ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - The Hunger Project Hunger Project Uganda... · Project (THP) is an international non-profit organization founded in 1977 and headquartered in New York (USA) with

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THPU Annual Report 2012THEHUNGER PROJECT UGANDA

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ANNUAL REPORT 2012

THEHUNGER PROJECT UGANDA

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THPU Annual Report 2012 THPU Annual Report 2012THEHUNGER PROJECT UGANDA

THEHUNGER PROJECT UGANDATHPU Annual Report 2012


Our Vision: A world where every woman, man and child leads a healthy, fulfilling life of self-reliance and dignity.

Our Mission: To end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies and advocating for their widespread adoption in countries throughout the world.

Core Values:• Mobilizing people at the grassroots level to

build self-reliance

• Empowering women as key change agents

• Forging partnerships with local and central governments

Photos (clockwise from left): Kiruhura Epicenter building, Mwoya parish; Five steps of ending hunger and extreme poverty; Australian investors group, called “Business Chicks,” visit Mbara Epicenter; Mpigi Epicenter partners join the rest of the world in celebrating THP’s 35 years of existence.

List of Acronyms

AHEAD Energy for African Development

APF Agri Pro Focus

AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

CBOs Community Based Organizations

CEO Chief Executive Officer

CRS Catholic Relief Services

FAL Functional Adult Literacy

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus

IMR Infant Mortality Rate

MMR Maternal Mortality Rate

MDGS Millennium Development Goals

NAC National Advisory Council

NARO National Agricultural Research

Organization

NGO Non-Governmental Organization

SACCO Savings and Credit Cooperative

THP The Hunger Project

THPU The Hunger Project Uganda

TOT Trainer of Trainers

SUN Scaling Up Nutrition

VCA Vision, Commitment and Action

VCAW Vision, Commitment and Action

Workshop

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In 2012, The Hunger Project marked 13 years of service in Uganda. With more than

a decade of dedicated service, THPU’s record is a mixture of achievements, challenges and lessons.

Key achievements registered in 2012 include the official opening of a new epicenter building in Wakiso district -Namayumba sub county under a tripartite agreement between THPU, Namirembe Diocese and Wakiso district local government/Government of Uganda. This epicenter is to be used as a model for scaling up the Epicenter Strategy as stipulated in the National

Muwalimu Musheshe (PhD) Council

Chairperson THPU National Advisory

Development Plan 2010/11 – 2014/15; THP marked 35 years of uninterrupted service globally; a new Strategic Direction was developed for 2012 -2015; and THPU hosted a team of 19 women known as the “Business Chicks” from Australia who pledged to invest USD 1 million in the end of hunger and poverty in Uganda in the next four years.

A number of challenges were experienced by the organization and our partners that hampered implementation and outputs of some of our interventions. These include: unreliable weather conditions that have continued to threaten household and community-level food security; STRIGA weed attack on maize, especially in Iganga Epicenter; escalating fuel prices leading to increased cost on program implementation; and administration and land disputes.

THPU has managed to register enormous achievements using its unique intellectual property: The “Vision, Commitment and Action” approach, which differentiates THPU from other NGOs who believe in investment of cash, goods and services first and change as the consequence. It is also different from those who simply provide training and assume new skills will create momentum for the change.

On behalf of THPU’s National Advisory Council, I wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our development partners, staff and grassroots partners for the individual, collective support and commitment that made our interventions possible. With your support, we believe that together we can sustainably end hunger and poverty in Uganda.

Foreword

It is a pleasure working with an organisation that is committed to the sustainable end of hunger in the world. The Hunger

Project (THP) is an international non-profit organization founded in 1977 and headquartered in New York (USA) with a mission of empowering people in the developing world particularly women to end their own hunger and poverty.

The core elements of THP’s work include: grassroots community mobilization, women’s empowerment and effective partnerships with local governments. The Global Hunger Project has a track record of 35 years with activities in 12 countries which in Africa include: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal and Uganda. According to its declarations, it is committed to identifying and utilizing an accurate framework of thinking, and pioneering strategies and actions that will enable humanity to create a

The Country DirectorA Word from

Daisy Owomugasho Country Director

new future a future free from hunger.

