topics which all linked to Political Party’s capacity building needs, these include: Political communication, Recruitment and Membership, Leadership and Political conflict Management, Governance measurement and indexes, English language and communication skills.

(ii) Youth Political Leadership Academy (YPLA)

Launched in February 2010; to train Youth from Political Parties in leadership and Politics and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to meaningfully participate in national governance and development.
• Since 2010, about 120 Political cadres have been trained through the NDI support. From 2011 up to June 2014, the program got the national coverage at all Provincial Headquarters through the UNDP partnership; about 660 youth were trained and awarded a certificate.
• Taking of evening class (Kigali branch) and week end (Provincial Branch) programme for six weeks. They are trained by local and international highlly skilled and experienced politicians and academicians.
• The YLPA shall be a sustainable program with a regional considerations (EAC & CPGL), the feasibility study is being designed.

(iii) Intermediate Local Party Leadership Training Program

  The program purpose is to improve knowledge and capacity in politics and governance for the representatives of Political Organisations at local organs of their leadership, with intermediate level of education and mainly in charge of communication, sensitization and mobilization. It also reinforces the party field activities and leadership at grassroots.
  From February up to June 2014; 1311 Grass roots Political party leaders from eleven (11) political parties have been trained and were provided handouts to use for their further references. Each political party has chosen four Districts and all have been covered.

(iv) Gender Leadership Training Program

In order to be compliant with the compulsory 30% women’s representation at its leadership organs as provided for by the law. The Forum developed a training project aiming at urging women occupying positions in the political organisations’ leadership organs to approach other women members of political organisations to share ideas on women’s importance and role in the leadership of political organisations in particular and in national politics in general.
This activity aims at sensitising women for joining the leadership of their respective political organisations in order to follow the example of their colleagues who campaigned for leadership positions before them. This will also be used to mainstream gender issues in a party leadership and programs. Then, it will be a tool for an establishment of a party women networking through gender wing operations.
Eleven (11) political parties carried out seminar and awareness campaign for their women members on their role in their party leadership development. As a result, the following political parties have set up their women wings at provincial levels; RPF Inkotanyi, PDC, PSP, PSD, PS Imberakuri and UDPR).

• Trainings carried out by the Political Party itself

A project proposal designed by a Political Party is sent to the Forum for analysis and financing (project proposal, tentative list for attending and 3 pro forma invoices for each required item). This analysis is based on the topics to be covered and the funds availability. Within the topics to be covered, it includes some approved by the General Assembly and other relevant topics proposed by Political Party based on its ideological framework.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

The NFPO has registered key achievements including :
• Conducted a survey on women representation within Political Parties’Leadership (2011) ;
• Developed a documentary film on Youth Political Leadership Academy program ;
• Designated eight (8) Senators to the Senate ;
• Conducted a National Seminar on Rwandese Political Philosophy and national consciousness, with the objective of « Highlighting an integrated Rwandese national political philosophy for national consolidation”;
• From 2003, the NFPO established the Election Observation Mission to monitor any national election to be carried out in the country, and deploy observers from different political organisations to monitor the election process starting from the campaigning events to election day itself.
• Contributed in the drafting process of differents laws including the Organic law governing political organisations and politicians and Electoral Law.
• The NFPO participates in the preparation of the annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, especially in the preparation activities of the closing of the commemoration week which is held at Rebero Genocide memorial site.