Our founding fathers shared a dream with Mr. Peter Knip for participatory governance through strengthening democratic principles at grassroots level. Over time, Mr. Peter Knip carried this dream forward supporting governments in developing countries and countries in transition to deliver on their mandates; most of all, to improve service delivery and citizen engagement. His candle has shone brightly through VNGi’s interventions for over 30 years in improving governability in developing democracies such as Uganda.

Regular democratic processes are undertaken to form representative and inclusive governments across different tiers of governance. Do the governments possess sufficient abilities to deliver their mandates and dreams of better services to ‘ALL’?

A working local democracy must effectively address concerns of citizens most importantly quality and inclusive services.

In Mr. Peter Knip, VNGi struck a gem that redefined foundations for local participation and governance across the different continents, strengthening systems, structures and processes to shape the present and futures of many local governments and their citizens through capacity building and responsive governance.

On 5th-April-2022 in a disability stakeholders’ meeting to disseminate the “Shift of Power” assessment results, Hon. Bakole Sabir Major, the councilor representing Persons with Disabilities in Arua City Council commended the partnership with VNGi that has yielded improved capacities of elected representatives in

improving governability hence transforming livelihoods of all persons including Persons with disabilities.

As Peter bows out, his efforts continue to flourish; mine is to amplify his vision in my line of duty!

Bayo Moses

Capacity Building Officer – West Nile; Uganda,

The We Are Able! Programme,

VNG international U

As part of the publication ’Columns on peace and local democracy in international perspective’, composed in honor of the farewell of Peter Knip as director of VNG International.