THP started working in Uganda in 1999 with initial operations in Kiringente and Kalamba sub-counties in Mpigi District with a focus on 11 villages, which had a total population of 10,000 people. As of 2012, THP-Uganda has successfully established eleven (11) epicenters in central, western and mid-eastern regions in the districts of Mpigi, Wakiso, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Mbarara, Kiruhura, Iganga and Mbale. Close to 40,000 partners have directly benefited from THPU program interventions under the current catchments to end their own hunger and poverty.

THP’s programme interventions include: Vision, Commitment and Action Workshops; Health and Nutrition; Literacy and Education; Food Production and Food Security; Microfinance; Women Empowerment Programme; Public Awareness; Advocacy and Alliances; Water, Environment and Sanitation; and Monitoring and Evaluation.

The most significant achievements during the year included: development of a new Strategic Direction for THP for 2013-2016, completion of Namayumba Epicenter construction with support from the Government of Uganda and government recognition and registration of Kiruhura Epicenter’s SACCO, bringing the total number of SACCOs under THPU to seven.

THPU operates in partnership with local communities and governments, using an integrated methodology called the Epicenter Strategy to build partners’ capacity to successfully access the basic services needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) and lead lives of self- reliance.

As we look forward to future days and years, we also look forward to continued support of our work from the government, THP investors, donors and other development partners.

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The Hunger Project in Uganda

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Summary of Epicenter Phases and Related Activities

Phase 1 (Yr. 1-2) Phase 2 (Yr. 3) Phase 3 (Yr. 4-6) Phase 4 (Yr. 7-8)

THP’s methodology is implemented through epicenters, or clusters of rural villages where women and men are mobilized to create and run their own programmes to meet their basic needs. Through the Epicenter Strategy, THPU builds the capacity of rural women and men so that they can successfully achieve lives of self-reliance and dignity. The Epicenter Strategy is integrated and holistic and its centerpiece is an L-shaped building where communities manage their own activities.

The Epicenter Strategy is a demand-driven social development process. The strategy unites 5,000 to 15,000 people in a cluster of rural villages to create an epicenter. The epicenter consists of the total population of communities located within a radius of 10 km from the central village chosen to host the epicenter building. In order to serve

The Epicenter Strategy

the communities most in need, THP targets rural areas that are far from large towns and municipalities.

Most of these remote areas are 15 km from basic health services, schools and markets, making the population highly vulnerable to hunger and endemic poverty. An epicenter is a focal point where the synergies and leadership of the people converge with resources of local government and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

There are four broad stages through which the communities progress: Community Mobilization, Epicenter Construction, Program Implementation and Self-Reliance. Communities show varying degrees of readiness and move through the process at different phases.

#1: Mobilization

VCA workshops

Animators

Community – initiated projects

Leadership

Microfinance

#2: Construction

Contributed Land, Materials, labor.

L-shaped building

Demonstration farm

#3: Program Implementation

Food and nutrition security

Health

Education

Sanitation

Adult literacy

#4: Self-Reliance

Bank recognition

Epicenter income generation

Epicenter Committee leadership of continuint development

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Major Highlights 2012

Mindset change has been achieved through the Vision, Commitment and Action Workshops at the grassroots level. Partners now believe that they can end their own hunger and poverty. This has been aided by the creation of a mass movement of animators and empowerment of women as key change agents.

Over 1,200 partners in six epicenters participated in open Annual General Meetings, which is an indicator of transparency and accountability at the epicenters. Financial and program reports from the rural bank leadership

and management were presented to the members. Partners were also trained in rural

Community Mobilization / VCAWS

bank governance by the District Commercial Officers, who are the overseers on the rural banks operations in the district.

Seven epicenters successfully registered as Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in their respective districts: Kiruhura, Mbarara, Namayumba, Kiringente, Kiboga, Mbarara and Mbale. This is one of THP’s strategies for promoting self-reliance of the epicenters. Registration for the other epicenters is in progress.

