The United Nations has called upon the civil society to take a leading role in promoting its
work and programmes such as the MDGs and its on this premises that the Commonwealth
Association-Uganda (CPAUG), in partnership with other stakeholders like the Uganda National NGO Forum and BDE Consults are organizing the 1st ever Civil Society Fair and a Consultative Forum that will
bring together all stakeholders in the NGO sector such as Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs), the private sector, media, Government
and policy makers.

The Fair that is to run for three days will have each day dedicated to an MDG under a
lead agency of the NGO sector player, this will initiate the idea of having in Uganda an
Annual Fair with the purpose of informing the Ugandan population about the work of the
civil society in the country’s development process.

The Uganda Civil Society Fair is a legal entity managed by CPAUG through its Citizen
Participation Project (CCP) that aims at reaching out to the population and having the
citizenry play an active role in holding their government and or leaders accountable in the
development process of their country/communities and organized in partnership with BDE
Consults and Elmot Ltd.

Objectives of the fair

• To highlight the importance of meeting the Millennium Development Goals Campaign in Uganda.
• To strengthen the relationship between the Civil Society, Government and the private sector.
• Provide an open space for people to come together, dialogue & celebrate civic participation.
• To discuss the challenges and opportunities within the NGO sector.
• To Dissemination of information on the activities of the different players in the NGO sector, the UN, the Commonwealth, educational institutions and the private sector.
• Creation of public awareness about the work of CSOs in Uganda’s development process.
• Identify, share and encourage good practices on the NGO work towards the MDGs.
• Attract and engage young people to participate in civic work and decision making.
• To lobby for the initiation of an NGO Day with the aim of consolidating the work of the NGO Sector in the country’s development process.

Outcomes:

• Strengthened partnerships between the private sector and the CSOs in Uganda
• A network created to vigorously campaign for the achievement of the Goals.Recommendations made to policy makers with regard to work of the civil society in Uganda.
• Information materials disseminated to the public about the work of CSOs.
• Initiatives will have been started for a designated Annual NGO Day in Uganda