1.0 BACKGROUND 2.0 PROJECT VIRTUES

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1 The inclusive and sustainable new communities project has changed my way of life, this is the end of my poverty. says Eyotre Pontius, the LC3 Chairman of Oluffe sub-county, Maracha district. Eyotre is one of the many voices representing the humble beginnings of the ISNC project. In the next pages of this brief we take you through the now glowing and blossoming journey of the ISNC project. 1.0 BACKGROUND The Inclusive and Sustainable new Communities Project aims to build on the local-level achievements in local development and decentralisation made by the Government of Uganda and the development partners. The project is funded by the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Development Agency (KOICA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Uganda. Promoting community based local development through the Saemaul undong model; the project seeks to create national and policy level linkages of the community level results. The SMU (New Village Movement) model, adopted from the Republic of Korea, is based on 3 operating principles of Diligence, Self-help and Cooperation towards transformed communities with a long-term shared vision of a better life for all through small-scale self-help projects. ISNC Supports the 3 Districts of Luuka, Kabarole and Maracha with a funding of US$ 1 Million, running from 1st July 2015 to 31st December, The project strives to take a approach to structure resources for the project i.e 20 percent from OVERSEAS Development Assistance (ODA) matching with 30 percent from Government cost-sharing and 50 percent in-kind forms of community mobilization of local materials, labour and services. In most cases communities have surpassed the 50% mark. 2.0 PROJECT VIRTUES Self Help Participating communities are encouraged to help themselves first starting with changing their living conditions as part of the mind-set change strategy. Communities are encouraged to identify their local needs and find solutions using locally available resources. Cooperation This aims at building social relationships among households, groups and villages through sharing knowledge, sharing the available local resources and pooling labour for wider community improvement projects. Diligence Diligence is having the right things done at the right time, for the right people and in the right way. Local Council Committees, Parish Development Committees (PDCs), Parish Chiefs, the Community Development Officers and the communities are constantly reminded to uphold their roles, responsibilities and obligations. COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF - AUGUST 2017 I 1

2 2.1 PROJECT OUTPUTS Output 1 Strengthened institutional system of local development systems through planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring, with focus on sub-county, parish, village development committee to address the dependency syndrome on central government and Development Partners (DPs); Output 4 Scale up of proven sustainability innovations including ICT, environment friendly technologies, social enterprises through standardization, certification, dissemination and incentives; Output 2 Output 3 Enhanced cohesiveness and inclusiveness of community development at local level, increasing participation and engaging women, youth, poorest, disadvantaged and marginalized population and reducing fragmentation of community based associations; Strengthened institutional system of local development systems through planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring, with focus on sub-county, parish, village development committee to address the dependency syndrome on central government and Development Partners (DPs); Output 5 Generated knowledge is documented and disseminated nationally and globally through South-South cooperation mechanisms, linkage with academia is reinforced. 3.0 DISTRICT CONTEXT AND RELEVANCE The ISNC Districts operate against Second Five-year Local Development Plans 2015 which are aligned to the Second National Development Plan and Uganda s which both of which run up to In turn, the planning frameworks are anchored in Uganda s Vision 2040: A Transformed Ugandan Society from a Peasant to a Modern and Prosperous Country within 30 years 2 I COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF - AUGUST 2017

3 Among other things, the Local Development Plans focus on: improving the functionality of the Local Governments for effective service delivery; promoting and fully implement the Local Economic Development [LED] programme; and improving community mobilization for development. The community strategies generated through engagement of the people in the ISNC supported Sub Counties, will largely make a contribution towards improving community mobilization and actual investments towards the full implementation of the local economic development programme. The ISNC strategic development planning process has re-awakened the spirits of cooperation, diligence and self-help amongst communities. Hitherto were the foundations of development in Uganda, communities had taken a back seat at the wake of vertical development programmes and commercialized of participation. The ISNC has helped to bridge the gaps in development planning for Local Governments and provided platforms through which public private partnerships for development will be achieved. The community driven ISNC process has acted as an eye opener to communities regarding the limitless possibilities that surround them and therefore, the potential for growth. Importantly, this initiative is poised to fast track Uganda s effort towards a Lower Medium Income Country by the year 2020 based on the proven model of improved household income. COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF - AUGUST 2017 I 3