Epicenter Construction

Namayumba acquired an epicenter building (right) after two years of community mobilization. The L-shaped building comprises the following facilities: nursery school, Health Center III, health workers staff quarters, meeting hall, microfinance rural bank, offices for epicenter leaders, a village shop, public latrines, food bank and a five-acre demonstration garden.

The official inauguration of the epicenter took place in May 2012 and was graced by the presence of THP Global Board Chairman, Mr. Steve Sherwood; THP Global Board of Directors’ member, Ms Sheree Stormberg; the President and CEO of the Global Hunger Project, Ms. Mary Ellen McNish (left in photo); Vice President for Africa Programs, Dr. Idrissa Dicko; Investors;

local government leaders; and Church of Uganda representatives. Over 1,000 partners attended the inauguration ceremony and the guest of honour was the Hon. Minister for Economic Monitoring from the President’s Office, Honorable Henry Banyenzaki (down in photo).

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Seven hundred and forty-three partners (526 women and 217 men) received training under the Women Empowerment Program to increase gender equality and human rights awareness. The focus of the Women Empowerment Program was on sensitization on women’s rights, assertiveness, leadership and reproductive health. Women have been empowered with the necessary knowledge and skills to become self-confident and have been encouraged to participate in the community’s political, social and economic

Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women

affairs. A case in point is Mrs. Latifa Mutyaba, a former member of Kiboga rural bank Board of Directors, who is currently the Vice Chairperson of Kapeke Sub County in Kiboga district.

Kiruhura Epicenter received a certificate of recognition from Kiruhura district for their contribution towards women’s economic empowerment in the district. This happened during the International Women’s Day celebrations that took place at Kiruhura district headquarters.

Over 2,538 partner farmers (1,356 women and 1,182 men) have received training in better farming methods and agribusiness. Best farming practices have been adopted in the epicenter communities, including: planting of early maturing and high yielding seed varieties, post-harvest handling and storage and collective marketing.

A total of 596 agriculture trainers of trainers (ToTs) were created to build the capacities of low-level

farmers using the knowledge and skills acquired through the food security trainings.

During the year, 6,970 KGs of improved seeds and 1,050 KGs of fertilizers were distributed to farmers that resulted in the storage of 113,031 KGs in the epicenter food banks. Over 46,397 KGs of food were sold from the food bank, increasing the farmers’ income by over 40 million shillings, or USD 16,327.

Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger

A total of 596 agriculture trainers of trainers (ToTs) were created to build the capacities of low-level farmers using the knowledge and skills acquired through the food security trainings.

During the year, 6,970 KGs of

improved seeds and 1,050 KGs of fertilizers were distributed to farmers that resulted in the storage of 113,031 KGs in the epicenter food banks. Over 46,397 KGs of food were sold from the food bank, increasing the farmers’ income by over 40 million shillings, or USD 16,327.

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Contribution towards Early Childhood Development and Adult LiteracyOver 415 children (209 girls and 206 boys) of school-going age participated in the early childhood development program implemented through the epicenter nursery schools. This program aims at building a strong foundation for the children before they join government and private primary schools. Child nutrition is also supported through a school feeding program whereby every child receives a nutritious meal (porridge mixed with milk and soya) while at school. In Iganga, the epicenter nursery school was recognized by the district for its contribution towards early childhood development and received a cash prize of Ugx 50,000 or USD 20.4 from the Chief

Guest during the celebrations of International Women’s Day in the district.

In order to bridge the gender gap in illiteracy, 115 functional adult literacy (FAL) classes, which comprise 3,202 women and 1,557 men, were mobilized in collaboration with the district community-based services department. Over 283 instructors were trained to run and manage the FAL classes. Two hundred twenty-two partners graduated upon completion of the first phase and have acquired skills in reading, writing and counting. This has contributed greatly to the empowerment of women as key change agents in their communities.

