Our Approaches & Methodologies
UDN applies the following approaches and methodologies during implementation of its strategic plan — ensuring sustainable, community-driven impact for poor and marginalized people across Uganda.
Fostering Partnerships & Collaboration
Working in partnership with CSOs, research and academic institutions, and local community volunteer groups ensures greater ownership of programme activities and increased impact across all regions.
Empowerment of Civic Groups
UDN draws on lessons from past work to enhance the capacity of civic groups to mobilise for empowerment of women and men, increasing citizen engagement with local authorities on development opportunities and resource management.
Rights-Based Approaches (RBAs)
With significant experience in applying RBAs, UDN emphasizes empowering marginalized groups to assert their rights, enabling government to fulfil its mandate, and addressing policy constraints at national and local levels for equitable access to improved services.
People-Centered Advocacy
This approach strengthens the ability of local CSOs and poor, marginalized people to identify and engage with decision-makers on key policy issues — advocating for pro-poor policies and improved quality of service delivery at all levels.
Gender & HIV/AIDS Mainstreaming
UDN is mindful of gender, HIV/AIDS and disability across all programming. A gender mainstreaming policy guides the process and all planned activities must provide more benefits than risks to women, girls, and HIV/AIDS and disability-affected households.
Community Based M&E System (CBMES)
UDN establishes monitoring committees at sub-county levels where poor and marginalized people acquire monitoring skills and budget literacy, are sensitized on their rights, and are empowered to voice concerns to duty-bearers about service delivery.
Districts Peer Review Mechanism (DPRM)
The DPRM is a local governance assessment tool that evaluates a range of governance indicators at the local level. The participatory process is designed as a learning experience, delivering local actors with better knowledge and capacity to address identified gaps.
Facilitating Org. Learning & Development (FOLD)
This model delivers the necessary institutional and organizational capacities to different Civil Society Organizations, enabling them to effectively deliver on their respective mandates with greater sustainability and impact.
Village Savings & Loan Associations (VSLAs)
UDN has been instrumental in supplementing Government’s efforts in community mobilization, empowerment and poverty reduction. The VSLA model was adopted by Government into the Rural Financial Services Programme (RFSP), PROFIRA and Microfinance policy as a key approach to deepening rural financial strategy in Uganda. Building on learning from Kigezi, Karamoja and Teso sub-regions, UDN continues to enshrine the VSLA approach to complement its Community Based Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy across Uganda.
Working Together for Accountable Governance
Join UDN in building a Uganda where public resources serve every citizen equitably.