Legal Aid Service Providers Network Uganda (LASPNET) provides a collaborative framework and strategic linkages for Legal Aid Service Providers (LAPS) in the country. The founders were heads of Legal Aid service providers who Included Foundation for Human rights Initiative, Legal Aid Clinic of Law Development Centre, FIDA -U. The Network has a membership of 52 organisations across 70 districts. Through its membership, LASPNET provides a collective voice, to engage the sector on access to justice issues aimed at improving service delivery in the justice system.

The Network is established and governed by a General Assembly comprised of Legal Aid Service Providers from which the Board of Directors is elected every two years to provide oversight and policy implementation. The Executive Director who heads the Secretariat works closely with the Board of Directors in policy and institutional governance to facilitate management of programmes and operations of the Network. LASPNET’s strength lies in the diverse membership and numbers spread across regions; system structures and tools like IIMS as well as our networking and collaborative platforms.

As the linking and learning facilitator for the Linking and Learning Bridge Action project, Legal Aid Service Providers Network Uganda (LASPNET) has partnered with Strategic Link (SL) Consult Limited (a consultancy firm with technical expertise) to advance the use of innovative approaches to linking and learning that will not only amplify voices of the marginalised groups but also build capacity of the different grantees involved to support delivery of high-quality, data-driven interventions by the grantees.

The facilitator does this through; connecting grantees, creating a linking and learning environment, doing documentation as well as knowledge management. With the experience and expertise gained over the years supporting various stakeholders in Uganda, LASPNET leverages on the experience of Strategic Link Consult (SL) Consult Uganda to bring quality to the capacity building interventions through use of more innovative approaches such as Visualisation in Participatory Programmes (VIPP) that enlists more participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities and marginalised groups such as LGBTs in influencing their learning agendas.

Lessons drawn from this experience will enrich the Organisation’s delivery of other legal aid services and human rights programmes in Uganda.