Uganda

The NICHE identification process in Uganda has resulted in the selection of two sectors: Education/Universal Primary Education (UPE), Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) and a number of cross-cutting themes (Peace and Reconstruction in Northern Uganda, Strengthened political governance, and Taxation and Accountability). On this page you can read more about the objectives and focus of NICHE in Uganda. You can also download an edited web version of the Programme Outline.

Based on three Nuffic missions to Uganda to consult the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) and Government of Uganda (GoU) stakeholders, the Education and Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) were identified as having a strong link to EKN's overall policy goals as stated in its MASP 2008-2011. There is enough overlap of the circles of interest of both GoU and EKN to legitimize a focus of NICHE on these sectors. Tangible results in these two main sectors will be essential to achieve sustainable poverty alleviation.

Education

Education continues to be the highest profile sector for GoU in terms of poverty eradication. GoU commited itself to achieving core EFA goals and targets and to realize MDG2: Achieve Universal Primary Education. EKN’s support to the sector with a specific focus on the UPE sub-sector started in the 1990s. It is set to continue because it is one of the MDGs and also because as a result of the task division of the Education Development Partners (EDP) formerly known as the Education Funding Agency Group (EFAG), other donors are or will be focusing on other sub-sectors. In January 2009 EKN was appointed EDP chair.

JLOS

GoU takes responsibility for Justice, Law and Order because it has a strong impact on poverty alleviation. JLOS is a key Governance issue and constitutes the fourth PEAP pillar. Good governance is considered key to poverty alleviation as it creates an enabling environment for development. Traditionally, EKN has been a lead donor in this sector and it has twice chaired the JLOS Development Partners Group (JLOS DPG), most recently from 2006 to January 2009. EKN will continue this strong focus on JLOS to ensure the link of the sector with poverty reduction.

The type of NICHE interventions in these two sectors and the way in which the cross-cutting themes will be addressed, will be determined by a more precise analysis of the overlap of interests between GoU and of EKN. These will be specified in the so-called Sector Implementation Plans for respectively Education/UPE and JLOS. These documents will be developed in addition to the Programme Outline. There will not be a separate Sector Implementation Plan for the cross-cutting themes.

Representatives of a number of other relevant cooperating partners (e.g. Irish Aid, EDP, UNICEF, DDP, JLOS DPG) were also consulted on current and planned interventions within the sectors of interest of NICHE.

Cross-cutting themes

In support to the above strategic choices, NICHE will support cross-cutting themes that are found to have positive impacts and add value to the quality of the achievements in Education/UPE and JLOS. In Uganda, NICHE will focus on a number of cross-cutting themes including Peace and Reconstruction in Northern Uganda, Strenghtened political governance, and Taxation and Accountability. Further consultations are necessary to develop specific NICHE projects within these thematic areas.