KAPCHORWA – Key stakeholders in Sebei sub region and Karamoja have been equipped with skills on how to effectively use Outcome Harvest a monitoring and evaluation methodology while gathering evidence of change.
The three day training which was held in Kapchorwa last week, with support from Action Aid International Uganda (AAIU) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), faciltators took the participants on means of coming up with well detailed project reports.
Cherotich Phobia, Senior community Development officer Kapchorwa town council and also one of the beneficiaries , revealed that the training gave them a detailed approach towards Outcome Harvest, a term which many didn’t understand much. “We have been focusing on only big or expected outcomes and ignoring others yet they are also important.”
Upon completion of the training, Cherotic promised to pass on the skills she acquired to her peers who didn’t get an opportunity to attend.
Athio Emmanuel, a youth leader from Nakapiripiti district, at the same time a participant in the training ,commended the facilitators for their in depth guidance on issues relating to Outcome Harvesting.
“Am so grateful that i was selected from the many people in my area , but i kindly request the organizers to increase on the number of participants so that each community to reduce on number of people who ask us questions on what we have learnt wherever we go back.”
Ben Sakajja, the District Community Development Officer (DCDO) for Bukwo, on behalf of the participants commended Action Aid and UNFPA for investing resources in capacity building of stakeholders which he says that it will greatly improve on the quality of the work produced.
“Before this training, i knew nothing about Outcome harvest because even the word itself was very new to me. Being that our Miracle road to Bukwo is in good shape, i request Action Aid to bring the next engagement that side so that people can be explore the beautiful scenery and other endowerments.”
Patrick Sando , a Consultant on matters relating to Monitoring and Evaluation , also a facilitator of the training ,stated that his findings was that majority of the stakeholders before training were lacking proper means of communicating the change created by different project activities.
“They have been writing programs reports to funders and others while accustomed to what they have implemented, leaving out the so what part. In this they had to include whether there some sort of practice that has changed with people they are working with, whether there a policy that has changed with the people they are working with to influence change.”
Sando further added that Outcome Harvest tool is not technical as other Monitoring and Evaluation tools because it only requires one to know the initial steps taken in its implementation.
Organizers
Samuel Francis Ononge , the implementing officer for UNFPA funded project in Sebei region , revealed that the training was organized with the aim of building capacity for stakeholders and implementers to be able to monitor and document the impact of the project..
“I appreciate the facilitators and participants , because the three days have not been a waste of time. People have acquired knowledge and skills which i know that will be of great impact to them especially in the process of compiling their success stories.”
Samuel also pointed out that with proper knowledge on this evaluation tool, from the reports compiled basing on the new experience , Action Aid and its partners will be in position to identify the projects which have created much impact in people’s lives as well as those that have not performed to the expectation.
About the training
The training included Activistas, Male Action Change Agents, Action Aid staff, programme implementers and others from districts of Bukwo, Kween, Kapchorwa, Moroto and Nakapiripiti.
The UNFPA funded project in Sebei sub-region is geared towards social norm transformation, Changing Positive mindsets of communities against practices that violate the rights of girls and women in Sebei.
These were selected basing on their activeness and participation in the projects that have implemented in the region.
