Competence Centre, Uganda

General Information

Country: Uganda
Number:

Sector: WASH and Energy
Start: September 2018
End: September 2022
Partner organisation: HORIZONT3000

Budget: 228,133.33EUR
Funded by: DKA Austria
Cross-cutting issue Environment: Specific relevance

Cross-cutting issue Gender: General relevance
Project desk officer: Verena Rassmann

Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Short Description:

At the moment, the Competence Centre pilot project which is being implemented in Uganda and in partnership with 10 hospitals which are affiliated to Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau and two radio stations. These institutions include:

St. Kizito Matany Hospital, Dr. Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital Kalongo, St. Joseph’s Kitgum Hospital, St. May’s Lacor Hospital, St. Luke Angal Hospital, Holy Family Nyapea Hospital, St. Joseph’s Maracha Hospital St. Joseph’s Nagalama Hospital and  St. Francis Nsambya hospital .

The two radio stations include Radio Wa and Radio Pacis. The partner institutions are found in Karamoja, Northern and West Nile Regions of Uganda.

Back in 1997, the first project started at the Hospital in Matany. BBM was the service provider and implementer delivering the following scope: the first fully fledged hospital laundry, the first constructed wetland, an incinerator plus a (for the circumstances back then) major photovoltaic (PV) installation. This project set the ground for so many other installations in hospitals in Northern Uganda and Karamoja.

The project focuses on the Ecological Sanitations of Hospitals in the areas of WASH and/or ENERGY such as;

• Treatment of hospital wastewater in constructed wetland systems and the reuse of effluents for irrigation of (fruit) plantations,
• Construction of a low cost medical waste incinerator and training for operators.
• Laundry systems
• Energy: PV systems & transformers
• Solar water pumping , energy metering
• Dry toilets and reuse of composted faecal material as manure.
• Washing machines for hospitals

Objectives of the Competence Centre:

The project aims at bundling the scattered initiatives of the past 20 years through documenting them and acting as a hub for access of such information, further professionalise the pool of technicians in the institutions and establish three pillars of education, research and consulting for the technical fields of Power Management and Sanitation Management in partnership with UCMB, and other relevant stakeholders.

Target group(s) (direct/indirect beneficiaries):

Direct and indirect beneficiaries of the pilot project are hospitals, patients, technicians, communities in the areas where the ten hospitals are located in Northern Uganda and Karamoja plus the hospitals in Nsambya and Naggalama. Last but not least also the stakeholders which benefit from sustainable solutions e.g. the donors and UCMB.

Policy Dialogue - East Africa

General Information

Country: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania
Number: P-19-357
Sector: Human Rights & Civil Society
Start: 01.01.2019
End: 31.12.2022

Partner organisation: Horizont3000 Regional Office

Budget: 188,404 EUR
Co-Financed by: ADA, DKA
Cross-cutting issue Environment: General relevance

Cross-cutting issue Gender: General

Project desk officer: Jonathan Job Bua
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

HORIZONT3000 is an Austrian Organization for Development Cooperation i.e an Austrian Non-Government Organization working in the field of development cooperation with its Head Office in Vienna, Austria and field offices in various countries including Uganda.

The organization supports its partners to implement projects with funding from mainly Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and contributions from the member organisations. In East Africa country of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, HORIZONT3000 regional program focuses on three main sectors: Sustainable Use of Natural Resources; Integrated Rural Development and; Peace building, Conflict Resolution and Human Rights.

Short Description

HORIZONT3000 is implementing the Policy Dialogue – East Africa Project running from 2019 – 2022. The Project is currently working with 12 partners in the region: Tanzania -Mama’s Hope for Legal Assistance (MHOLA), Human Life Defence – Rulenge, Women’s Economy and Gender Support (WEGS), Mbeya, Ileje, Isangati Consortia (MIICO), Justice & Peace Commission – Kigoma, Hakiardhi. In Kenya - Community Education and Empowerment Center (CEEC), Jesuit Hakimani Center (JHC), Diocese of Lodwar and in Uganda - Resource Rights Africa (RRA), Caritas Mityana and Pathway Initiative for Development (PID).

Project Objectives

To strengthen the capacities of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in East Africa to engage effectively in Policy Dialogue with more attention put on strengthening research and advocacy skills of CSOs to influence policy processes and reforms at different levels.

Expected Results

The expected results include that:

• Capacity of CSOs strengthened to effectively engage in Policy dialogue
• At least 8 organisations have institutionalised and streamlined Policy Dialogue in their organisations
• Knowledge transferred experience and best / worst practices in Policy Dialogue work shared and documented.

Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) Caritas Tororo Archdiocese, Uganda

General Information

Country: Uganda
Number: P-19-354
Sector: Rural development
Start: 01.01.2019
End: 31.12.2022
Partner organisation: Caritas Tororo Archdiocese

Budget: 132,000 EUR
Co-Financed by: ADA, DKA

Cross-cutting issue Environment: general relevance

Cross-cutting issue Gender: general relevance
Project desk officer: Ulrike Bey
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

Caritas - Archdiocese of Tororo is the social service and development arm of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Tororo, Eastern region of Uganda. It is mandated to work in the 16 Districts of Eastern Uganda namely, Busia, Tororo, Butaleja, Manafwa, Bududa, Mbale, Budaka, Kibuku, Pallisa, Sironko, Bulambuli, Kapchorwa, Kween, Bukwo, Namisindwa and Butebo. It has 44 coordination centres (in Catholic parishes) with its structures flowing to the grass root level of Basic Community committees (BCCs) of 15-20 households set to work together. However, Caritas operates using both its church and/or government structures. Its beneficiaries are need based.

Short Description

Due to Uganda’s poverty (60% of the population lives on less than one dollar a day) and low income diversity of the country and its people this has therefore predisposed the citizen to the effects of climate change. More than 80% of the population depends on rain fed and subsistence agriculture (according to review made on Uganda’s national policies relevant to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Insights from Mount Elgon) as a source of livelihood which has weakened the.

Agriculture is a critical part of Uganda’s economy. It accounts for approximately 25% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 50% of total export. Half of the agricultural labor force is female farmers, focusing mainly on their families’ food security rather than the production of cash crops (as of the climate change profile Uganda 2015) and the eastern region in particular Tororo district is not exceptional.

Project Objectives

The project seeks to contribute to building climate change resilience of the poor farmers and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate- related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disaster (SDG 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,13 and 15)  the shall work already existing groups through the following main 3 thematic areas

• Environmental (NRM) sustainability
• Increased incomes at household levels
• Food security

Expected Results

The project will therefore work with a total of 1750 households (70 groups multiply by 25 members in each group) organized  in 70 farmer groups in the areas of Tororo, Busia, naminisdwa and Manafwa districts where the ERI project was being  implemented for the past 2 phases  2015 to 2018 in  the archdiocese of Tororo. We propose to select   40 new groups in the above mentioned areas to make visible the actions to curb down the effects of climate change   on the agricultural production. Beneficiaries shall be empowered using   community based climate change adaptation and mitigation processes/strategies, participatory planning and implementation and improved land use management. All aiming at increased household incomes, food security and environmental sustainability hence improved livelihoods in the selected project catchment areas in Tororo archdiocese.

Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) YARD, Uganda

General Information

Country: Uganda
Number: P-19-353
Sector: Rural development
Start: 01.01.2019
End: 31.12.2022
Partner organisation: Youth Association for Rural Development (YARD)

Budget: 132,000 EUR
Co-Financed by: ADA, DKA
Cross-cutting issue Environment: general relevance

Cross-cutting issue Gender: general relevance
Project desk officer: Ulrike Bey
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

YARD is a charitable, politically independent, non-profit, inter-confessional, non-ethnic Ugandan NGO, registered with the National NGO Bureau since 1996 (Reg. S. 5914/1733).Its goal is the socio-economic development and the improvement of living conditions of disadvantaged people in rural communities through education, food security, improved infrastructure and health care, the creation of income, and a conscious and sustainable use of natural resources.

Short Description

Buikwe district has a population of 550,880 people and 110,176 households which almost entirely depends on Agriculture. Youth in the district who leave school usually work in subsistence agriculture. Less than 7% of youth receive money for their work, and nearly 80% work for their families. In various surveys, up to 79% of youth reported working on smallholder farms, usually family farms, where they acquire most of their knowledge about agriculture. Because youth are not paid for their work on family farms, it is difficult for them to achieve financial independence.

Project Objectives

To contribute to farming households through Participatory Market oriented research in aspects of agro – markets and food security in Buikwe and Kayunga districts.

The project has been designed to contribute to three of YARD’s overall goals:

-       Increased incomes

-       Improved food security and

-       Improved natural resource base

While the project is applying the Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) approach for agro-business development, it also promotes adoption of sound natural resource management practices and focuses on food and nutrition security.

Expected Results

• To enable farmers to develop profitable agro-enterprises, strengthen farmers Associations for collective marketing and value addition.
• To increase farmers’ production of crops for food, nutrition at household level.
• To enable farmers to use their natural resources for sustainable production.
• To empower the Youth through Value chain development.

Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) Caritas Maddo, Uganda

General Information

Country: Uganda
Number: P-19-352
Sector: Rural development
Start: 01.01.2019
End: 31.12.2022
Partner organisation: Caritas Maddo

Budget: 132,000 EUR
Co-Financed by: ADA and BSI
Cross-cutting issue Environment: general relevance

Cross-cutting issue Gender: general

Project desk officer: Ulrike Bey
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

Caritas MADDO is a Faith based Organization (FBO) whose registration is under the registered trustees of Masaka Diocese. Caritas MADDO offers social services and is a Development Commission for the Catholic Church of Masaka Diocese. It established offices in 1981. Seven years later in 1988, MADDO’s scope of work was expanded beyond relief to include development and social services: Food Security and Increased Incomes through Sustainable Agribusiness at household level; Gender and HIV/AIDS Mainstreaming; Water and Sanitation, Preventive and Curative Health as well as support to Human Rights and Good Governance.

