Documents/LGCSCI

ACODE Project Infosheet No. 11, 2011

Strategic_Plan

Publication: 2013-12-11

Source: http://www.acode-u.org/documents/infosheet_11.pdf

The LGCSCI is a research-based policy outreach and capacity building initiative whose goal is to strengthen citizens' demand for effective service delivery and accountability. The initiative represents part of ACODE's response to the perpetual failure in the current public service delivery system and the near breakdown in the mechanisms for accountability. The initiative considers the poor quality of public services as a three- dimensional policy problem: a service delivery model that is built around strong local governments envisaged under the constitution which no longer exist; a national budget architecture that undermines the powers and authority of local governments; and most important, a citizenry that has more or less disengaged from government. The initiative therefore seeks to reconstruct the relationship between citizens and government by providing information on the performance of local government councils as a strategy to build an effective accountability relationship between citizens and elected leaders at all levels.

Scaling Up Strategy -- The LGCSCI was launched with the assessment of the first 10 districts covering the FY 2008/09. The initiative is designed to expand in coverage on an annual basis. The second assessment covering the FY 2009/10 will cover an additional 20 districts bringing the total districts covered by the Score-Card to 30. In the third year, the number of district councils covered will further increase by 20 bringing the total to 50. Uganda currently has 112 districts and hence 50 local governments would constitute close to 50 percent of the local government councils in the country. Logistical considerations such as financial and human resources will be a key determining factor of this scaling up strategy. A decision will then be made on whether the Score-Card assessment will be expanded to cover all the districts in the country.

Submitter:

Name:Owen Ambur

Email:Owen.Ambur@verizon.net

Organization:

Name:Local Government Councils Score-Card Initiative

Acronym:LGCSCI

Description:
The Uganda Local Government Councils Score-Card Initiative (LGCSCI) is a 10 Year initiative with the goal of strengthening citizens' demand for effective public service delivery and accountability. This goal is achieved through: undertaking annual assessment of the performance of local government councils; publication and dissemination of annual score-cards; and outreach and capacity building to empower citizens and local government leaders. The initiative was launched in 2009 with the assessment of the first 10 districts for the FY 2008/09. Initial funding for the initiative is provided by the Deepening Democracy Programme (DDP) and through core funding support from the Think Tank Initiative (TTI).

Stakeholder(s):

  • Uganda

  • Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment

  • Think Tank Initiative (TTI): Acknowledgement of Financial Support -- Core financial support from the Think Tank Initiative (TTI) made the design of the LGCSCI possible.

  • TTI Funding Partners: ACODE is grateful to the funding partners of TTI including the Hewllet Foundation, the Bill and Mellinda Gates Foundation, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada and the Netherlands Government. The launching of the Score-Card including the development of the methodology and the first assessment was supported by the Deepening Democracy Programme (DDP). ACODE is indebted to the contributing partners of DDP including the following:- the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), Embassy of Denmark , Embassy of Ireland, Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, Norwegian Embassy and the Swedish Embassy in Uganda.

  • Hewllet Foundation

  • Bill and Mellinda Gates Foundation

  • International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada

  • Netherlands Government

  • Deepening Democracy Programme (DDP): ACODE is indebted to the contributing partners of DDP including the following:

  • UK's Department for International Development (DFID)

  • Embassy of Denmark

  • Embassy of Ireland

  • Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands

  • Norwegian Embassy

  • Swedish Embassy in Uganda

  • Local Government Councils Score-Card Initiative Supporters: How You Can Support the Local Government Councils Score-Card Initiative -- There are three ways in which partners can support this Initiative. The most strategic and preferable model of support is to make a long-term contribution towards the continuous development of the Score-Card methodology and the annual Score-Card assessments. The second model is to provide project support for the annual assessment. The third approach is direct support to our local CSO partners who undertake fieldwork and outreach activities. Financial support provided towards this Initiative is used to undertake the following activities: * Score-Card methdology development and undertaking the annual Score-Card assessments * Publication and dissemination of the annual Score-Card synthesis report and district Score-Card reports * A robust outreach and advocacy strategy to increase citizens' demand for better service delivery and accountability * Capacity Building to enhance the ability of councilors to respond to citizens' demands and advocate for their electorate

Content
Visions
Missions
Values
1: Performance Assessment
2: Annual Score-Cards
3: Outreach & Capacity
4: Local Network