4 4.0 EARLY SUCCESS STORIES AND VOICES PROGRESS SUMMARY Baseline study carried out by Makerere University - results were disseminated to Kabarole, Luuka and Maracha districts. Developed modular designs for infrastructure and income generating projects as reference materials to guide future identification, planning and budgeting of community projects. 40 community members and Local Government staff (Kabarole: 8, Luuka: 21 and Maracha: 11) were trained in monitoring and evaluation using the ISNC M&E framework and participatory planning. 47 participants (18 female; 29 male) were trained on SMU principles, nationalism, leadership and mind-set change. The curriculum used during the training will be shared with SMU actors for adoption across the country. Partnerships were established with National Farmers Leadership Centre Kampiringisa and the Uganda SMU Centre. National development progress review dialogue convened by Ministry of Local Government, comprising Ministries, Departments, Agencies, community members, district leaders, CSOs, private sector and development partners. A benchmarking and Cataloguing study was conducted to assess functionality of community savings and credit initiatives in the three districts and identify potential for financial organisation. Trained 170 community members (57 female; 113 male) from Maracha and 103 community members (32 females; 71 male) from Luuka of the ISNC villages on SMU principles, community procurement, financial managements, and managements of the prioritized projects poultry, piggery and goat rearing. A Community Support and Monitoring Tool developed and applied to all participating communities revealing very significant results 203 community access roads with a length of 341.1kms have been opened and maintained routinely under the self-help approach. This is at an estimated monetary cost of UGX 162 m, if a kilometer is maintained at an average cost of UGX 800,000/- (USD 222) per month. Budget Overview 2015 Budget USD 37, Budget USD 386, Budget USD 575, sites of water sources were constructed and maintained at an estimated labour cost of Ugx 30,000 (USD 8.3) per site, per month 2,581 households have embraced the smart home concept with over 192 smart homes patterns/zones. 4 I COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF - AUGUST 2017

5 4,806 households have latrines with hand washing facilities 2,178 households participating in the project are working hard to improve the quality of their kitchens. 3,584 out of 11,079 (30%) households in the project area have so far engaged in commercial agricultural production. 251 Village Savings and Credit groups (VSLAs) are registered at sub-county level and actively serving their communities. 172 savings groups have portfolios exceeding 1million (approximately US$ 300) - At least 70% of membership on average is women. 107 groups already have Bank Accounts and Business Plans in all the three districts. A Mid-Term Review conducted for the ISNC project revealing good progression Supported documentation, promotional materials and research activities throughout project implementation which increased visibility of the project and SMU principles, values and virtues at the national level. George Kalali the chairperson of the Kyosiga Kyokungula SMU group that is running a piggery project in Buwologoma Luuka district COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF - AUGUST 2017 I 5

6 4.1 COMMUNITY COHESIVENESS AND CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL DEVELOPMENT The SMU model has created good working relations among individuals and community groups through communal gardening, opening roads and cleaning water sources. This is early evidence of progress towards mind-set change. As a result of this social cohesiveness, communities have come up with gender specific initiatives such as Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), handicraft making and clustering around common value chain commodities. 6 I COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF - AUGUST 2017

7 4.2 PARISH DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ISNC has seen the revival of the Parish Development Committee (PDC), a quasi-government institution charged with planning at the Parish levels. Community planning entails the identification of local needs and challenges, and finding solutions to address such needs. Planning and sensitization meetings - Rutoma Nteza [KabaroleDistrict]an d Buwologoma [Luuka ddistrict], August 2015 & February 2016 resp. An SMU group meeting in Bunyangabu district; meetings like these enable the group members stay committed to the SMU principles. Communities have come up with innovative development strategies including setting up vocational skills training centres and irrigation schemes to curb the rampant drought. All parishes have well documented Parish Development Plans. The plans have been integrated in the Sub county and District Development Plans. This is a step towards the attainment of one of the ISNC goals - a strengthened institutional system of Local development. a strengthened institutional system of Local development COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF - AUGUST 2017 I 1

