DanChurchAid
Uganda
ACT members working together
By Jenny Williams, ACT International
In the district of Kitgum in Northern Uganda, a region of the country ravaged by 20 years of rebel warfare, the scale of operations required to assist the 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) means that coordination between non-governmental organizations is an important part of providing effective aid.
“Two heads are better than one”
In Kitgum, the relationship between the Church of Uganda (CoU) and the Uganda country program of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is an example of this "meeting of minds." Both the Kitgum diocese of CoU (working through CoU’s Plan for Development and Rehabilitation) and the LWF Uganda’s Kitgum project receive support from members of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International through ACT Appeal AFUG61 - Assistance to IDPs in Northern Uganda.
Coordination and cooperation among ACT members
In Uganda and other countries around the world where ACT is providing for the needs of people caught in emergencies, these principles of cooperation are emphasized over and over. Where there is more than one ACT member in a country, the members are urged to coordinate their efforts in responding to emergencies.
Avoiding duplication, carrying out work under a common banner and in the name of ecumenical solidarity, and sharing of knowledge and experience are some of the main reasons ACT has placed so much emphasis on coordination and cooperation among its members. By its very nature, being set up as an alliance encourages members of ACT to work in ways that complement each other - in geographical areas of work and in areas of expertise, for example.
Relief assistance to IDP camps
The CoU Kitgum diocese provides relief assistance to vulnerable people in four IDP camps. Residents of these camps have received food as well as non-food items such as school exercise books for children. The diocese has drilled two boreholes and trained caregivers for AIDS-affected individuals and families. LWF began operations in Kitgum last year with a focus on water and sanitation in IDP camps; the project now works in eight camps and in Kitgum Town Council and has drilled six boreholes and constructed seven latrines. LWF also works in the area of HIV and AIDS, training local educators and providing care kits and food support for AIDS-affected households.
Close working relationship
Though the two organizations implement most of their activities independently, they maintain a close working relationship. For example, last year the CoU gave a parcel of land, situated conveniently to the diocese, to the LWF for the construction of offices while it works in Kitgum. In an area where the shortage of available land has led to severe ownership conflicts, this is no small offering. LWF has already erected a rubhall (warehouse-sized tent) for storage space, which the diocese will utilize as well. CoU will further benefit from the arrangement once LWF has left the district, as the land will be turned back over to the diocese along with any structures that have been built. The diocese can then continue its work with improved infrastructure in place.
In addition, LWF has used its expertise in latrine construction to provide three latrines that serve the students at Reverend Jabuloni Issoke Secondary School (established by CoU), IDP children sleeping in the CoU night commuter shelter (for children who leave their homes each night for fear of being abducted and seek shelter and safety in towns), and members of the Kitgum diocese. Recent cholera outbreaks in Kitgum Town Council and the surrounding areas have made proper sanitation facilities a critical issue; these latrines play a role in the diocese’s capacity to work more effectively than before.
Developing the capacity of ACT's members
There are regular visits and exchanges between LWF staff and CoU staff in Kitgum, and there have even been staff members who have moved positions between CoU and LWF, strengthening the connection between the two organizations. Staff of CoU’s Plan for Development and Rehabilitation and LWF in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, also meet periodically to share updates on their respective projects and determine ways of further coordinating in the future. Through such collaboration, these organizations are able to learn from each other’s experiences and best practices, strengthening their capabilities.
These days in Uganda and other countries and regions across the worldwide ACT alliance, the issue being raised the most is developing the capacity of ACT’s members. It is believed that the collaboration between ACT members of the type seen in Uganda is a key way of doing this capacity development. The hope is that this will ultimately result in better assistance to those who need it most.
Jenny Williams is a volunteer from the United States with The Lutheran World Federation-Uganda.
DanChurchAid is a member of ACT International - a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies.
