Policy paper – the next two years

MS Uganda has sharpened the focus of its policy paper, seeking to achieve the goals and point out the direction for the next policy paper

Poverty reduction and good governance remains the two main goals for MS Uganda. But the focus has been sharpened highlighting capacity building and fighting the structural causes of poverty in 2005 and 2006, the two last years of implementation of the current policy paper.

Former programme officer, Charles Dra-ecabo, in 2002 introduced the policy paper using this phrasing: "MS-Uganda’s five year Policy Paper is finally out and will aim, within the period, to address two major themes of poverty reduction and good governance and ultimately hope to contribute towards Development and Unity in Diversity, the overall theme for the programme in Uganda (...) The destination is far, the sea may be turbulent, but with a dedicated and committed staff and proper stewardship we shall reach our destination (...) At one time in future we shall ask ourselves how far we have gone and if we are still moving in the right direction."

We have now reached that time foreseen in 2002. The revision of goals and a strategic plan for 2005-06 are on the agenda for the Annual Meeting 2005.

We asked programme officer, Japhes Mukiibi-Biimbwa, how far we have moved in the implementation of the policy paper goals.

"On the whole we can say that we have gone a long way. Let me give a few examples. We have focused on building the partners’ capacity for internal good governance, identifying and addressing gaps. In this area we have seen significant progress. We have prepared partners for participation in decentralisation and local governance, which our partners in Apac District and Koboko County are now implementing. On poverty reduction our partners have been supported in farming, marketing and education, and they have been trained in fund raising and resource mobilisation."

Why is there a need for a revision of the policy paper goals now?

"Actually, we are not revising the goals, we are just refining them as we enter into the final phase of implementation of the current Policy Paper.

The refining has been necessitated by the introduction of the monitoring chart, which demands a more rigorous crafting of the objectives and activities, as well as the effects and changes the implementation of those activities should bring about. We are emphasising the capacity building aspects as the main focus of our co-operation with the partners. At the same time we are clarifying and sharpening the targets as well as the effects that we would want to see as a result of our partnership co-operation. The process of refining the goals is also a pointer to the main thrust of the anticipated development of the new policy paper 2006-11."

What are the main points of the revision?

"The main points of the revision are a rewording of the goals and objectives. And in relation to that, a sharpening of the nature of activities as well as their effects. For instance, the goals are now worded as follows: Capacity building for partners in advocacy and community development initiatives to reduce poverty, and: Strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations to practice and demand for good governance in their communities. The corresponding objectives have also been reworded to put more emphasis on capacity building."

MS 2005-06 plan adopted
The Annual Meeting participants generally accepted MS Uganda’s Strategic Plan 2005-2006 with very few inputs added.
Under the goal of strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations to practice and demand for good governance, the participants resolved that other areas should be included: Refugee rights, constitutional review, and Local Government Act.
On the same goal, participants agreed that MS Uganda should provide legal support to partner activists who challenge corrupt officials. (ce)

How the policy paper was designed

MS Uganda’s current Policy Paper 2001-2006 was formulated in 2001. The 2000 review of the country programme and an analysis of the general situation in Uganda formed important elements in drafting the new Policy Paper.

The most important element, however, was views from those close to the programme: Partners, Policy Advisory Board, country office staff and MS in the South Committee in Denmark were consulted in workshops and meetings.

At the Annual Meeting in 2001, a draft Policy Paper was discussed. Groups came up with several recommendations, e.g. that peace and reconciliation should be a third theme, and that activities should be extended to the entire country. Those recommendations, however, were not taken into consideration in the final policy paper, as there were strong arguments not to do so. (fh)