Background Information
Human and Civil Rights being a foundation stone in the development of a democratic and civil society calls for developing a strong Civil Society Sector for promotion of Human and Civil Rights advocacy, action and the enforcement of Good Governance.
In Uganda Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaged in Human Rights activities are faced with a range of challenges which include: Lack of funding and competition for funding, ever changing programmatic focus by Development Partners (DPs), lack of human resource with desired expertise and competence among others.
Independent Development Fund (IDF) is a grant making organization, incorporated in Uganda as a company limited by guarantee and not having share capital. IDF was set up by four Development Partners namely:- Royal Danish Embassy, DFID, Swedish Embassy/Sida, Government of Ireland/Irish Aid and Royal Netherlands Embassy, which partners have also made funding commitments to the Programme.
IDF is non political, non-governmental, not-for-profit grant mechanism for supporting civil society organizations in Uganda. It is set up to deliver a range of support services to Ugandan civil society organizations as a means of strengthening their capacities to effectively contribute to the country’s human rights, civil rights, good governance and poverty reduction efforts.
It aims to give grants and grant management support to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that will work to promote a human rights approach, support and facilitate citizens to access and understand laws and Government policies that impact on their human and civil rights
Board of Directors
- Mohammed Ndifuna (HURINET) / Chairman
- Maureen Nahwera (Embassy of Sweden /Sida) / Vice Chairperson
- Arthur Larok ( NGO Forum) / Secretary
- Niels Hjortdal (DANIDA-HUGGO) / Treasurer
- Prof. J.B Kwesiga (DENIVA) / Member
- Agnes Ndamata (DFID) / Member
- Esther Loeffen (Royal Netherlands Embassy) / Member
