CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS’ NETWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT IN EAST AFRICA (CISONET)
ORGANISATION PROFILE
CONTACT ADDRESS
Mr. Bukenya Isah
Executive Director
Plot No. 27 Nakasero Road, Kampala
P. O. Box 29578, Kampala
Tel: +256- 414 234550/ 0772585605
Fax: +256 414 230748
Email:
Website: www.cisonet.org
Civil Society Organizations’ Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment in EAST Africa (CISONET)
1.0 Background History
Civil Society Organizations’ Network for sustainable agriculture and Environment in East Africa (CISONET) is non-government organization whose aim is to eradicate poverty, hunger and climate change catastrophes through social and economic empowerment of the Community Based Civil Society organizations, fisheries groups, farmers cooperatives and other indigenous related groups by way of empowering them to strengthening their capacity in Sustainable Agriculture and Environment in East African Region.
The organization was established on 5th January 2007 by Ugandans of diverse professional backgrounds in agriculture, environment and social workers among others. This came after the realization of continuous poor methods of farming and poor agricultural practices that has resulted into hunger, poverty, malnutrition and climate change catastrophes faced by the global world, Therefore in order to find solutions to these challenges, the founders of CISONET deemed it necessary to have a coordinating Body for Community Based Civil Society organizations with an ultimate aim of addressing these challenges so as to improve on the Socio-economic wellbeing of the local communities through sustainable agriculture and proper management of natural resources.
2.0 The CISONET Vision is;
To become a sustainable model of excellence that contributes to the development of efficient and effective Community Based Civil Society organizations (CBCSOs), fisheries groups, farmers cooperatives and other indigenous related groups that create a community free of hunger and poverty.
3.0 The CISONET Mission;
To unite, empower and strengthen the capacity of the community based Civil Society organizations (CBCSOs), fisheries groups, farmers Cooperatives and other indigenous related groups through linking them with appropriate support from global partnerships and advocate for formulation of favorable policies to promote effective and efficient sustainable development in Agriculture and Environment.
4.0 The CISONET Goal;
To become the leading regional, strong and sustainable institution network for Community Based Civil Society organizations, Fisheries groups and cooperative farmers that contributes to an environment conducive for implementation of policies and programs that foster effective sustainable development.
5.0 The CISONET Objectives
1. To Unite and harness together Community Based Civil Society Organizations, Fisheries, farmers Cooperatives and other indigenous related entities involved in agriculture and environmental activities and act as a single representative body for their needs
2. To Enhance the Capacity of the Community Based Civil Society Organizations for them to strengthen and foster sustainable agriculture and environment among the local farmers.
3. Prevention and adaptation to Climate change catastrophes through promotion of improved agricultural technologies and policy implementation strategies.
4. To Lobby and advocate for the formulation and implementation of favorable policies and programmes that foster sustainable development in Agriculture and environment for the benefit of the local communities.
5. Establishing of CISONET branches known as “Youths Civil Society Clubs for Sustainable Agriculture & Environment” (YCSC) in Primary, Secondary & tertiary institutions
6. To establish a Farmers FM Radio station for promotion of Agricultural related issues
7. Promotion of agricultural and environmental related research activities
8. Economically empower and facilitate the process of establishment of Cooperative Societies among small holder farmers’ and fisheries groups.
9. Working towards lowering of taxation on farm inputs and the provision of fair and competitive prices for agro-products
10. To establish a Basket Fund for Community Based Civil Society Organizations in supporting climate change catastrophes and HIV/AIDS scourge for sustainable development in Agriculture and Environment.
6.0 The CISONET Activities
a) Mobilizing and carrying out membership recruitment among the targeted groups especially the Community Based Civil Society Organizations (CBCSOs), Fisheries groups & Cooperative farmers.
b) Building the capacity of the Community Based Civil Society Organizations on modern Agricultural technologies and natural resource management
c) Promoting of environmental governance
d) Promoting of sustainable energy efficiency
e) Enhancing the capacity of the Fisheries and Cooperative farmers on income enhancement and natural resource management
f) Mainstreaming of gender and related activities i.e. HIV/AIDS & Literacy
g) Supporting the farmers through provision of tree and crop seeds for multiplication
h) Promoting Irrigation type of Farming for Sustainable Agriculture and environment
i) Promoting Agricultural market research information services through; ICT, Publications and global partnerships.
