National Convention on ACDN

National Stakeholder Consultation on peoples participation in state budget was organized by Active Citizenship for Development Network (ACDN) at Renuka Hotel, Colombo 03 on 22nd of March in 2012. Every network partner on ACDN such as Uva Community Development Center(UCDC), Center for Society and Religion(CSR), National Fisheries Solidarity Movement(NAFSO) and Law and Society Trust (LST) as well as other stakeholders who related to this process participated for the National Convention which was facilitated by Law and Society Trust as one of the ACD network partners.

Why we formed as ACD network is to increased participatory process in budget making at local, provincial and national level in order to secure the socio economic rights of the people. NAFSO as network partner is working in four districts such as Jaffna, Mannar, Trincomali and Ampara in the country and working in regional level going through grass root level. CSR and UCDC also are working in district wise in different areas in the country.

 As a network partner of the ACDN, NAFSO’s district members participated to The National Convention covering four districts that we are working. This was a better opportunity for district activators to get understanding and experience about the process on ACDN. NAFSO also had an opportunity to share experience on this process as the organization. Mr. Raheem who is the coordinator in Trincomalie district presented district experience as well as the organization which works on the ACDN in the North and East.

There were some selected National and International organization’s representatives who have engaged with the same process , some stakeholders representing the government and some related academics in the national Convention. That was a gathering that different stakeholders being in the same table. Professor Jayada Uyangoda who is in the department of political science and public policy, University in Colombo made a speech on people’s participation process at the local government level and Nauli Wimalarathne who is the program coordinator of Transparency International Sri Lanka shared their experience on the same issues. This experience directs us t forward as a group on ACDN