Local Government Development Local Government Development Program and Poverty Reduction Program and Poverty Reduction

in Uganda: Lessons from Aid in Uganda: Lessons from Aid PoliciesPolicies

Shuaib LwasaShuaib LwasaDepartment of GeographyDepartment of Geography

Makerere UniversityMakerere UniversityTel: 256 41 531261 (off) 256 77 461727Tel: 256 41 531261 (off) 256 77 461727

Lwasa_s@arts.mak.ac.ug

Contents of presentationContents of presentation IntroductionIntroduction The Urbanizing povertyThe Urbanizing poverty Local Government Development Local Government Development

Programme (LGDP)Programme (LGDP) Participatory planning and poverty Participatory planning and poverty

eradicationeradication Lessons learnedLessons learned ConclusionsConclusions

Introduction Introduction Poverty eradication is still leading on Uganda’s Poverty eradication is still leading on Uganda’s

development and political agendadevelopment and political agenda

It is pursued at different levels from national, sub-It is pursued at different levels from national, sub-national and local levelsnational and local levels

Various policies and strategies implemented but Various policies and strategies implemented but outcomes yet to be inclusive and comprehensiveoutcomes yet to be inclusive and comprehensive

Interventions focused on rural areas but there is Interventions focused on rural areas but there is increasing concentration of poverty in urban increasing concentration of poverty in urban areasareas

Projected Urban Population versus Projected Urban Population versus Rural PopulationRural Population

If not addressed, poverty is to worsen in urban areas

IntroductionIntroduction

In Uganda decentralization and foreign aid has shifted In Uganda decentralization and foreign aid has shifted poverty reduction strategies from top-down to bottom-uppoverty reduction strategies from top-down to bottom-up

This is through Local Government Development Program This is through Local Government Development Program (LGDP) which is a demand and performance driven (LGDP) which is a demand and performance driven processprocess

Main ingredients; actors, identification of needs, Main ingredients; actors, identification of needs, prioritization and investment in projects at various levelsprioritization and investment in projects at various levels

ImportantImportant; MD target of halving urban population with out ; MD target of halving urban population with out sanitation in urban areassanitation in urban areas

Administrative Structure and LGDP Administrative Structure and LGDP ImplementationImplementation

Village (LC 1)

Parish Parish

Sub county Council

District Council

Village (LC 1) Village (LC 1) Village (LC 1)

Ministry ofLocal Government

Filt

erin

g of

Prio

rity

Nee

ds

Tra

nsfe

rs,

Men

torin

g an

d S

uper

visi

on

Transfers

Assessment

Research Issues and MethodologyResearch Issues and Methodology

Research focused on assessing how LGDP Research focused on assessing how LGDP and the development planning processes is and the development planning processes is addressing the needs and priorities of urban addressing the needs and priorities of urban communities in poverty reduction communities in poverty reduction

Methodology Methodology – comparative analysis of four study sites in comparative analysis of four study sites in

Kampala, employed participatory methodsKampala, employed participatory methods

Poverty analysis frameworksPoverty analysis frameworks

Poverty•Understanding•Measurement•Intervention

Response to marketIncentives;individual,

circumstances

Structuralist Theory;Societal institutions

Good Governance;Power to decide,

Responsibility andobligations

Rural-Urban Divide;Economic equilibrium

Origin-Destination;Rural-urban

MigrationUrbanizing poverty

Which policies, programs address poverty using comprehensive framework of analysis?

