GOVERNANCE AND POLICY ADVOCACY
KRC facilitate spaces for citizens to make their voices heard and exercise their democratic and civic rights. We work with governance structures with the aim of enhancing social and political accountability and building the capacity of citizens to engage and influence decisions and policies targeted at improving their situation.
We provide information, raise awareness and build the capacity of citizens to engage, stimulate reflection and action on a service delivery through community dialogues (face the citizens campaigns, barazas, leaders’ retreats and public debates).
KRC also implements programs that support conflict prevention and peace building, based on the belief that peace is a pre-requisite for development. Development as a whole has an intrinsic relationship to peace and stability. Without peace, all other development programmes would be impossible to achieve.
Our projects
New Projects
1. Markets for Youth
Markets for Youth is a 4 year partnership (March 2021- February 2025) between GOAL and Mastercard Foundation, implemented by national CSOs (Civil Society Organisations) and the private sector. KRC Uganda is the CSO partner implementing the Bunyoro and Rwenzori Cluster in the Districts of Hoima, Kikuube, Kyegegwa, Kasese, Kamwenge, Kabarole and Fort Portal City.
Markets for Youth program is focused on finding solutions to the youth unemployment challenge and reducing poverty in Uganda using a Markets System Approach. Through CSO and private sector collaboration, the Market Systems Approach provides multiple pathways for rural young people to access.
This program specifically addresses constraints affecting youth voice and collective engagement with duty bearers at Sub County, District and National levels to ensure youth friendly agricultural programs, policies and services are provided.
The overall program goal is to facilitate market systems change that enables 4,875 young people access and engage in dignified and fulfilling work, where youth have collectively and collaboratively increased their influencing power in the agricultural market system.
2. Youth Skilling in Banana Stem Fibre Extraction
This project is funded by Enabel, the development agency of Belgium’s federal government and implemented by KRC Uganda and Texfad in Kabarole and Bunyangabu Districts from January to October 2022.
The project targets 200 out-of-school youth for skilling in banana stem fibre extraction and craft making in view of enabling them find diverse and productive employment opportunities in the agriculture-driven green economy.
The project leverages on youth groups in order to build a critical mass of young people entering into a skill-based agricultural economy.
Advancing peaceful co-existence and respect for human rights among refugees and host communities in Northern Uganda
This project is implemented in the refugee and host communities of Palabek (Lamwo), Rhino (Arua) & BidiBidi (Yumbe) by KRC Uganda, Centre for Economic Social Cultural Rights in Africa (CESCRA), and the Women and Rural Development Network (WORUDET), from May 2021 – May 2024, with funding from the European Commission.
The project addresses the problem of lack of localised conflict resolution mechanisms amidst rampant tension between host and refugees over access to social services and natural resources. The project establishes strong networks & local platforms in the refugee settlements and host communities to respond to challenges of refugees as they struggle to adjust to a new environment in the host country.
Read the Northern Uganda Conflict Mapping Report 2021 to understand the context of the conflicts the project attempts to address.
3. Human Rights Clinic
KRC Humans Rights Clinic was established on the mandate of defending and promoting the rights of the poor who often lack the knowledge of the law and whose inalienable rights to justice is abused. The Clinic is dedicated to advancing social justice through collaboration with partners such as Uganda Human Rights Commission, Uganda Law Society, Legal professionals and the Police Force. The Clinic handles clients’ issues at the static clinic, in outreaches and on KRC FM radio.
Our work is based on Chapter Four of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which guarantees fundamental human rights and freedoms that are inherent to all human beings.
PAST PROJECTS
1. Strengthening the Capacity and Functionality of District Production Coordination Committees
The Strengthening the Capacity and Functionality of District Production Coordination Committees is a 6- months (February – July 2022) project implemented in Bunyangabu, Fort Portal City, Kabarole, Kagadi, Kakumiro and Kasese Districts by KRC Uganda with financial support from GIZ.
Within the existing agriculture programmes, key actors like farmer groups, district production departments, civil society, private sector and lower local governments (sub-counties) have continued to work independently with minimal coordination. This has affected the ability of stakeholders to discuss and address core challenges like limited access to quality inputs, knowledge, technologies, markets, finance and inability to influence appropriation of scare resources.
District Production Coordination Committees (DPCCs) provide a formal structure through which the agricultural production activities are harmonized for effective service delivery. Where they exist, DPCCs are mandated to spearhead the coordination of sector activities, raise awareness on issues affecting farming communities and ensure financial sustainability in their plans and operations. Nonetheless, there are no strategies in place on how these DPCCs can be financially sustained. This impedes the ability of production coordination committee teams to effectively engage the target population at the grassroots in strategic and productive dialogue. Read more about this project
2. Networks for Peace: Preventing and resolving conflicts through early warning mechanisms in Africa
The Strengthening the Capacity and Functionality of District Production Coordination Committees is a 6- months (February – July 2022) project implemented in Bunyangabu, Fort Portal City, Kabarole, Kagadi, Kakumiro and Kasese Districts by KRC Uganda with financial support from GIZ.
Within the existing agriculture programmes, key actors like farmer groups, district production departments, civil society, private sector and lower local governments (sub-counties) have continued to work independently with minimal coordination. This has affected the ability of stakeholders to discuss and address core challenges like limited access to quality inputs, knowledge, technologies, markets, finance and inability to influence appropriation of scare resources.
District Production Coordination Committees (DPCCs) provide a formal structure through which the agricultural production activities are harmonized for effective service delivery. Where they exist, DPCCs are mandated to spearhead the coordination of sector activities, raise awareness on issues affecting farming communities and ensure financial sustainability in their plans and operations. Nonetheless, there are no strategies in place on how these DPCCs can be financially sustained. This impedes the ability of production coordination committee teams to effectively engage the target population at the grassroots in strategic and productive dialogue. Read more about this project
Election Monitoring and Observation
This project followed proceeded the Civic Education and Voter Education project, where KRC amongst other Civil Society entities was assigned by the Electoral Commission to conduct Observation and Monitoring of the 2021 General Elections.
In the pursuit of free and fair elections, KRC commissioned 60 election observers to monitor and report electoral proceedings in the Districts of Kabarole, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Bunyangabu, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, Kamwenge and Fort Portal Tourism City.
Participation in the electoral process followed KRC’s recognition by Electoral Commission of Uganda as a trusted partner in promoting civic education in the Rwenzori Region. The 60 election observers were part of KRC’s change agent network, trained, mentored and equipped with information and knowledge on citizen rights and obligations and civic duty to their nation.
Election observation is a universally acknowledged tool for promoting and enhancing democratic, free, fair and credible elections as provided in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil, Political Rights and guided by the Electoral Commission Act, Cap 140 of the Republic of Uganda. Read the January 2021 Polling Day Report
How do we fight Corruption..?
Join us on Social Media
Today we celebrate the birthday of our founder, Ingvar Kamprad; a perfect day to reflect on some of his thoughts and insights.
What’s your favourite Ingvar quote?
#IngvarKamprad #IKEA #IKEAFoundation @IKEA