Result Area 1: Members skills in reading, writing, numeracy and production of FAL materials improved. This programme is a major component of the 2005/2007 strategic plan. The strategy for pursuing of this was through training of FAL instructors and provision of advisory services. There has also been the production of the English primer for first time English language learners. Other follow-up readers and materials were distributed to 12 FAL classes in Nabitende sub-county 15 FAL classes in Nabitende sub-county 15 FAL classes in Nakigo sub-county, 11 classes in Bulamagi sub-county, 9 in Makuutu and 16 in Waibuga.
Result Area 2: Knowledge and skills to 29 groups in the design of gender sensitive poverty eradication and planning improved.
One of the most heavily entrenched social tradition in Uganda and in Africa as a whole is patriarchy. In 2005, NWASEA carried out a gender analysis study of some of its members to determine the level of members understanding of the subject matter. Some of the recommendations to NWASEA indicated that there was urgent need to integrated gender equity and concerns in all the members/partners. Gender issues therefore were central to our work.
All programmes undertaken in 2008 were gender responsive and involved both genders on an equal footing. At NWASEA, we have vowed to fight women’s oppression which includes lack of rights, powerlessness, unequal access to employment ownership of resources decision making and Education
NWASEA applied, competed and won a contract to undertake a project entitled Civil Society Capacity Building programme funded by the 9th EDF European development Fund. Sub-counties selected for this project included Nabitende, Makuutu and Waibuga, Iganga District.
The objectives of the project are as follows:-
- To introduce to community members the concept of participatory planning in the long term
- To facilitate learning and analyzing the most pressing problems affecting the community
- Map out possible suggestions/ solutions to those problems
- To impact skills in designing an action plan in line with the proposed solutions identified
- To introduce a participatory monitoring tool through use of SWOT analysis
METHODOLOGIES EMPLOYED DURING THE TRAINING
1. Participatory technological development approach (PTD)
2. Brain storming
3. Lecture method
4. Group discussions
5. Plenary presentations
6. Sharing experiences and networking
Management
NWASEA hired consultants to undertake a baseline survey. Facilitators were also employed from the district planning unit to impart skills and knowledge to 3 sub-counties
Among the target group were community based groups, parish development committees’ members and local leaders. LC III and sub-county chiefs were also involved in the training and support to the programme.
Group photo of participants after the dialogue meeting of PPRM
Why participatory planning?
It was made clear to participate that participatory planning is an option because all stakeholders come together to discuss the most pressing problems within their community in order to find lasting solutions. It also promotes the following:-
- Active and collective involvement in decision making of their development agenda
- Agree on the effective utilization of the locally available resources
- To develop consensus on important issues without neglecting anybody
- To put into consideration the interest of the marginalized community members such as PWDs women, youth, vulnerable groups and orphaned children. The first year of contract was completed successfully and NWASEA will continue with this program into the issuing year 2008.
NWASEA also educated local and CSO leaders in the three sub/counties in policy analysis of key Government policies. These included the local Government act, the gender policy, the PEAP, the PMA, the children statute and the youth policy to mention but a few.
450 community members trained in Advocacy and lobbying
10 community action plans prepared
10 radio talk shows conducted
90 radio announcements promoting participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation conducted.
End of year staff and board get together party
The chairman Iganga district presided over the function and in his remarks; he commended the work of NWASEA and emphasize the actual benefits of the members which included skills in FAL, Participatory planning, Lobbying and advocacy and monitoring of all government programmes.
He told the board members to increase their advocacy skills and seek for funds to support the NWASEA projects.
Participants during a Domestic Relations Bill workshop
Result 3 Human Rights
Women’s Rights
The situation of women continued to claim attention of many civic groups which continued to campaign bravely against domestic violence, inequality and inequity in marriage. A key area of focus was the domestic relations bill which was referred back for amendment after being presented before parliament in 2005 and was not passed. Civil society organizations continued to lobby and advocate for a fair and just family law under the coalition on the domestic relations bill (DRB) of which NWASEA is a signatory.
During the year, many rape cases, domestic violence and defilement were reported. Getting redress has not been easy in many cases due to lack of evidence and corruption in most of the law enforcement institutions
Children’s rights
The Government continues to provide universal primary education (UPE) and (USE) since last year. However, since education remained not compulsory, it was difficult to ensure that all children attended school. Consequently, child labour remained a sore problem as children dropped out from school to work mainly in the informal sector. There were also many cases reported on defilement (sexual abuse) which has been a problem even in the proceeding years. Many of the cases continued to be settled out of court with payment being made to the parents without due regard to the harm suffered by the child. In the districts where NWASEA works (Iganga, Mayuge, Bugiri, Kaliro, Namutumba) children continued to drop out of school, to look after siblings, petty trading, juvenile due to orphan hood loss of one or both parents and poverty
Economic, social and cultural rights
An increased population and fewer resources to go round has meant increased pressure on service delivery, affecting a number of rights that have to do with the well being of society such as the right to health, right to food, right to shelter among others. The right to health is in critical conditions as it comes under pressure from Aids, malaria and lack of resources. Although in some parts of the country, Government with the assistance of donors sunk boreholes, access to clean water remained elusive to some of the sections of the population.
Though the economy registered positive statistical growth, poverty remained a major challenge in 2007 to the enjoyment of socio-economic rights. The continuation of fake micro-finance institutions which have stringent terms and conditions of loans and taxes attached have contributed to the lowering poverty levels.
