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Samaritan Community Development Programme (GOSAP - Kisoro) have trained and supported local leaders in
participatory planning and budgeting, and WaterAid Uganda (WAU) trained sub-county technical staff in Mpigi and
Amuria in generating targets and work plans. This involvement serves to increase the transparency and credibility
of planning processes and improves communication and coordination between the various sector stakeholders.
WAU and UWASNET have also worked to encourage the use of clear allocation formulae at district level.
Water Point Mapping
Water resource mapping assists in providing not only an accurate ‘snap-shot’ of water source coverage and
functionality at a given point in time, but can be used as an integral component to a functioning Management
Information System (MIS). Results of mapping exercises have also assisted some NGOs and Local Governments to
efficiently direct donor funding to priority areas, and continues to serve as a basis for advocacy and to guide
planning and equitable resource allocation.
Mapping of water points has been undertaken by several NGOs, including PAMO Volunteers (Kumi), Uganda
Environmental Education Foundation (UEEF - Mukono), Voluntary Action for Development (VAD - Wakiso), Uganda
Domestic Sanitation Services (UGADOSS - Wakiso), Needy Kids – Uganda (NKU - Yumbe), Emesco Development
Foundation (Kibaale), Community Development Action (CDA - Mityana), Health Through Water and Sanitation
(HEWASA - Kabarole), CARITAS (Lira), Youth Initiative for Development Association (YIFODA - Gombe sub-county,
Wakiso), WaterAid Uganda (WAU - support to District Local Governments in Masindi, Amuria, Katakwi), Water for
People (Kyenjojo, Mukono), International Rescue Committee (Kitgum), and International Lifeline Fund (ILF - Lira).
Dialogues and advocacy
Both government and non-government actors are increasingly aware of the need for a high degree of coordination
of service delivery efforts at local levels. Lack of communication and coordination can create duplication of efforts
(with resulting waste of resources and increased costs) and delays and lack of efficiency when problems such as
systems breakdowns occur. NGOs have recognised the importance of improving lines of communication with other
sector stakeholders such as Local Government, District Water Officers (DWO) and Technical Support Units, among
others. At the same time, NGOs use their mandates to give voice to the demands and needs of their beneficiaries
by using advocacy efforts to influence the decision-making process and improve accountability and transparency.
Some activities in these areas have included:
- Coordination with district stakeholders such as DWOs and harmonisation of work plans (as done by
Africare, Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB - Soroti, Amuria, Bukedea, Katakwi) and Joint Effort to Save the
Environment (JESE - Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kabarole);
- Advocacy meetings in order to discuss relationship with authorities, planning, monitoring and evaluation
(as done by Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) in Masha and Birere subcounties,
Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD) in Moyo, Adjumani and Nebbi,
Welthungerhilfe (Lira) and Wera Development Association (WEDA) in Amuria and Katakwi);
- Dialogue meetings to discuss technological options (as done by Community Welfare Services (COWESER)
for provision to water-stressed areas with RWH tanks); and
- Training advocacy committees in advocacy & lobbing for water & sanitation improvement (as done by
North Kigezi and Kinkiizi Dioceses (NKKD) in Nyakagyeme sub-county in Rukungiri.
Practicing what we preach
The fact that NGOs have a role to play in holding government authorities to account does not exempt them from
applying the same criteria to their own operations; many NGOs have therefore undertaken measures to ensure
that the services they deliver are indeed reaching those who are most in need. In its report on work undertaken in
Gulu, CARITAS noted the concern raised by local leadership that NGOs/ Faith based organisations at times employ
under-qualified personnel, resulting in poor project implementation; this led to a recommendation to allow
beneficiaries of future programmes to view staff profiles, in order to build mutual trust. IRDI has held meetings at
sub-county and parish level in order to identify beneficiary parishes and villages, while within Concern Worldwide’s
operations in Amuria, proposal of water source locations is done by the community through sub county/village
meetings and prioritising, and the neediest areas/villages are identified for support. Further, Soroti Catholic
Diocese Integrated Development Organisation (SOCADIDO) arranges planning meetings at sub county and village
levels to ensure water provision is targeted to the most disadvantaged communities.
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