THPU has continued to contribute to education and research in the country by engaging university students to gain professional work experience under the student Internship Program. A total of 15 students with different professional backgrounds (11 girls and 4 boys) were fully engaged in all program activities ranging from mobilization, training, research and monitoring and evaluation of the epicenter programs.

Forty-one HIV/AIDS workshops were conducted for 2,742 partners (1,742 women and 1,000 men) by THP-Uganda staff and animators.

The training workshops aimed at changing partners’ attitudes and perceptions and promotion of gender equity at household and community levels. THP-Uganda provided the critically missing rural infrastructure and most importantly, the courageous grassroots-level leadership willing and able to confront the gender issues fuelling the spread of the disease. This has enabled government and other development partners to reach out to partners easily. For instance, in Mpigi and Wakiso, HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support is provided by Islamic Medical Association of Uganda and Mild May respectively, both through partnerships with THP-Uganda.

Combating

HIV/AIDS

Awareness programs on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS were conducted in Mpigi and Wakiso Epicenters, reaching out to 5,719 mothers in partnership with the Islamic Medical Association of Uganda, Mild May Uganda and THETA Uganda. Over 9,560 male condoms were distributed to THP-Uganda communities in collaboration with THETA-Uganda and the epicenter health centers.

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Reducing Child Mortality and Improving Maternal Health

Over 100,086 partners accessed health services through the epicenter Health Centers with support from the District Health Departments. This is an indicator of improvement in health- seeking behavior by the partners. The number of pregnant women accessing antenatal services through the Epicenter Health Units has increased indicating an improved health seeking behavior among the pregnant women. Special emphasis was put on the 1,000 days, an initiative under the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement, which focuses on proper nutrition during the

1,000-day window from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday. This is intended to contribute further to the reduction of the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the Epicenter areas.

Epicenters participated in the National Immunization Campaign under the theme “Child Days Plus” by the Ministry of Health. The epicenters were utilized as mobilization and immunization centers, resulting in 10,497 children immunized against measles and polio as a way of curbing the Infant Mortality Rate.


Access to clean and safe water in the epicenter communities has increased as has access to improved household and community sanitation. Thirty-seven water sources were rehabilitated, 662 household latrines constructed and 18,072 trees planted at the epicenters and in the communities to promote environmental sustainability.

Kiboga Epicenter participated in a four-week Sanitation event conducted by the District Water Department in April 2012 under the theme “Open defecation is shameful.” The crowning event took place at the epicenter, and the Guest of Honor was the District Chairperson. THP was commended for its contribution towards the attainment of the eight MDGs in the district, increasing pit latrine coverage and hand wash through “tippy tap” demonstrations and promotions.

Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

Photos: Top: Woman draws water from a spring well rehabilitated by partners at Mbale Epicenter; Middle: Children draw water from a borehole constructed by Iganga district local government at Iganga Epicenter; bottom: A member of Kyosiga Functional Adult Literacy group attending to the group tree nursery project.

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The seventh rural bank was registered in Kiruhura Epicenter at a big function which was attended by THP Global staff and investors and Hon. Fred Mwesigye, Member of Parliament for Kiruhura District as the Guest of Honor.

Communities (especially women) have access to affordable credit from their rural banks for income-generating activities. Communities have been able to identify and assess viable income generation activities through participatory meetings.

Income-generating projects were supported to increase epicenter incomes. For instance, Mbale Epicenter’s party program of hiring out tents, chairs and tables and the main hall grew steadily with revenue amounting to UGX 3,000,000 ($1,200), while the revolving food account earned close to $1,500.


In May 2012, THP-Uganda hosted the President and CEO of the Global Hunger Project, as well as investors and Global Board members. The visitors participated in a number of activities, which included the official opening of Namayumba Epicenter, a meeting with the Minister for Economic Monitoring about the possibilities for the scale-up of the Epicenter Strategy in partnership with the Government, and interactions with THP’s grassroots partners in Mbarara, Kiruhura, Bulamagi, Iganga, Wakiso and Namayumba Epicenters.

