The Inkanyezi project team in Mpumalanga hosted a series of forums in the first quarter of the year, aimed at addressing the concerns and challenges faced by communities affected by displacement and other social issues. Bringing together local community leaders, government representatives and other stakeholders, these discussions served as a platform for fostering collaboration and identifying possible solutions.
The engagements were centered on raising awareness about Intergrated Development Plan processes, ensuring women’s participation in local governance, accountability for gender-based violence cases, strengthening partnerships, and understanding challenges faced by communities.
‘’ the workshops create an open dialogue between stakeholders and develop practical strategies for addressing the challenges faced by internally displaced persons. The discussions underscore the importance of community involvement, enhanced coordination among organizations, and policy-level reforms to ensure lasting impact’’ said Nomalanga Ngwenya, Inkanyezi Project Manager.
The Inkanyezi project facilitated sessions in regions experiencing a growing number of displaced persons, where the project team has been actively involved in providing support and facilitating discussions. These are communities that require urgent interventions to ensure the well-being of affected populations and promote long-term stability.
An over-arching sentiment from these sessions has been the need for sustained engagements, immediate action to tackle pressing issues as well as considerations of recommendations made by community forums by duty bearers, to contribute to meaningful change.
Other key recommendations include these:
- Strengthening policy frameworks to better support IDPs.
- Increasing funding for local initiatives addressing displacement challenges.
- Enhancing security measures to protect vulnerable groups.
With continued commitment and cooperation, there is hope for building resilient, self-sustaining communities despite ongoing challenges. The Inkanyezi project, which seeks to promote women’s leaders and human rights remains dedicated to championing community-driven solutions and ensuring that the voices of affected populations remain central to all interventions.
