The notion of having a practical ICT session on the use of ICTs for development, monitoring and reporting cases of poor service delivery was met with great anticipation and enthusiasm from participants in all the three northern districts of Oyam, Kole and Apac.
Taking stock of service delivery in the districts of Apac, Kole and Oyam in Northern Uganda
Voluntary social accountability committees in Apac, Kole and Oyam were empowered by Women of Uganda Network, equipped with ICT tools especially mobile phones and cameras to facilitate them in monitoring, documenting and disseminating service delivery issues within their respective communities to their various duty bearers and also share the key findings on various platforms such as Ushahidi and U-Call. They were also equipped with networking and advocacy skills so as to prepare them to be able to engage with their leaders on key issues of concern in the community so that they take action to address them.
iHub Research: iQuarterly
For our first iQuarterly issue this year, the iHub Research team offers our take on the new year by surmising, theorizing and inferring on what the year might look like from a tech perspective.
Together with the new year, we are sharing some of our new proj- ects being undertaken this year, made possible by the accomplish- ment of past projects. We also release two reports from such past projects in this issue.
Forum Leaders Assess the Exchange visit to ICT4Democracy East Africa partners’ projects in Northern Uganda
On 16th February 2014, forum leaders appeared on Better FM to assess the exchange visit to Women of Uganda Network(WOUGNET), Transparency International (TI) and Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) supported projects in the districts of Apac, Lira, Oyam and Gulu that was aimed at ensuring ToroDev staff and partners have a deep understanding and context of how local citizens in Northern Uganda are engaging their leaders for improved service delivery.
Rwenzori Journalist trained in policy making
Over 60 journalists from the seven districts of the Rwenzori region has been trained in policy process making, interpretation to enable them have legal skills that will enable them make leaders accountable. Johnstone Baguma Kumaraki the Director Tooro Dev speaking to Journalists in a one day training work shop organized by Rwenzori Journalist Forum in Partnership with Tooro development net work yesterday at Whispering gardens.
Video: Introduction to eSociety Kasese
Located in Western Uganda, eSociety Kasese is a resource centre that promotes ICT literacy and the use of ICT for transparency in the local government. As part of its iParticipate Uganda project, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) has provided to the centre equipment and connectivity support. In addition, we jointly conduct research and citizen journalism training.
Below is an introductory video to the Centre.
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ToroDev holds an exchange visit to ICT4Democracy East Africa partners’ projects in Northern Uganda.
ToroDev project staff and advocacy forum leaders from the Western Uganda districts of Kyenjojo, Kabarole and Ntoroko had an exchange visit to Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), Transparency International (TI) and Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) supported projects in the districts of Lira, Apac, Oyam and Gulu.
The 5 days exchange visit (11th – 15th February, 2014) was aimed at improving ToroDev’s and partners approaches of using appropriate ICTs and physical platforms like rural advocacy forums to promote engagements between local citizens and leaders for improved service delivery in the seven districts of the Rwenzori region.
Local Citizens Receive Training In Policy Advocacy
ToroDev has trained 12 local citizens and a radio journalist in policy advocacy and social media to improve the participation of local citizens in government planning, budgeting and decision making processes. They also received more training in service delivery monitoring and lobbying and advocacy using the most appropriate ICT tools. The training which was held on 30th January 2014 at ToroDev offices, Fort Portal attracted participant’s form the Rwenzori Region districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo and Kamwenge.
The 12 participants were leaders of the rural advocacy forums which are citizen led community groups mostly based at sub county levels aimed at service delivery monitoring and accountability using the most appropriate ICT tools especially local FM radio stations. The rural advocacy forums initiation was supported by ToroDev. A radio journalist representing Rwenzori Journalist Forum (RJF) also participated in the training. RJF initiation was also supported by ToroDev to improve accountability broadcasting in the seven districts of the Rwenzori Region.
ICT for Health Service Delivery :Project Story
In Northern Uganda “ICT 4 health service delivery” project used technological approach to empower the communities. Through the empowerment, the communities were able to engagement and participate in monitoring and demanding for better health service delivery. The main awareness media technological tools that were used included the local FM radio programs which informed, educated and empowered over 7000 people in and out of the target districts in a period of 12 months, TIU managed a Toll free call center that the communities used for reporting health centre irregularities, for onward action by duty bearers.
Health services remain a great need for many communities and the only facilities that most of them can afford are government health centers which provide free health care services. Most health centers like Ogur, Aromo and Anyeke in Northern Uganda are visited by patients from as far as 24 kilometers. In most cases they ride bicycles to and from the health centers. it is often disappointing for such a patient to reach the health center and find it still locked even by 10:00am. In most occasions, even when the health center is open, some health workers are absent while most drugs are lacking.
Project Results and Lessons Learned 2011 – 2013
We are pleased to share some of our partner project results for the period June 2011 – December 2013. For purposes of communicating the results from these projects as well as The Swedish Programme for ICT in Developing Regions (Spider)’s own experience with working with catalytic seed funding modality, evaluations of all partner projects are under way.
Three partner evaluations subjected to theoretical readings have been finalized and we are pleased to publish these reports for the purpose of furthering the growth of the field of ICT4D.
- Results and lessons learned iHub Research December 2013
- Results and lessons learned Kenya Human Rights Commission December 2013
- Results and lessons learned Women of Uganda Network December 2013
More reports are in the pipeline.