In an endeavour to popularise and impart more knowledge about MDGs in local authorities, civil society organizations (CBOs) and councillors-elect, TRC in a joint venture with UNDP has designed 3 stages for implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) community outreach.

Stage 1, which will be on 9th to 11th November, will be aiming at the identification of community MDGs related – problems in 4 electoral divisions – Holy Cross, Meriting Morifi and Stanteng in Mohale’s Hoek. The purpose here is to formulate linkage between community needs and specific MDGs, for instance if there is a shortage of health centres (such as clinics) in the community council of which affects the quality of service delivery, that problem will be linked to the following Goals; MDG 4 (child mortality), MDG 5 (improve maternal health) and MDG 6 (combat HIV and AIDS and malaria) are more relevant.

Stage 2 will be a workshop for local authorities, councillors-elect, chiefs and CBOs leadership. At this juncture the 3 groups already identified will have opportunity to find more knowledge about MDGs; they will also become capacitated to develop MDGs agenda in their programmes. These will happen on the 24th – 25th November.

At stage 3, 4 community dialogues at electoral divisions will be organized; the purpose of these dialogues is to create platforms for community to express frustrations and demands to leadership and will be will be on the 29th and 30th November 2011. At the same time the leadership will also have opportunity to note challenges raised, and express their aspiration as they will soon assume office.

After all these above mentioned stages of activities, it is expected that:

o Chiefs, Councillors, CBOs and FBOs representative become knowledgeable on a wide variety of issues regarding MDGs;
o The capacity of local authorities to hold leadership accountable on acceleration of the Goals is enhanced
o Community awareness and contribution in MDGs issues is enhanced;
o Informed debates and knowledge on MDGs by councillors – elect has increased;
o MDGs become regular agenda that inform decision of the councils during official sittings;
o MDGs are debated and prioritized by communities and leadership as part of developmental agenda.