On Saturday, 12th July 2025, the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Alumni Association of Uganda (CSFAAU) successfully hosted its first-ever Resource Mobilisation Workshop at Onomo Hotel, Kampala. The day-long event brought together alumni from various sectors for a practical and inspiring training on how to effectively mobilise resources for academic, development, and business initiatives.

This workshop was birthed from a key insight shared during the CSFAAU Annual General Meeting in September 2024, where the association’s patron, Prof. William Bazeyo, identified resource mobilisation as a major gap among members. Following his advice, the CSFAAU committee, under the leadership of Events Coordinator Catherine Tushabe and the Publicity Secretary Simon Golola, took the bold step of organising this much-needed training. The events success was sealed by the invaluable support of British Council.

A Well-Structured Day of Learning

Moderated by CSFAAU committee members, the event began with registration and breakfast at 8:00am, followed by a warm welcome led by Carol Kiconco, the Programme Coordinator for Commonwealth Scholarships in Uganda, South Africa, and Malawi at the British Council. The workshop featured three main sessions, all facilitated by Dr. Ahmed M. Sarki (PhD, MPH, AFHEA, FRSPH), an experienced resource mobilisation expert and engaging storyteller.

• Session 1 focused on Resource Mobilisation in the Global South, exploring current trends, challenges, and shifting donor patterns.
• Session 2 addressed Resource Mobilisation in Academia, with a special focus on how to craft winning proposals.
• Session 3 tackled Resource Mobilisation for Development Organisations and Businesses.

Each session was designed to be interactive and relevant to alumni across various professions.

Interactive Group Work

One of the key highlights of the day was the group work during the first session. Participants were divided into three working groups, each tasked with a real-world scenario:

• One group planned for a business start-up
• Another focused on a development sector project on mental health awareness
• The third planned a research proposal for an academic project

Each group presented their ideas to the wider group, receiving feedback from both peers and the facilitator. The practical nature of these exercises allowed participants to immediately apply the knowledge they were gaining.

Opportunities Beyond the Workshop

At the close of the event, Ms Carol Kiconco made an exciting announcement. She shared that the three groups would have the opportunity to refine their ideas and pitch them at a future gathering hosted at the British Council. The best group pitch might even receive funding to implement their idea. She further noted that all workshop participants would be formally recognised during the upcoming CSFAAU Annual General Meeting, adding an extra layer of encouragement and visibility for their efforts.

Impact and Reflections

Throughout the day, Dr. Sarki captivated participants with relatable examples and personal stories that demystified the fundraising process. His engaging approach kept energy levels high and encouraged active participation.

The workshop concluded with closing remarks by the CSFAAU Executive Committee.

The CSFAAU Resource Mobilisation Workshop was not only a success in terms of participation and content, but also marked a milestone in the association’s mission to empower its members professionally. Participants left equipped with new knowledge, strategies, and confidence to pursue funding opportunities in their fields.

Looking Ahead

This workshop laid the foundation for more capacity-building initiatives within the CSFAAU community. The Executive Committee expressed a strong commitment to follow up with similar trainings in future and encouraged members to continue sharing ideas for alumni development.