evaluation of general food distribution in northern uganda: gulu ...

approaches through which it can stimulate a debate on transitional issues among therelevant actors in Uganda in order to bring some coherence to the process .Strengthening Local Capacities: At an operational level, GFD is building the capacity oflocal structures (albeit on a limited scale) that are expected to direct future developmentefforts within the community. Whereas it created its own distribution structures (the FMCs)which have been accused of undermining the authority of local structures, NRC isincreasingly working with local officials at the parish level in the transit sites and return a reas.Parish chiefs and local council officials are more involved in the food distribution processesand have been trained and equipped with community mobilization and leadership skills 168 .During the first quarter of 2008, a training programme was conducted in all sub counties forFMCs, sub-county leaders and some LC members. The training tackled topics on the roles ofFMC/LCs, distribution processes, role of food aid during return and recovery, hygienepromotion and domestic violence 169 .Linkages with Other NRC Programmes: NRC has a portfolio of programmes includingsupport to food security & livelihoods (FSL); support to Information Communication andLegal Aid (ICLA); support to Food For Education (FFE), support to Education, in particularthe Youth Education Pack (YEP) and support to Shelter and Camp Management. All theseprogrammes have a longer-term perspective that would complement the GFD programme.Interestingly GFD is credited for creating a special status for NRC, which has offered somelevel of protection for the other programmes 170 and yet until recently, there have been noefforts to strengthen the linkages between these programmes and GFD and maximise on this‘good will’.The FSL project which offers a variety of livelihood options through agricultu ral production;income generating activities (IGAs); and environmental conservation, was initiated towardsthe end of 2005 with the aim of increasing IDPs’ self sufficiency, following reductions of WFPfood rations 171 . The programme picked pace in 2006. The FSL project targets both NEVIsand EVIs and is today (2008) working with a total of 7613 households in Gulu, Amuru andKitgum districts, but would like to expand its target group, as the needs are great. Support tofarmer groups has so far included input provision (seeds, oxen, ploughs) and training toincrease appropriate knowledge and skills. By creating knowledge on, strengthening anddeveloping sources of food and sources of cash, the project assists IDPs and returnees tocope with their current situation in the short term as well as to gain skills that will benefit themwhile returning to their places of origin 172 . The FSL project in its current scope is fully fundeduntil April 2009.The number of households so far reached by the FSL project appear rela tively small in lightof the high unmet need for livelihoods support in the three districts, and hence the need toexpand these interventions. As noted in earlier sections, NRC’s GFD and FSL componentscould complement each others’ efforts more than has be en the case, given their commoninterest in food security. Apart from a few occasions, the two have to some degree beenworking in parallel. While their approaches to food security are somewhat different with theFSL component requiring more technical back stopping and close monitoring, GFD bringscertain strengths to the table (logistics, mobilization skills, a broad network, regular contactwith, and knowledge of communities in all sub-counties) some of which could be harnessedto inform and/ or support expansion of the livelihoods’ interventions.168FFL/FFE Quarterly report, April 2008169Ibid170Interview with ICLA, NRC171Based on recommendations from a WFP EFSA conducted in March 2005172NRC: Food Security & Livelihoods leaflet48