Uganda Debt Network

• Why is this an interesting case:

• Niche for participation: use local-level checks to gain access to influence national policy

• Bottom-up process

• Capacity

• Government vs Country ownership

Uganda Debt Network• Uganda: 30.7 million people

31% under poverty lineRebellious movements (LRM) Northern part of the country

• Budget support for PRSP initiatives: PEAP(2002)

• Major external partners: EC, Netherlands, UK, USA, and the WB (77%)

• Two Pillars of PEAP:» Increase ability of poor to raise their incomes» Enhance quality of life of the poor

Uganda Debt network• UDN: ad hoc coalition to campaign debt relief• Aim: promote and advocate for pro-poor policies,

participation of the poor in influencing policies, monitoring resource allocation.

• Registered as NGO: 40 org. & 101 individuals (aprox.)

• Supported by: DFID, DANIDA, WB, Ireland, INGOs, local & own resources (incl. non financial)

• Established 7 monitoring communities (CBMES)

At district level: At National level:- M&E budget performance

at local level and share info.

– Take or identify corrective actions to inform policy process

– Facilitate participatory budgets at community level

– Participation in drafting budget proposals at community level

- Empowerment

– Participate in: SWG, MTEF workshops, Consultative groups for review

– Lobby parliamentary comm.– Prepares alternative budgets– Track public expenditure– Monitor gov. Funds reached

beneficiaries– Develop capacities on

budget scrutiny– Campaign & publish info.

Uganda Debt network• Relations with Gov:• Gov. providing space for participation• Gov. recognition of added-value of its work and use of

data and information• Complementing Gov. efforts e.g. by tracking public

expenditure

• Capacity:• Technical capacities• Financial capacity• Political capacities:

•Collaboration & AlliancesOther ‘check & balances inst.”

Other NSAs

Local & community level