8 Verification sites visited in Kibiito Kabarole (a crater Lake with fishing potential in Kaina) Improving Livelihoods through self - help - transformed habitats in Kabarole and Luuka ISNC rice growers group in Ndhoya community that was visited 2 I COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF - AUGUST 2017

9 4.3 IMPROVING COMMUNITY ACCESS TO PRIMARY SERVICES A total of 203 community access roads with a length of 341.1kms have been opened and maintained routinely under the self-help approach, This is at an estimated monetary cost of UGX162 m (USD 45,OOO) if a kilometer is maintained at an average cost of UGX 800,000/- ( USD 222) per month. A total of sites of water sources were constructed and maintained at an estimated labour cost of UGX 30,000 (USD 8.3) per site, per month A community in Kabarole district opening up an access road, the ISNC project is promoting cooperation to carry out such initiatives

10 4.4 HYGIENE AND SANITATION A total of 2581 households have embraced the smart home concept with over 192 smart homes patterns/zones. A total of 4806 households have latrines with hand washing facilities, 2178 households participating in the project are working hard to improve the quality of their kitchens. From the above figures, Communities are already putting in place basic household level sanitation and hygiene facilities such as latrines, bathrooms, kitchens, hand washing facilities and clean compounds using SMU principle. This applies to homes, markets, towns and health centres. The Smart Home concept has simplified the understanding of the basic parameters for improved households. There is a positive impact of SMU is where elderly and women headed families are obtaining assistance with hard labour and specialized skills (Latrine and Kitchen construction). A smart Utentil Rack in Nothern Uganda 10 I COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF - AUGUST 2017

11 4.5 INCOME GENERATION AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION Shakira Nakhanda, a passion fruit farmer Luuka district shows off her harvest 3,584 OUT OF have so far engaged in commercial agricultural Sarah Kahunde, a farmer in the Namugoro Kyatwa SMU in her tomatoe garden Individuals and community groups have identified income generating activities where they have a competitive and comparative advantage over their neighbours. These include dairy, poultry, piggery, goat rearing, horticulture, maize, sesame seed and banana growing. This has improved the household incomes of the members and also created employment for the women, men and young people. A total of 3584 out of (30%) households in the project area have so far engaged in commercial agricultural production.

12 4.6 SAVINGS, CREDIT AND INVESTMENT A total of 251 Village Savings and Credit groups (VSLAs) are registered at sub-county level and actively serving their communities. VSLAs are enabling communities to access credit to address immediate household concerns than travelling long distances to banks, and also find them more flexible. There is no formal bank in the whole of Maracha district; hence communities have to travel about 45 Kilometres to Arua District. Communities find it easier to access credit facilities from VSLAs, because they require no collateral and have a turn around time of less than 6 hours for a given loan. The defaulting rates are very minimal for VSLAs. A total of 107 groups already have Bank Accounts and Business Plans in all the three districts. 172 savings groups have portfolios exceeding 1million (approximately US$ 300 and the borrowers were using money for commercial purpose and other small business enterprises in all the three districts. At least 70% of membership on average is women. The youth are not very active in the VSLAs.

