Impact pathways of a participatory local governance initiative in Uganda: a qualitative exploration

ABSTRACT

The baraza project, initiated in 2009, is a government-led initiative in Uganda that aims to increase the quality of public service delivery through the provision of information and involvement of beneficiaries in project monitoring by means of providing citizens with an advocacy forum. This article provides a qualitative assessment of the self-identified pathways through which barazas are thought to influence public service delivery, as expressed by participant stakeholders. It also explores motivating factors behind behavioural changes of stakeholders, hindrances to achieving positive outcomes, and opportunities for the implementation of future barazas.

KEYWORDS:

• Governance and public policy
• Civil society – participation
• Social sector – Education, Health, Water and sanitation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Bjorn Van Campenhout is a Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute and a Associate Research Fellow at the LICOS Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Emmanuel Bizimungu is a Research Analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute – Kampala office, Uganda.

Jennifer Smart is a Research Analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA.

Nassul Kabunga is a Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute – Kampala office, Uganda.

Notes

1 Baraza is a generic term for “meeting” in Uganda. Barazas are organised by different actors in Uganda, especially NGOs and civil society organisations. The barazas studied here are the “official” ones that are initiated by the Office of the Prime Minister.

2 See www.3ieimpact.org/en/evidence/impact-evaluations/details/2905/ for more information.

3 Interviews were conducted in July 2017. About 10 months had passed since the sub-county baraza was held.

4 The Resident District Commissioner (RDC), a government-appointed position at the district level, is assigned the purpose of representing the national government’s interests.

5 Interviews were conducted in July 2017. About nine months had passed since the district baraza was held.

6 Seed schools were established by the Government in sub-counties to implement the Universal Secondary Education programme.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by International Initiative for Impact Evaluations (3ie) [grant number RFQ PW2.18.UG.PG]; CGIAR PIM [grant number 203002.002.221].