Problems in accessing land continued to be a major factor hindering the enjoyment of welfare rights. In some cases, competition for land and resources precipitated tensions among some communities resulting in open conflict, evictions and internal displacements
Corruption remained a major challenge to the access of essential service by citizens thereby impacting on effective service delivery by the Government
Under this program, NWASEA continued to sensitize community leaders, civil society groups in defending human rights and reporting cases of abuse to the relevant authorities. As a result of increased awareness, many more cases have been reported to police, probation and courts of law.
Result Area 4
Adolescent reproductive health, sharing on teenage sexuality and HIV/AIDS knowledge enhanced.
This result area is informed by NWASEA’s conviction that information is not only important for improving the understanding of social reality but can also provide knowledge for more effective action especially in policy making processes. NWASEA particularly perceives that the youth, when well informed about their reproductive roles and responsibilities can change behavior such that they can participate fully in the development of our country. It is against the above mentioned background that NWASEA initiated the above programme area.
Introduction
This was an initiative with the aim of raising the reproductive health profile in Uganda. There is increasing concern about Uganda’s poor and stagnant reproductive health indicators over the past 10 years despite significant investments in the health sector and considerable progress in improving service delivery in economic growth in poverty reduction and in health sector reforms.
There has been a high level of policy commitment by Government and the ministry of health to address reproductive health concerns and improve service delivery through the poverty eradication action plan. (PEAP)
The National health policy, the health sector strategic plan [HSSP] and the reproductive health 5 year strategic plan [RHSP]. Translating these policies into action and results on the ground, however, faced a number of challenges. Uganda demographic health survey [UDHS] data from 2005 shows that little progress has been achieved between 2000-2005 and there were still a number of gaps that needed to be filled including the following:-
· Progressive policies and programmes on –going programme on safe motherhood and maternal mortality, but continued high maternal and infant mortality rates are on the rise
· Positive policies and on-going programmes on safe motherhood and maternal mortality, but continued high maternal and infant mortality rates are on the rise
· Positive policies and programmes on HIV/AIDS and STD awareness and prevention with positive results but indicators show that significant proportion of young people are still not practicing safe sex
· Progressive policies in place on Reproductive Health, indicators as a means to poverty alleviation, yet overall RH indicators continue to remain poor
· Positive policies and programmes on HIV/Aids and STD awareness and prevention with positive results but indicators that significant proportion of young people are not practicing safer sex
· Inconsistent implementation of policies by different development partners and poor coordination of efforts and central and operational levels
· Messages given out by public figures that conflict with national policies and development objectives.
It is in the light of the above critical situation that NWASEA was prompted to initiate a project on “enhancement of adolescent sexual reproductive health in Nankoma sub-county of Bugiri District.
Sensitization of Home Based Care givers in Buwunga S/C, Bugiri Dist
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1. To provide STD management to 2000 female and male aged 15-25 years living in Nankoma sub-county for a period of 2 years
2. To provide counseling services on adolescent sexual reproductive health to 600 male and 11500 female aged 15-25 in the project area
3. To form linkages with other stakeholders like Isis-WICCE for purposes of preparing a documentary, testimonials and results
CHALLENGES
50% of the targeted youth used the facility 250, male and female youth accessed STI management and counseling, formation of linkages with other stakeholders like Naguru teenage center was minimal.
· Since the project began in the second quarter of the year so far, not much has been achieve.
· Funding for the project has been minimum, making the project progress to slow down.
WAY FORWARD
Resource mobilization in progress and continues
The NWASEA INFORMATION UNIT
A total of 682 people used the unit between January to December 2007 as follows:-
|
Month |
Number |
People / Category |
|
January |
65 |
Student from universities Tertiary Institutions, researchers, academicians, women group members. |
|
February |
53 |
Women leaders, Advocates, students, child rights, local leaders |
|
March |
69 |
Local people, scientists, students |
|
April |
75 |
Students from Universities, local CSOs, researchers, academicians |
|
May |
51 |
Researchers , scientists women leaders |
|
June |
68 |
Human rights activists, NGOs, CBOs, women groups |
|
July |
46 |
Academicians, students from universities and tertiary institutions |
|
August |
56 |
Students, academicians, local leaders, development workers |
|
Sept |
63 |
University researcher students, academicians local people |
|
Oct |
65 |
Academicians, human rights activists , students |
|
Nov |
57 |
Local community, leaders, students, NGOs |
|
Dec |
14 |
CSOs, local leaders |
Out of the 682 people who used the resource unit 312 [42%] were from NWASEA members. The remaining 370 [58] were either from Government civil society servants, institutions or universities and tertiary institutions. Most of them doing research. This indicates that the resource unit is mainly used by more NWASEA non members given that they are probably nearer to where it is located. Compared to 2006 where there was a big increase in the use of the information unit given that in 2005 a total of 485 users were registered,.197 more people used the resource center.
A general analysis of the information unit users indicates that the majority of the users requested for information on policy documents. Manuals on poverty analysis and HIV/Aids. 30% users requested for information on women issues particularly on reproductive health, economic empowerment and gender. 25% requested for education and welfare. Surprisingly issues of environment, human rights, corruption did not attract May requests. However, requests for newspaper cuttings were many. On serious checking many of these were on new crops on the market like medicinal plants such as moringa and Alvera to mention but a few.
...Continuation on Part III