j) Conducting Agricultural and Environmental related research, documenting and disseminating information
k) Promoting climate change intervention strategies among the farmers.
l) Promoting climate change mitigation and adaptation policy
m) Empowering Community Based Civil Society Organizations/Fisheries groups and facilitating the process of establishment of Cooperative Societies for sustainable development
n) Delivering sustainable Agriculture and environment advisory services
o) Promoting exchange visits for the Community Based Civil Society Organizations and cooperatives as a strategy for mutual learning and development.
p) Conducting project monitoring and evaluation for effective implementation and accountability.
q) Promoting, encouraging and developing a diversified agri-business involving a variety of crops and livestock production.
r) Developing modern agricultural methods for better productivity and better yields.
s) Increasing grass root crop, livestock and fish farmers’ access to market information research through publications, information and communication technologies (ICT).
t) Conducting Agricultural and environmental related research for promotion of Agricultural modern technologies to prevent hunger/ food insecurity and climate change crises.
u) Economically empowering and facilitating - the process of establishment of Cooperative Societies among small holder farmers’ and fisheries groups.
7.0 CISONET Structure
The CISONET Organizational Structure comprises of four components namely; (1) The CISONET Council, (Founder members) (2) The Board of Trustees, (3) The Secretariat, and (4) The Member Organisations/ Community groups & Schools. The President is the head of the Board of Trustees and the Secretariat is manned by the Executive Director. The President shall be the head of the Board of Trustees and the Secretariat shall be manned by professional and self-motivated staff headed by the Executive Director.
i) THE CISONET COUNCIL AND ITS POWERS
1. The CISONET Council is the supreme governing body of the organization whose major role is to appoint and termination of contracts for the members of the Board of Trustees. The CISONET Council consists of the Founders who are the Life members of CISONET. It also meets quarterly to review the work of the Board of Trustees and advise them accordingly.
2. The CISONET Council shall have powers to amend the constitution of the Organisation and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees
3. The CISONET Council shall have powers to appoint the Board of Trustees
4. Without prejudice to the foregoing provision, the Board of Trustees shall have powers to make rules for proportional representation of members including but not limited to gender balance on the CISONET Board of Trustees.
5. In consultation with its Lawyers the CISONET Council shall also make decisions in changes of the CISONET leadership and management as it may be deemed necessary
ii) THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
a) The CISONET Board of Trustees is the supreme decision making body of the Organisation.
b) The Board of Trustees consists of 11 Committee Members appointed by the CISONET Council (founder/ life members). These members are selected from the Civil Society member/partner organisations
iii) THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES
1. CISONET Board of Trustees shall consist of professional and competent members, who meet on quarterly basis to deliberate CISONET duties, review the organization's past, activities, current and the future plans.
2. The Term for the CISONET President and other Board members is 3 years BUT it shall be on renewable basis upon the decision and approval made by the CISONET Council.
8.0 The Board of Trustees shall have powers;
a) To determine the policies of the Organisation
b) To Co-opt members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) or return bearers to any posts falling vacant on the Board.
c) To study and approve the reports and recommendations of CISONET
d) To study the audited accounts report of the Organisation.
e) Approve the Organisational budgets
f) To make regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of the constitution of the Organisation.
g) To appoint auditors, lawyers, and bankers of the Organisation.
h) Oversee and monitoring the execution and implementation of CISONET services
i) Recommend to the administration any membership fee, subscriptions and any of such levies as proposed by the administration.
j) To appoint the Executive Director and all other senior staff of the Organisation and to discipline them. Then the lower staff to be appointed by the management of the Organisation.
k) Recommend to the administration, the percentage of subscriptions collected and other income earning payable to the Head quarters of the Organisation.
l) Study and recommend Organisation work plans and budgets presented by the Administration
m) To make policies and recommendations to the administration.
n) To prepare the agenda for the Board meeting.
o) To initiate the amendments for the constitution and make recommendations to the CISONET Council for approval.
p) To control, allocation and utilization of finances and other resources in consultation with the Development partners.
q) The Board of Trustees (BoT) shall have powers to co-opt qualified persons from among the member organizations (CSOs) in case of formation of subcommittees.