A proposal to the Government of Uganda for the scale-up of THP’s Epicenter Strategy was presented to the Minister for Economic Monitoring in the President’s Office. The Minister commended THPU for the great contribution towards the government effort of eradicating hunger and poverty in Uganda. This is in line with the first Strategic Priority of THP, which is to forge partnerships with governments to integrate essential elements of THP in their national plans. The role of THP will be to build the Government of Uganda’s capacity to implement and scale up the Epicenter Strategy in ten pilot districts in the Northern, Eastern, Western and Central regions.

Iganga Epicenter acquired two solar panels, four dry batteries (12-volts), a solar refrigerator and a water purifier from AHEAD Energy (see photos to

Developing Global Partnerships for Development

left: top, solar panels; bottom, solar refrigerator). This has contributed to improved lighting and sanitation conditions at the epicenter. Mpigi Epicenter also received new solar panels and a water pump from Mild May Uganda to improve the operations of Mpigi Epicenter Health Center III. Additionally, space for drug storage was increased, laboratory infrastructure improved and a new counselling room was established with support from Mild May and Butambala district local government.

Cassava production was scaled up in Kiboga Epicenter through a Partnership with CRS under the Great Lakes Cassava Initiative to fight Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) and Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD). 2012 marked the final year of the project and the following was achieved: four Participatory Variety Selection sites (PVS) were set in Kapeke Sub-County to involve the farmers in selecting a suitable variety for their local context, 10 acres of cassava seed were set up in four sub counties and over 2,000 households received clean cassava cuttings through the multiplication process. The beneficiaries included women, men, youth, elderly and people with special abilities.

In Wakiso Epicenter, THPU partners established a partnership with Barefoot Technologies for solar power supply. This project is managed through Wakiso Epicenter rural bank.

Increasing Access to Microfinanceand Income Generation

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THEHUNGER PROJECT UGANDATHPU Annual Report 2012


THP-Uganda is now the leader of the Access to Finance thematic group under the Agri Pro Focus network of Dutch NGOs dealing in farmer entrepreneurship in Uganda. THPU, together with other members of Agri Pro Focus, organized a Finance Market Fair in June at Malukhu grounds in Mbale town, Mbale, where ten Microfinance Program (MFP) groups participated, and another event in Lira district towards the end of the year. The purpose of this event was to link financial institutions with potential clients since most of the farmers were ignorant about the various credit facilities at their disposal. Agri Pro Focus is working with Agro-based organizations in Eastern Uganda to enhance farmer linkages with Agro input and produce dealers, processors and financial institutions in order to boost farmer productivity, improve market access and ensure adoption of product value chain and value addition processes.

THP Uganda’s Partnership with the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO):THP-Uganda initiated a partnership with NARO at Mbarara Epicenter, where partners at the epicenter are going to access agricultural technologies. The proposed partnership will facilitate collaboration on initiatives that aim at disseminating improved crop and livestock technologies through increased availability and accessibility of seeds, supporting the crop’s production and productivity as well as utilization and marketing to achieve the two parties’ goals. Activities to be undertaken in partnership with the communities will include setting up community seed production schemes, setting up demonstration gardens to act as learning centers, and organizing and facilitating trainings and sensitization workshops about utilization of technologies and farmer linkages to markets.

Participation in Agri Pro Focus (APF) Finance Market Event:

A baseline survey was conducted in Namayumba Epicenter to establish benchmarks against which THP will measure its impact on the community and to explore whether THP programs are relevant to the needs of the partners of Namayumba. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected, and findings indicate that a

majority of the partners are below the poverty line (living on less than 1 USD per day). This justifies THP interventions in the epicenter, and according to THP’s Theory of Change, the program interventions can help bring about change in this community since all the programs are relevant to the needs of the community.

Monitoring and Evaluation


Jacob Opua, 53 years old, joined the THP-Uganda‘s Kiboga Food Security and Food Production Cassava Multiplication Program in 2008. Before joining THP, Jacob invested all his time in cassava production but had made little progress in increasing his agricultural productivity and income generation. In hindsight, he attributes the challenges of overcoming these obstacles to a mindset of resignation, poor cassava varieties, pests and diseases.

