Feedback methods and practices in Northern and North Eastern Uganda

The report identifies the existing opportunities for the communities to give information
about their humanitarian and development needs and the responsiveness of various
resources flows. It also assesses the extent to which various methods use beneficiary
feedback on the quantity, quality and relevance of was used to improve the policy,
programming and planning for subsequent programmes/projects for better
humanitarian and development response. The entire chain of gathering, sorting,
synthesizing and use of beneficiary feedback to improve development programmes for
better outcomes in poverty and vulnerability reduction. The survey covered a sample of
organizations and hence does not represent an exhaustive representation of all existing
feedback mechanisms currently used or developed by all the stakeholders in the
northern region.
The report summarizes literature reviewed at both the district and national level;
interviews with government officials at the district and lower governments and staff of
non-government organizations. Information about existing methods and practices was
also collected from citizens at the communities in the above mentioned districts.

There has been growing concern to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian and
development resources through improved transparency and accountability both to
donors and to affected communities. The main objective of the survey was to identify
the existing opportunities to access information on resource flows and in turn feedback
into policy-making and development processes. The extent to which evidence on the is
utilized to improve design, delivery and information management systems for better
reduction and humanitarian outcomes.

The survey covered 5 districts of Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Kotido and Katakwi in the
Acholi, Karamoja and Teso sub regions of northern and eastern Uganda. Interviews
were held with officials at established government structures at three levels at which
decisions are made on resource allocation for service delivery. The survey assessed how
beneficiary feed back from affected communities on the quality and relevance of
resources to their community in meeting their humanitarian and development needs.
The assessment looked at how information and feedback is gathered, sorted,
synthesized and used to inform decision making in government and non-government
efforts to reduce poverty and promote development. The report also uses information
from literature reviewed and discussions with key informants at the national, district
and community levels with officials from government, international humanitarian and
development agencies and civil society.

At the district and sub-county, the team interacted not only with the district local
government officials in specific departments which are tasked with the role of planning
and decision making but also the political leaders who play the legislative function at
the various levels. For the beneficiaries at the village level, group discussions were held
to ascertain their awareness of government and non government interventions but also
their views and perceptions on the relevance, responsiveness and quality of available
services to the peoples’ needs.