About MS Uganda

MS - Danish Association for International Co-operation

MS Uganda is part of MS - Danish Association for International Co-operation. Our vision is a world in peace where co-operation among people promotes global equity and ensures improved conditions for poor and marginalised groups. The overall objective of all our work is to contribute to the reducation of poverty in the world.

MS has country programmes in Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Southern Sudan, Nepal and Uganda. In Tanzania MS also operates the Training Centre for Development Cooperation (TCDC). Regionally MS works in Central America, in the Balkans and in the Middle East. MS cooperates with more than 200 local partner organisations in developing countries. The mother organisation is located in Denmark.

MS has operated in Uganda for more than 25 years. Established in 1967, its operations were interrupted from 1972-1990. The MS programme in Uganda started out as Danish Volunteer Service in 1967 and became MS Uganda in 1994. At this time the volunteers where replaced by Development Workers and a new approach bsed on partnerships with local NGOs and CBSs was introduced.

Every five years MS Uganda reviews its program and based on the findings, a new strategy for the coming five year period is developed.

The Program Strategy for 2008-11 is in line with Uganda's Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) as wll as the vision of MS. The aim of the strategy is to support and contribute to the Government's and civil society organisation's efforts to address some of the structural causes to poverty in Uganda and to the ongoing decentralisation and democratisation process.

The efforts of MS Uganda's Strategy for 2008-11 are concentrated on three thematic components: Building Local Democracy, Anti-Corruption and Trade Empowerment. Women and youth are special target groups

Development approach
The core element of MS's Development approach is first of all to consider the challenges, the demands and the needs in the reality we work. Secondly, we offer partnership with organisations that we believe have the capacity, mandate and motivation to unfold our strategy. Part of this partnership is to deploy an overall Programme Officer, technically skilled Development workers, to assist our partners build their capacity.

The partnership approach
MS believes that mutual understanding and respect are the foundation for development co-operation. That is why we work in partnership with local organisations to address poverty and improve democratic practices. Most of MS Uganda's partners are non-governmental and community based organisation at district level. But our partners also include national organisations, regional coalitions, district networks and government institutions. All partners are chosen because they are the ones best positioned to be part of transforming MS Uganda's strategy to rhe reality on the ground.

Programme officers and Development Workers
MS Uganda is not a mere donor agency. Our programme focuses on exchange of knowledge and personnel assistance. Programme officers specialised in the thematic components share the overall responsibility of our partner portfolio. While Development Workers work closely together with the partner organisations as capacity building facilitatiors and advisors on; advocacy and communication, civic education, gender mainstreaming, organisational development e.t.c. according to the partner's needs.

Gender mainstraming
Addressing gender imbalances is a focal point in the implementation of MS Uganda's Country Programme Strategy 2008 - 11. Specific gender outputs have been identified for all the three thematic componets. Ongoing efforts are made to encounter gender imbalances both at the Country Office and at partner level. The principles that guide the gender mainstreaming process draw on inspiration from Uganda's National Gender Poilcy and MS Denmark Gender Policy.

Program management
MS Uganda’s country office is located in Kampala and the Director of MS Uganda is the sole person directly responsible to the mother organization in Denmark. The country office is organized with a program section maintaining partnership relations and an administrative section taking care of accounts, logistic, staff matters and secretarial functions. The work is based on clearly defined job functions with the largest possible delegation of responsibility.

Organizational structure
MS Uganda has a democratic organizational structure with a Policy Advisory Council (PAC) and Annual Meetings.

The Policy Advisory Council meets five times a year and serves as an advisory body on policy issues for the program. It also monitors the performances and advises the country office on matters relevant to the partners. The Policy Advisory Council has to make sure that concerns, priorities and experiences by the partners, the Development Workers and the staff are taken into account and integrated into the program.

The Policy Advisory Council has 9 members. The partners and the Development Workers elect each three representatives and the country office nominates the last three independent members. The MS Uganda Director serves as the secretary to the board while the Program Officers and the Administrator attend the meetings as resource persons.

Once a year, representatives of all MS Uganda’s partners, all Development Workers, Country Office Staff and special invited guests come together at the Annual Meting.

The Annual Meeting has a consultative status in reviewing the program and discussing its further development. It is at the Annual Meetings the participants elect members for the Policy Advisory Council.

Democracy focus