Our members in Kisumu, Western Kenya, came together to sharpen their skills in leadership, governance, and resource mobilization.
On 25-26 September 2025, members of the Global Alliance for Communities gathered at the United Destiny Shapers grounds in Nyalenda, Kisumu, for two days of skills training and peer-to-peer learning. More than 60 representatives from our member CBOs took part, joined on the second day by colleagues from the Basanja Coalition in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The sessions were designed to equip members with practical skills, tools, and confidence to strengthen governance systems, grow their leadership, and expand their ability to mobilize resources for sustainable community development.
Key learnings
The first day focused on the foundations of leadership, governance, and advocacy. Through presentations, group work, and case studies, participants explored principles such as accountability and inclusivity, how clear structures and organograms reduce confusion, and what qualities define effective leaders. They debated the strengths of different leadership styles, from democratic to transformational, and reflected on context-driven approaches like the chameleon or green mamba.
Governance was made practical with tools such as constitutions, codes of conduct, and financial accountability systems. Conflict was tackled head-on, discussing common causes like power struggles or poor communication, and strategies such as mediation and consensus building. The day closed with advocacy, examining forums ranging from barazas and churches to media and storytelling, while also naming challenges like limited resources or information gaps.
Participants left with sharper insights into how leadership capacity strengthens both sustainability and advocacy.
The next day turned to the question of resources. Members and partners explored different avenues of mobilisation, from financial contributions and in-kind support to partnerships and technical expertise. A conceptual framework guided discussion through needs assessments, resource mapping, and strategy development.
Hands-on sessions on grant proposals and project descriptions gave participants the chance to practice drafting problem statements, activities, budgets, and sustainability plans. The Basanja Coalition shared experiences from the DRC, bringing fresh ideas from their cross-border work.
A key takeaway for our members was that resource mobilization is broader than donor funding and begins with recognizing the value already present in communities.
Looking ahead
The gathering closed with a shared commitment to sustain this momentum through refresher training, mentorship for emerging leaders, simplified toolkits tailored to CBO contexts, follow-up clinics on proposal writing, and joint proposals across member organizations.
By investing in leadership, governance, and resource mobilization, our members are strengthening their organizations and shaping more accountable and inclusive development pathways.