LASPNET Legal Aid Service Providers Network Uganda (LASPNET) is a Non-Government Organization established in April 2004 to provide a collaborative framework and strategic linkages for Legal Aid Service Providers (LASPS) in the country. On this Voice linking and learning project, LASPNET will partner with Strategic Link (SL) Consult Limited (a consultancy firm with technical expertise) to advance the use innovative approaches to linking and learning that will not only amplify voices of the marginalised groups butalso build capacity of the different grantees involved to support delivery of high-quality, data-driven interventions by the grantees.

LASPNET thematic areas i.e. capacity building, lobbying and advocacy, networking and partnership, research and documentation as well as information/ data management; are all vital and well aligned to the work that the Voice linking and learning project wants to promote among grantees i.e. connecting the grantees, creating a linking and learning environment and documentation and knowledge management. With the experience and expertise gained over the years supporting various stakeholders in Uganda, LASPNET will leverage on the experience of Strategic Link Consult (SL) Consult Uganda to bring quality to the capacity building interventions through use of more innovativeapproaches such as Visualisation in Participatory Programs (VIPP) which will enlist more participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities and marginalised groups such as LGBTs in influencing their learning agendas.
Furthermore, Strategic Link’s experiencein facilitating organisation-led learning based on identified needs# will be critical in empowering the organisations and ensuring sustainability beyond the Voice project.  This partnership led byLASPNET will harness the use of ICT through developing and managinga vibrant on-line and Off-line platform for information sharing and learning among the grantees and other stakeholders.
The Voice Linking and Learning platform will provide LASPNET anopportunity to support the discriminated and marginalised groups who sometimes fall through the cracks of mainstream human rights interventions. LASPNET will also use the lessons drawn from this experience to enrich the other legal aid services and humanrights programs in Uganda.
The consortium between the Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET) and Strategic Link (U) Ltd has led the implementation of the Voice linking and learning (L<(>&<)>L) facilitation in Ugandasince April 2019 although Strategic Linkhas pioneered L<(>&<)>L facilitation in Uganda since August 2018. This consortium has nurtured L<(>&<)>L facilitation to grow into an inseparable part of Voice grantees in Uganda.
In the two and half years L<(>&<)>L facilitation journey, we have appreciated the Voice goals,objectives and values particularly of; nothing for us without us, leave no one behind and putting the least and furthest first. These values have shaped our own values and we have been learnt new ideas on L<(>&<)>L and unlearned our predetermined positions rightsholders needs.  This understanding and appreciation has positioned us to tailor interventions aimed at empowering the most vulnerable groups.  Our interventions are inclusive, employ self-led <(>&<)> peer-to-peer skills transfer, experiential capacity building and learning as well as unlearning unhelpful language. We have adopted a mindset thatsets us apart from other technical experts and with this we position ourselves to identify and use existing resources among rightsholders to foster their empowerment.
In our facilitation role, we have acquired new knowledge, skills and experience which has enabled us become more creative and innovative in working with grantees and often helping them to explore new ways of working, creative approaches to problem solving and harnessing platforms that are often overlooked. We approach L<(>&<)>L with the expertise in creatingsafe and inclusive spaces for rightsholders such as LGBTIQ and approaches that are vital in the current socio-political environment.
Our core role inleading the Voice Context Analysis Update 2020 in Uganda helped us to understand issues of intersectionality, the current vulnerabilities, challenges and needs of various categories of rightsholders (LGBTIQ, ethnic minorities, WEAV, the elderly, youth etc…) and to determine some of the available resources, platforms and stakeholders that need to be engaged to uplift the status of the rightsholders. This experience positions us as knowledgeable L<(>&<)>L Facilitators with in-depths understanding of the needs and aspirations of the Voice rightsholders and who are in position to facilitate their empowerment processes.
Our multidisciplinary team is comprised of facilitators with skills in ICT, use of innovative digital solutions, creation of inclusive and safe spaces,communication, knowledge exchange, story-telling, monitoring and learning, partnership, and capacity building, which sets us apart in the delivery of tailored interventions that grantees and rightsholders need during the current Covid-19 times to remainrelevant inpursuit of their development and empowerment.
We harness digital innovations and solutions that are responsive and support Voice grantees to be connected to each other using the web platform, WhatsApp platform and the online meetings. These platforms have enabledthe rightsholders to stay connected including safe spaces for LGBTIQ on the digital platform, learn from one another and reposit their resources for further amplification. For more information, visit the website on https://www.linkingandlearning.ug/