Projects

The BRIDGE Project has contributed significantly to strengthening civic participation, leadership, and governance accountability in the Northern Province.

Key outcomes include:

• Expanded civic engagement: 27 Town Hall sessions were conducted, engaging over 1,300 participants in dialogue between communities and decision-makers.
• Strengthened women’s political participation: Of the women trained through political readiness programmes, 109 contested local government elections, demonstrating increased confidence and leadership.
• Improved accountability mechanisms: Community forums successfully addressed and resolved 45 local issues through Town Hall follow-up processes and coordination with authorities.
• Enhanced advocacy capacity: Civil society members were trained in evidence-based advocacy and equitable resource allocation through training-of-trainers programmes and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Strengthened civic voice: District-level social media platforms were launched with CSO Federations and Women Councillor Caucuses to amplify community concerns and promote transparency in governance.

Together, these outcomes contribute to stronger civic leadership, more inclusive decision-making processes, and improved public accountability in the Northern Province.

Data & Impact

Quantitative results

• Direct participants: 600 total (400 women, 200 men) from 15 people's forums and media, legal/law associations, and business networks/forums.
• Town Hall meetings: 27 sessions conducted, engaging 1317 participants in total (attendance reach; overlaps may apply).
• Political readiness: 10 workshops completed with 331 participants (288 female, 43 male, 2 LGBTQIA).
• Public accountability and transparency: 228 participants trained.
• Equitable resource allocation: 30 ToT participants trained; district knowledge-sharing sessions reached 247 CSO members.
• ICT and social media literacy: a practical, mobilefirst bilingual (English and Tamil) package completed; 3-day ToT conducted on 27-29 Dec 2025, preparing 32 peer trainers (district cascades continued after the cut-off date).
• From capacity to participation: 109 of the 331 women trained through the political readiness module contested in local elections.
• Town Hall problem-solving strengthened: 45 issues resolved through Town Hall follow-up and coordination.
• Collective capacity expanded: 30 ToT participants led knowledge sharing on effective and equitable resource allocation, strengthening evidence-based advocacy skills among CSO members.
• Civic voice amplified: five district-level official social media platforms launched with CSO Federations and Women's Caucuses.
• Indirect benefit: approximately 500,000 people in the Northern Province are expected to benefit indirectly through the strengthened 15 people's forums.