Richard Ssewakiryanga is the Advisor, Policy Research and Strategic Partnership and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Basic Research, Kampala, Uganda, former Executive Director of Uganda National NGO Forum a platform of over 630 local and international NGOs in Uganda. I am the Emeritus Presiding Officer for the African Union, Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), Co-Chair for the Global CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE), Vice President of the African Community of Practice on Managing for Development Results (AfCoP), a Member of the Global CSO Advisory Group to the UNDP in New York.  Co-Chair of the Task Team CSO Development Effectiveness.  For 10 years, I worked for the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Uganda as an Adviser on Participatory Poverty Assessments.  At the Center for Basic Research in Kampala I have researched and published in several working papers and book chapters in areas of social and economic development.  I hold a Masters’ Degree and finalizing a Doctorate Degree in Social Sciences and hold several post graduate courses in communications, gender and economics, advocacy training, aid and development among others. I am a passionate lover of the game of rugby.