9.0 CISONET ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
10.0 THE CISONET BOARD OF TRUSTIES
No / Name / Sex / Background / Responsibility1. / Dr. Semalulu Onesmus / M / Agriculturalist / CISONET President
2. / Ms. Sarah Kayanga / F / Agriculturalist / Vice President
3. / Mr. Bukenya Isah / M / Agriculturalist / Secretary General
4. / Mr. Mudde Barnabas / F / Agriculturalist / Treasurer
5. / Mr. Wamboga Peter / M / Journalist / Publicity Secretary
6. / Ms. Nadunga Irene / F / Environmental / Women Representative
7. / Mr. Bachwa Church Hill / M / Educationalist / Youth Representative
11.0 CISONET has the following Professional Staff at the Secretariat.
The Executive Director heads the secretariat in Uganda. In pursuance of the above objectives, CISONET has got in place self- motivated professional staffs that have got experiences in a number of fields, which include training, and development of training materials, provision of demand driven services, Agriculture and Environmental advisory services and more others.
No / Name / Sex / Background / Appointment1. / Bukenya Isah / M / Agriculturalist / Executive Director
2. / Ms. Apolot / F / Environmental
Health Scientist / Program Coordinator
3. / Mr. Kigongo Agrey / M / Agriculturalist / Research, Policy, Lobby and Advocacy Manager
4. / Ms. Violet Akech / F / Agriculturalist / Manager Gender, Human resource & Monitoring
5. / Ms. Nanfuka Zulaika / F / Economist / Programme Officer; Climate Change and Natural Resource M
6. / Ms. Namubiru R / F / Accountants / Accountant
7. / Ms. Nakibuule Joan / F / Economist / Manager Resource Mobilization,
Membership & Partnership
12.0 CISONET ADMINISTRATIVE CHART
13.0 Future Collaboration With other National and Local Partners
1. Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE)
2. Uganda Fisheries AND Fish Conservation Association (UFFUCA)
3. Ministry of Agriculture
4. Ministry of water and Environment/Climate Change Unit
5. National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
6. Advocacy Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE)
7. National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS)
8. Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA)
9. Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development
10. The National NGO Forum
11. Uganda Coalition for Crisis Prevention UCCP
CISONET also works in direct Consultation with Government and its Institutions to find out their development plans for its people. These include; Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, Ministry of Agriculture Animal industry and Fisheries, Agricultural Research Institute, Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
i) At Regional Level, CISONET intends to collaborate with:
· Soil and Water Management Research Network (SWM-NET)
· Integrated Management of Land and Water Resources For Agriculture (IMAWESA).
· Association of Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA)
ii) Global Bodies
CISONET is also recognized by some international Bodies such as;
· Commonwealth Foundation UK
· Global Environment Facility USA
· Development Market Place USA
· Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA)
· Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
· International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
14.0 CISONET EXPECTED SOURCES OF FUNDS
· Membership subscription
· local contribution
· Fundraising through project proposal writing
· development partners
· consultant services
15.0 CISONET EXPERIENCES/TRUCK RECORD
Most of the CISONET Board members are working with reputable institutions ie. CISONET President Dr. Semalulu Onesmas is an Agriculturalist and senior research officer in NARO at Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute; Ms. Sarah Kayanga is the CISONET Vice President is an Agriculturalist and he is the Chief Executive Secretary Uganda National Farmers Federation, Mr. Bukenya Isah the CISONET Secretary General is an Agriculturalist and he is the CISONET Executive Director, Mr. Mudde Barnabas the CISONET Treasurer is an Agriculturalist and he is the Executive Director, Uganda Coalition for Crisis Prevention, Mr. Wamboga Peter the CISONET Publicity Secretary is a profession Journalist working as the information Director, Science Foundation for livelihoods and Ms. Irene Nadunga the CISONET Women representative is an environmentalist.
Although CISONET has not yet acquired enough funds for its sustainability it has got in place well experienced and technical Human Resource that can carryout tasks which requires professional man power in monitoring and evaluation, training and development of training materials, report writing, research & supervision, accounting and accountability and most of the CISONET experienced team of staff members have worked with large Organizations before
16.0 CISONET MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN
· Hunger/Famine
· Poverty
· Climate Change and Environmental Degradation
· Gender/Youth mainstreaming and empowerment
· Policy research, Lobby and Advocacy
· Information and Dissemination
· Agricultural Interventions (sustainable Agric, Trade fare participation)
· Agribusiness development
· Agricultural Research information and marketing
· Capacity Building and Rural Development