1. Africa Local Government Action Forum (ALGAF): Experiences of Ghana
Prepare for FALGAF Session
May 14, 2009 by
Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah
GIMPA DLC
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

2. Coordinating AGLAF: What’s at stake?
ALGAF as a capacity building initiative addresses numerous local economic development issues such as:
Inadequate human resource capacity
Poor and high cost of service delivery
Vicious cycle of poverty within communities
Poor governance
Exclusion of the poor and vulnerable i
Misuse of resources
Etc.
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

3. Role of the Coordinator
Identify target audience
Position/title
Background, expertise, work, publications, contributions and assignments in a particular area
Role of that person in his community, subsector, industry or field
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

4. How To Make Coordination Effective?
Logistics
Knowledge of topics, dates, presenters, presentations, invitations sent out with follow-ups
Conducting evaluations
Keep contact and some details on past and potential participants
Send materials to participants ahead of session
Record of institutions that are likely to benefit from a particular topic or theme
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

5. World Bank Support for Coordinator
Get to know focal person in the World Bank Country Office
Assist with identifying participants and presenters
Attends sessions
Keep him posted on events of ALGAF
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

6. Being A Facilitator: What Does It Mean?
Create right environment for participants to enjoy all aspects of session
Make learning experience motivating for all participants
Make sessions interactive
Manage sessions by giving every participant the opportunity to be heard
at pre-video or during the video conference
Assist participants derive maximum benefit from session by making them interactive
Manage sessions by giving every participant the opportunity to be heard
at pre-video or during the video conference
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

7. What Is Expected From Facilitators During And Between VC?
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

8. Facilitators Role During VC
Ensure registration of participants prior to VC
Ensure participants are seated before VC
Introduce participants
Reproduce and distribute presentations , reading materials and running order
Discuss presentation with participants
Take note of emerging issues to be shared with participating countries or presenter during Q & A
Ensure orderliness in the way interactions take place
Control microphone at the local site
Arrange refreshment
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

9. Facilitators Role Between VC
Liaise with principal coordinator, country coordinators/facilitators, partners and participants
Participant’s list, evaluations, questions, comments, certification, contributions, etc.
Stay in touch with participants
Prepare towards next event
Communicate within coordinators’/facilitators‘ loop
Communicate with target audience, participants, LAs, MDAs, Public and private service providers, CSOs, NGOs and FBOs
Send feedback - country reports,
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

10. Difficulties (Challenges)
Lack of response from invitees
Late submissions from invitees
Lack of cooperation from local government authority
Low participation from local government officials
Institutional transition
Late submission of presentations
Late issuance of certificates
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

11. How Does The Coordination Support The Facilitators?
Through regular contact with local coordinators/facilitators
Follow-ups with presenters and sponsors
Payments
Compilation of consolidated reports and their distribution
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

12. How To Decide On Themes/Topics For Sessions
Participatory
ALGAF evaluation with all participating sites
Participants
Coordinator/facilitator
Institutions that have attended
End of theme evaluation
Grouping/clustering of topics for themes
Topics grouped under these themes
Prioritization of themes and topics
Suggestions of topics
participants
local coordinator/facilitator
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

13. How To Identify Presentations
Issues of national or regional concern
HIV AIDS
Global financial, fuel and crises
Climate change
Conflict management
Availability of resource person/presenter in- country
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

14. How To Make Sure Participants Benefit Fully From Presentations?
Country perspective is given
Localization of concepts
Organize local discussions on topics before or after presentations
Invite a subject expert to assist with answering and addressing issues
Follow-up with presenter for clarification and answers
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

15. Conclusion Cost effective capacity building event
Rich country experiences
Sharing among participants
Africa’s solutions by Africans
Emerging youth groups on various aspects of local economic development
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009

16. Thanks for Your Patience!
Contact:
Links for the GDLN Centres:
GHANA
By Mrs. Vivian H.M. Attah, Acting Director, GIMPA DLC, May 14, 2009