Now Jacob is a model farmer for Kiboga Epicenter and the entire district. He attributes much of his success to joining THP-Uganda through Kiboga and attending Vision, Commitment and Action (VCA) workshops. Since joining THP, Jacob has trained partners to become food secure. He says that in Kiboga district, he is an academy of sorts, where people come from all over to learn about the various varieties of cassava and agronomy practices. By just looking around his farm, which has different varieties of cassava, the self-taught agronomist can differentiate the varieties of cassava and tell

Success Story: Jacob’s Cassava Fields

when a particular variety is in trouble and in need of care. Two years after joining THP Uganda, Opua boasts over six acres in use for cassava production. In the next quarter, he plans to plant more as he revives the art of growing cassava that was threatened due to Cassava Mosaic Disease and bacterial wilt.

As a member of Kutetenkanya Farmers’ group, Jacob was selected as a host farmer for the Participatory Variety Selection program under the Catholic Relief Services Cassava Funded Project. He noted that, without the good partnership between THP and Catholic Relief Services, his household and others in the village would be food insecure and impoverished.

In his own words, Jacob asserts that “I am what I am today because of The Hunger Project-Uganda.” Last year, Jacob brought in close to 3,000,000 Ugandan shillings (US $1,150) from the sale of cassava tubers and cassava flour. Beyond meeting his family’s daily food demands, Jacob has, with this income, commenced construction of a three-bedroom permanent house (currently built up to the roofing level) and paid the school fees for his three children in secondary school.

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The National Advisory Council as of December 2012 comprised 13 people (7 women and 6 men). The NAC oversees and provides advisory services to THPU Country Director on the development and implementation of THPU policies, procedures and programs. During the year, the NAC held four meetings to provide strategic guidance on the implementation of THPU policies, procedures and programs. Their profiles are as follows:

1. Mwalimu Musheshe (PhD): Chairperson, NAC and Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Rural Training & Development Programme (URDT)2. Ms.Mary Nanono: Vice Chairperson, NAC Retired civil servant and a volunteer with the Council for Economic Empowerment for Women of Africa, Uganda Chapter (CEEWA-Uganda).3. Mr. George W. Nyeko: Board Secretary, Bank of Uganda 4. Laureate Joyce Mungherera: Founder, YWCA and independent distributor for Golden Neo Life Dinamite International (GNLD)5. Hon. Oliver Wonekha: Woman Representative MP, Bududa District6. Mr. Mondo Kyateka: Assistant Commissioner for Youth and Children, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development7. Mrs. Beatrice Byarugaba: Commissioner, Crop Production and Marketing Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries8. Mrs. Sylivia Angey Ufoyuru: Head Governance and Publci Sector Management , National Planning Authority9. Mr. Peter Okwero: Senior Health Specialist, World Bank,Uganda Country Office10. Mr. Abner Syambi: Retired UN staff currently self employed11. Mrs. Carol Turyatemba: Senior Consultant, BK Consultants12. Prof.Joseph Nsereko: Prinicpal Consultant, Business Synergies Ltd13. Ms. Annunciata Hakuza: Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries

Governance : National Advisory Committee (NAC) Members

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THPU Expenditure Breakdown 2012 Our Partners

Core Program Leadership and Staff

Core Program Support

Health & Nutrition

Literacy & Education

Water & Sanitation / Safe Drinking water

Food security

Community Mobilization

M& e Research & Documentation

Microfinance

Women Empowerment Program

Epicenter Construction

Public Awareness, Advocacy & Alliances

Environment & Sanitation

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CONTACTSTel. +256 414 232060Fax +256 414 232 236Email [email protected] www.thp.org/uganda

THPU Annual Report

2012

The Hunger Project UgandaP.O. BOX 26393 Kampala UgandaHaruna Towers Wandegeya Bombo Roard


Documents

ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - The Hunger Project Hunger Project Uganda... · Project (THP) is an international non-profit organization founded in 1977 and headquartered in New York (USA) with