Under the golden morning sun of Moroto, Uganda, a quiet transformation took place at the Leslona Hotel. For three days—from July 14th to 16th, 2026 – the Coalition of Pastoralist Civil Society Organisations (COPACSO) brought together twelve dedicated staff members and representatives from member organisations for a shared mission: securing a sustainable future.
The room was filled with energy and purpose. Facilitated by Chris Charles Oyua, Managing Director of MACO Consulting, and smoothly moderated by COPACSO Communications Officer Mwiine Gastone, the training addressed a major challenge: civil society groups supporting pastoralist communities have long faced short, unpredictable funding cycles that make long-term planning difficult.
As COPACSO Coordinator shared during the opening:
“For too long, civil society organisations advocating for pastoralist communities have navigated a volatile, short-term funding cycle that limits our long-term vision. This training is a definitive turning point. We are moving away from reactive fundraising toward proactive, institutionalized resource mobilisation. The establishment of our dedicated Collaborative Resource Mobilisation Team ensures that the skills acquired in Moroto will translate into continuous, coordinated action across our entire network.”
Generously supported by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), the workshop went far beyond basic fundraising. It explored strategic resource mobilisation, digital fundraising tools, artificial intelligence-backed donor insights, and ways to build steady, internal revenue for the long term
The technical training came to life during practical group exercises. As the Project Officer noted:
“The shift in our self-rated capacity scores—surging from an average baseline of 46.7% to an impressive 79.2%—proves that our teams are hungry for advanced, data-driven tools. By working directly through active Request for Proposals like the DIV Fund, our participants did not just learn theory; they built real-world theories of change and designed targeted interventions for climate resilience and water security. We now have the technical competence to compete globally and win.”
Working together around the tables, member organisation representatives experienced great breakthroughs as they connected daily field challenges with donor requirements:
Bridging the Gap: Members learned how to turn everyday field challenges such as water scarcity and climate change into professional, competitive grant proposals using active Request for Proposals (RFPs).
Shifting Mindsets: Participants moved away from short-term survival thinking, learning modern digital and internal fundraising methods to build lasting organizational strength.
Building Together: By breaking out of regional isolation, participants shared field experiences and aligned their goals to build a united front for future work.
Committing to Action: Inspired by their rising confidence scores, members enthusiastically committed to ongoing teamwork.
Syndicate group work in progress as participants craft practical project interventions using active RFP frameworks
The main achievement of the workshop came on the final day. To make sure the momentum in Moroto continued, participants created a dedicated 7-member Collaborative Resource Mobilisation Team, coordinated by Communications Officer Mwiine Gastone. This team is now ready to lead joint grant proposals and ongoing online fundraising.
As the workshop closed and participants gathered for a final group photo, COPACSO entered a new chapter. With the continued partnership of SVCF, the network is stronger, better equipped, and fully prepared to secure sustainable funding and improve the lives of pastoralist communities across Uganda.
Participants and facilitators posing together after a successful three-day capacity-building initiative in Moroto.
