Millenium devt goals drive taken to villages
Sep 24, 2008
THE Milleniun Development Goals (MDGS) have been extended to the village level in order to benefit the rural poor as planned by the United Nations Development Programe (UNDP).
By Wilfred Sanya
THE Milleniun Development Goals (MDGS) have been extended to the village level in order to benefit the rural poor as planned by the United Nations Development Programe (UNDP).
The initiative, spearheaded by Water-Aid and supported by the Directorate of water development, was launched by the acting assistant commissioner for policy implementation in the office of the Prime Minister, Abdul Muwanika, at Mpigi district headquarters on Friday.
Muwanika said the localisisation would help increase MDG awareness in sub-counties as well as their relevance to people’s livelihoods.
“The overall objective of working with local governments in localizing Millennium Development Goals (MDG) was to demystify and promote the MDG targets at the district and sub county levels, and for better planning and attainment of pro-poor service delivery,†He said.
Grace Alupo, the Water Aid advocacy and communication officer, while presenting her findings noted that there was no equal distribution of resources in the community.
Alupo added that there was need to adjust the MDGs to fit the Ugandan standards like giving education to all communities. She cited the example of drama which directly translates the message of good water and sanitation in homes.
Speaking on behalf of the donor community, Patrick Kahangire, a consultant with the African Development Bank, stressed the need to have transparency in all districts that get information through the sector review programmes.
Kahangire said $150m had been committed for the water sector this financial year. “There is need to have plans that show what is taking place in the water sector countrywide,†He said. “The issue of equity should be emphasised basing on the population increase,†Kahangire added that some of the NGOs were hesitant to give information regarding the funding the get from other development partners.
THE Milleniun Development Goals (MDGS) have been extended to the village level in order to benefit the rural poor as planned by the United Nations Development Programe (UNDP).
The initiative, spearheaded by Water-Aid and supported by the Directorate of water development, was launched by the acting assistant commissioner for policy implementation in the office of the Prime Minister, Abdul Muwanika, at Mpigi district headquarters on Friday.
Muwanika said the localisisation would help increase MDG awareness in sub-counties as well as their relevance to people’s livelihoods.
“The overall objective of working with local governments in localizing Millennium Development Goals (MDG) was to demystify and promote the MDG targets at the district and sub county levels, and for better planning and attainment of pro-poor service delivery,†He said.
Grace Alupo, the Water Aid advocacy and communication officer, while presenting her findings noted that there was no equal distribution of resources in the community.
Alupo added that there was need to adjust the MDGs to fit the Ugandan standards like giving education to all communities. She cited the example of drama which directly translates the message of good water and sanitation in homes.
Speaking on behalf of the donor community, Patrick Kahangire, a consultant with the African Development Bank, stressed the need to have transparency in all districts that get information through the sector review programmes.
Kahangire said $150m had been committed for the water sector this financial year. “There is need to have plans that show what is taking place in the water sector countrywide,†He said. “The issue of equity should be emphasised basing on the population increase,†Kahangire added that some of the NGOs were hesitant to give information regarding the funding the get from other development partners.