Objective 6: To encourage broad-based participation in participation in Development by all stakeholders at all levels The APR Panel recommended the country to: (i) introduce capacity building programmes for local communities and civil society organizations so that they can actively participate in planning, implementation and monitoring processes for a better service provision; (ii) ensure representation and participation of all groups in development processes; (iii) strengthen the role of Development Observatory to guarantee that citizens´ opinions are adequately transmitted; (iv) strengthen information and sensitization on the laws that allow for a wider participation. 316. With regards to the APR Panel´s recomendation on the need for the country to introduce capacity building programmes for local communities and civil society organizations so that they can actively participate in planning, implementation and monitoring processes for a better service provision it ought to be referred that progress in this chapter was modest notwithstanding the fact that the District Consultative Councils – represent local commuities are playing their role of district planning and evaluation processes of the services rendered by the Government. 317. For this body (District Consultative Council) and for the civil society organizations based in the community, the Government has been organizing capacity building programmes to improve their performance in the abovementione subjects. Positive examples in this exercise are those activities carried out by Civil Society Support Mechanism through the strenghteninf and involviment of civil society organizations base in the community in monitoring and advocacy on governance. 318. However the lack of continuity of this capacity building do not contribute to full mastering of issues. Therefore, it is in this area where it is necessary to make additional efforts in order to increase the involviment of communities in planning, use and monitoring of serviços rendered by them. 319. With reference to the APR Panel´s recommendation on the need to ensure representation and participation of all groups in development provecess, the country recorded some remarkable progress in the expansion of the participation of civil society in the debate and implementation of public policies. There are some examples of the participation in meetings with the Government and the civil society and they include: (i) Labour Consultative Council, (ii) Private Sector Annual Conference (CASP); (iii) District Consultative Councils; and (iv) Development Observatory. Furthermore, the Government is implementing actions for the operationalization of the National council for elderly persons. In 2012, the Government created and operationalized 22 District Councils for the Advancement of Women as a way of strengthening the participation of rural women in development process. At the sectors, provincial and local levels, there are consultative forums which deal with specific development issues. 320. However, notwithstanding these advancements, there are some fundamental challenges that must be dealt with so that the grass root priority policies can be adequately reflected in national agenda. Civil society organizations in particular at the level of districts and province are very limited and with financial, human and material shortfalls for them to participate actively in the defence of the interests of their members. The Government´s effort is toward the strengthening 99