From 27 February to 15 March 2017, Rwanda Governance Board conducted training of members of JADF commissions from eight selected districts namely: Gisagara, Huye, Karongi, Rutsiro, Gakenke, Musanze, Nyagatare and Gatsibo. Commissions are among the organs of the structure of the Joint Development Action forum (JADF) at District level. According to Jean Paul Munyandamutsa, the national JADF coordinator at RGB, the training was meant to build the capacity of the members of commissions to enable them to efficiently accomplish their responsibilities. “Every year districts get new partners, while others complete their activities, therefore are new members of commissions. We, therefore, organise such training in order to refresh and equip commission members with necessary knowledge about the functions of JADF, and the specific roles of commissions in ensuring the smooth operation of district development partners,” says Munyandamutsa. Munyandamutsa further explains that JADF commissions are normally aligned with the pillars of District development plans namely: Governance, economic and social affairs. Districts have varying numbers of commissions. “The difference in numbers of commissions depends on district priorities and areas of interventions in which district development partners are involved,” Munyandamutsa explains. Aime Iyaturemye the chairman of JADF in Nyagatare District says that the role of JADF commissions starts from assessing and endorsing new partners seeking to operate in the District and providing them with proper orientation depending on District’s priorities. “When new partners apply to operate in our district, members of related commission convene a meeting to assess their action plans and identify in which area of intervention they can fit. When the new partners’ action plans are found relevant, we recommend the district,” Iyaturemye explains. Iyaturemye also stresses that JADF commissions have proved to be an effective mechanism to harmonise development partners’ activities with District performance contracts. “Before the commissions were put in place, it was not easy to coordinate development partners’ activities and there were some cases of duplication. Today, commissions have significantly contributed to harmonising development partners’ interventions and to ensure that all their activities respond to the needs of the citizens,” Iyaturemye stresses. RGB has under its mandate to coordinate and follow up the JADF activities. To achieve this responsibility, RGB organises several engagements geared towards capacity building of JADF across the organs of its structure and enhance the delivery of JADF member organisations. According to Prime Minister Instructions establishing the JADF, commissions are set up by JADF general assembly at District level for planning, monitoring and evaluation development partners’ activities. District development partners extol the role of commissions as an engine of effective and efficient delivery.