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MAKERERE WOMEN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION Implementing partner: Makerere Women Development Association Project Title: Right to the city campaign
Project area: Kawempe Division (In six parishes; Bwaise I, Bwaise II, Bwaise III, Makerere II, Makerere III and Wandegeya-Katanga) More»
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MAKERERE WOMEN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMARY INFORMATION ON RIGHT TO THE CITY CAMPAIGN PROJECT FUNDED BY IDF Implementing partner : Makerere Women Development Association Project Title: Right to the city campaign Project area: Kawempe Division (In six parishes; Bwaise I, Bwaise II, Bwaise III, Makerere II, Makerere III and Wandegeya-Katanga)
Brief background:The purpose of the project is to empower slum dwellers and increase their influence in claiming and enjoying human rights through organised and peaceful civic engagement with urban authorities and national government.
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The slum dwellers are now actively involved in influencing increase in budget allocation and effective utilization of resources, engage leaders at all levels i.e local and national levels and demand for accountability which will increase access to basic social services. With support from IDF, MAWDA has carried out the following activities:
Civic Engagement with Leaders atall levels ie at District, Division, LC 1 and community levels.
41 Human rights watch groups empowered to promote the rights of people in Kawempe division. 1320 people have benefited directly, and 202,000 people indirect benefit.
Influenced communities to establishment of bylaws.
Economic empowerment of communities to promote rights for good health
MAWDA is in partnership with Division, District and national to share experiences and synergize efforts in promoting human rights in Kawempe Division.
Slum dweller convention in Feb 2010 where residents of Kawempe division interfaced with their leaders including parliamentarians, Local council from 1- III in Kawempe Division, Counselors and other opinion leaders
Lessons Learnt
Partnering with local leaders ensures effective implementation of the project.
Addressing the immediate needs of the community as the first step is a strong tool of empowering the communities to demand for their rights.
STAR approach is a very powerful tool in community work that ensures community members participates in decision making on issues concerns them.
Challenges
Politicians using the project for their political gains are high.
The trained community watch group members are mobile given the nature of the urban slums.
Inadequate motivation to Human rights facilitators, in order to make necessary followup of community/individual issues, such as too much garbage in the area with no proper collections strategy.
RECOMMENDATIONS
MAWDA and other partners should advocates for support to initiatives by youth and watch group to enhance promotion human rights and job opportunity creation.
KCC/Division should gazette places for garbage collection, road networks, drainage system, public latrine construction to enable easy provision of social services/Rights.
IDF and other partners should advocates for inclusion of poverty alleviation interventions to enhance job opportunity creation and increased incomes of the community which will facilitate implementation of watch group Action points on a sustainable basis.