13 4.7 ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGIES The ISNC emphasizes environmental conservation through tree planting and eco friendly technologies. There is a reduced dependency on firewood for heating through the use of energy cooking stoves in Luuka and briquettes in Kabarole. Communities are practicing tree planting around individual homes, on all SMU opened roads and around water sources. Green it and bin it efforts in Northern Uganda Reducing Firewood Dependency - Briquettes in Kabarole District

14 PROGRESS ISNC project placed under the new institutional effectiveness unit of UNDP Oct Uganda participates in the 2016 Global South-South Development Expo in Dubai. Harnesses potential partnerships with Thai Government Dec National Development Progress Review Dialogue ISNC receives high level government recognition Government recognizes the revitalizing effort of the ISNC Training on SMU principles, nationalism, leadership and mindset change of district staff, ministry officials and SMU champions at the National Farmers Leadership Centre. SMU Korea President visits UNDP Uganda ISNC positions as a global development solution 2016 Global Project Community of Practice & Board Meeting in Bolivia Choice of Uganda as the host of the next community of practice and global board meeting Jan 2016 Project Board Meeting Commences long standing institutional relationship with ISNC and Government of Uganda Better visibility for ISNC Aug Joint project monitoring to 3 districts 2016 At a Glance Apr Joint project monitoring to 3 districts Jul President of the Republic of Korea visits Uganda and launches National Farmer s Leadership Centre cultivating SMU champions (H.E. President of Uganda and UN RC/RR present) May Visit created the national SMU platform ISNC leveraging on other SMU efforts on the country

15 CONSOLIDATING RESULTS 2017 Project Board Meeting Q1 Joint project monitoring to 3 districts Q1 Progress Report Community Support & Assesment Tool launched Benchmark tool for ISNC Revelation of statistical reference for ISNC results Feb Apr SDGs Local governance diagnostic executive snapshot May Q2 Joint project monitoring to 3 districts Q2 Progress Report nd Project Board Meeting Project Scale-up preparation 2017 At a Glance Jul ISNC Mid-Term Review Broader geographical scope Select economic infrastructure Greater government involvement Aug Q3 Joint project monitoring to 3 districts Q4 Progress Report Cooperatives as an entry point Dec Project Close: Terminal Evaluation and Annual Progress Report Documenting and disseminating lessons Oct 2017 Global Project Board Meeting in Uganda Sept

16 5.0 CONCLUSION Concept and Model Adoption The ISNC and particularly the Sameaul Undong model has been well embraced and espoused in the supported districts and communities. To illustrate this, ISNC has been adopted into local names e.g. Ssalongo (the father of twins or the big one) and ; Eisini Lyobwabwavu (dealing away with the scum of poverty ) and Kaaro Karungi (Beautiful Village) in Maracha, Luuka and Kabarole respectively. The model is being promoted through the use of social media notably- Whatsapp and Facebook. ISNC has enlisted the buy-in of the political leadership in the supported districts hence serving as a strategic as confluence between elected and appointed officials that is critical in the successful implementation of the project and overall development. The project has revealed key lessons that i) Mindset change is a process and ii) development must start from the known! Affordability and Transformational Virtues ISNC project has demonstrated itself as a low-cost model yet with being catalytic and transformational. It has positioned itself as a good entry point for domesticating the SDGs - especially, Goals 1,2,3, 5, 6,8 and 16. The ISNC access criteria and its successful application have been leveraged for other government programmes. There is an overwhelming demand for the ISNC model in the communities outside the project area. The Locus for Cross-Cutting Issues Integrating Environment and Development - 50% of the project budget was dedicated for household income generation and poverty reduction. Broadening HH income creates alternatives and keeps away communities from environmental degradation activities. The project promotes environmental and ecofriendly technologies including stoves and biogas. Gender Equality for the Project - a Goal in Itself- At least 48% representation in all groups is female. This percentage stretches to 70, in the Village Savings and Loans Associations. Women attest to immediate improvements in their quality of lives. Cleanliness has brought unbelievable results Our men now come back earlier and stay home longer, one member in Luuka District intimated to an arousing chorus! Kamashanyu in Kabarole says, As a woman, my voice is also heard during the meetings and my other friends, the women have been encouraged to participate in public meetings.

17 Korea International Cooperation Agency Empowered lives. Resilient nations. Inclusive and Sustainable New Communities Leveraging development through community inclusion COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT BRIEF AUGUST 2017