Short Description

Caritas MADDO is implementing the third phase of Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) Project running from 2019 – 2022. The Project is currently working with70 groups in 4 sub-counties (22 groups in Nabigasa, 10 in Kabira, 24 in Ddwaniro and 14 in Lwanda) located in 2 districts of Rakai and Kyotera. Through the 70 groups, a total of 1,774 farmers were reached of which 1204 are women while the remaining 570 are men. Our target this phase is to reach out to 76 groups. 64 groups were selected from the previous phases (2013-2015 and 2016-2018) and are being mentored and trained to form Cooperative Societies.

Project Objectives

To contribute to improved livelihoods of farming communities in East Africa by mitigating challenges of climate change and engaging in market oriented agriculture. Empowering and engaging 1900 households in mitigating the challenges and effects of climate change, practicing market oriented agriculture while safe guarding food security and managing their Natural Resources sustainably through applying the ERI Approach.

The project has been designed to contribute to three of YARD’s overall goals:

-       Increased incomes

-       Improved food security and

-       Improved natural resource base

While the project is applying the Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) approach for agro-business development, it also promotes adoption of sound natural resource management practices and focuses on food and nutrition security.

Expected Results

The expected results include that:

• 76 farmer groups and 4 cooperative societies are strengthened and are operational.
• 1900 households are food secure and engaged in agri-business. This result contributes to SDGs; no poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing for people, gender equality.
• 1900 households undertake Natural Resource Management practices in order to sustain a productive natural resource base. This result contributes to SDGs; clean water and sanitation and climate action.

ERI Joint Activities, Uganda and Tanzania

General Information

Country: Uganda and Tanzania
Number: P-19-350
Sector: Rural development
Start: 01.01.2019
End: 31.12.2022
Partner organisation: HORIZONT3000 Regional Office East Africa

Budget: 158,337.86 EUR
Co-Financed by: ADA, DKA Austria, BSI and Welthaus
Cross-cutting issue Environment: specific relevance

Cross-cutting issue Gender: general

Project desk officer: Nobert Luiji Banio, Ulrike Bey (Vienna)
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Partner organization

The ERI Joint activities is part of the broader ERI East Africa programme focused on supporting the 4 ERI implementing partners who work directly with farmers in East Africa. They include; One World Sustainable Livelihoods (OWSL)-Tanzania and our Ugandan partners namely Caritas - Masaka Diocesan Development Organization (MADDO), Youth Association for Rural Development (YARD) and Caritas Tororo Archdiocese. This project is therefore part of the program, Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) in Eastern Africa in which the ERI approach is being used. With the expertise of a Programme Coordinator based at the HORIZONT3000 regional office Kampala, the partners are supported through monitoring, training, mentoring in addition to further developing and spreading the ERI approach.

Project goal and target groups

The overarching goal of the broader ERI East Africa programme is to contribute to the improved living conditions of small farmers in East Africa by working for market-oriented, climate-friendly agriculture. The specific aim of the intervention is to enable 5,875 farmers and their organizations to operate successfully market-oriented, climate-friendly agriculture using the ERI approach in order to achieve income and food security. The "Enabling Rural Innovation" (ERI) approach applied is implemented by four local project partners in Tanzania and Uganda via farmers' groups in their catchment area.

Background information

Agriculture is the livelihood of 65% of the Tanzanian and 69% of the Ugandan population, which is mainly made up of small-scale farmers. The agricultural sector accounts for 25% of GDP in Tanzania and 23% in Uganda, with this proportion falling steadily and reflecting the slow growth of the agricultural sector in poverty and food supply problems for the rural population. The challenges in rural areas include inadequate productivity and market orientation of agricultural production, a lack of sustainable management of natural resources as well as poor organization and networking between farmers. The Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) approach addresses these challenges with a holistic approach that promotes an entrepreneurial culture and is both learning-intensive and participative. The third phase of the project builds on the experience and lessons learned from the previous phases, in which ERI has proven itself as an appropriate approach to the needs of the region, which has successfully increased confidence, production, productivity and income of smallholder farmers.

Activities and expected results

The ERI Joint activities project contributes to the overall ERI EA targets through its 5 result areas. These include; 235 farmer groups are actively working together, 212 farmer groups increase production of nutritious food crops and pro-actively connect to agro markets, 5,366 farmers apply climate smart agriculture oriented production methodologies, strengthen the capacity of the 4 partner organisations in implementing and monitoring the ERI project, experiences of the 4 project partners are documented and shared among partners and with relevant stakeholders to enhance spread of good practices and innovations at various levels. While the first 3 results are cumulatively contributed to by the 4 implementing partners, results 4 and 5 are the focus of the ERI Joint at HORIZONT3000, supporting partners.

Activities that will aid the achievement of the above results include; training of the farmer groups in the ERI modules and agroecology, lobbying and advocacy, mentoring of the supported farmer groups, exchange and learning visits, training courses on the management of natural resources and agro-forestry, a baseline study, networking and capacity building of the project staff, integration of more gender aspects and further development of the ERI approach.