Local Government Development Programme Local Government Development Programme (LGDP)(LGDP)

BackgroundBackground– Government programme that is multi-lateral fundedGovernment programme that is multi-lateral funded– Launched in 2000 for three years and now LGDP III up to 2008Launched in 2000 for three years and now LGDP III up to 2008– In support of the decentralization policy implementationIn support of the decentralization policy implementation– Involves development planning that is participatory from lower level Involves development planning that is participatory from lower level

administrative unitsadministrative units ApproachApproach

– Local Development Grants and Capacity Building GrantsLocal Development Grants and Capacity Building Grants– Budget conferencesBudget conferences– Bottom – up filtering of needs, priorities of investment projectsBottom – up filtering of needs, priorities of investment projects– Private sector led project implementation through public Private sector led project implementation through public

procurement processprocurement process– Community participation in identification, financing and Community participation in identification, financing and

implementation??implementation??– Programme cost is US $ 88.9m and US $ 52.5m is for direct Programme cost is US $ 88.9m and US $ 52.5m is for direct

investment in the LGs. investment in the LGs.

Investment areas under LGDPInvestment areas under LGDP

Projects include;Projects include;– Water supplyWater supply– Sanitation facilitiesSanitation facilities– Education facilities and financingEducation facilities and financing– Construction of roadsConstruction of roads– Drainage installationDrainage installation– Street lightingStreet lighting– Waste management facilitiesWaste management facilities– Health infrastructure and financingHealth infrastructure and financing

Indicative Figures for Kampala for Indicative Figures for Kampala for FY 2004/05FY 2004/05

Local Government Population

LDG Funding (Ug Shillings)

CBG Funding (Ug Shillings)

Total Funding (Ug Shillings)

KCC Headquarters

1,208,196

2,662,042,000

339,958,000

3,002,000,000

CENTRAL

90,371

238,926,000

25,427,000

264,353,000

KAWEMPE

268,659

710,125,000

75,572,000

785,697,000

MAKINDYE

300,851

530,565,000

84,695,000

615,260,000

NAKAWA

246,210

651,020,000

69,282,000

720,302,000

RUBAGA

302,105

798,531,000

84,981,000

883,512,000

Total

6,271,124,000 Source: Three Year District Development Plan 2005/2008

Bottom – up filteringBottom – up filtering

Transfers

Transfers

Priority

Priority

Scale

Macro-

Meso-

Micro-

Zone meeting

PDC

City/Division Council

Household

Community

Household

Messages from BeneficiariesMessages from Beneficiaries

‘‘Our School’ versus their Our School’ versus their schoolschool

Management committees Management committees for sustainabilityfor sustainability

Double-edged investment Double-edged investment projectsprojects

Phasing resource Phasing resource demanding projects is good demanding projects is good solutionsolution

Information flow improvedInformation flow improved

Lessons learnedLessons learned Beyond talk; participatory approaches have and can work; enhancement Beyond talk; participatory approaches have and can work; enhancement

requiredrequired

Governance and responsibility changes of LGs coming with Aid applauded Governance and responsibility changes of LGs coming with Aid applauded

A new dimension of cumulative effect of aid policiesA new dimension of cumulative effect of aid policies

Private sector practices; market values versus contract valuesPrivate sector practices; market values versus contract values– Employment generation for local communities not prioritizedEmployment generation for local communities not prioritized

Resources for sustainability Resources for sustainability

Principle of good governance still not well embraced by authorities; e.g. Principle of good governance still not well embraced by authorities; e.g. changes in prioritieschanges in priorities

Requirement: Capacity building for LGs (beyond performance monitoring) Requirement: Capacity building for LGs (beyond performance monitoring) especially for long-range planningespecially for long-range planning

Conclusions Conclusions

Eradicating poverty is challenging due to the nature of Eradicating poverty is challenging due to the nature of poverty and its dynamismpoverty and its dynamism

LGDP in Uganda providing some of the solutions to LGDP in Uganda providing some of the solutions to poverty reduction strategiespoverty reduction strategies

Participation of communities and consultations has Participation of communities and consultations has enabled informed decision making enabled informed decision making

LGDP and people-centered approaches need to be LGDP and people-centered approaches need to be institutionalized for sustenance of resultsinstitutionalized for sustenance of results

Strategic necessary to provide a framework for short term Strategic necessary to provide a framework for short term investmentsinvestments

Thank youThank you