A Single Drop Site Visit

AWWC Site Visit
MWATF, Namulondo Sarah
Mukono, Uganda
January 14-23, 2009
Follow-up conducted by Mariah Klingsmith, A Single Drop

OBJECTIVES:
• Learn more about MWATF’s organizational structure and community
• Turn over AWWC seed grant
• Provide technical assistance as needed by the AWWC participants for water project implementation

SITE VISIT:
Community/Organization Information
• The office of Mukono Women’s AIDS Task Force (MWATF) is located within Mukono town council in an office building belonging to an Anglican Church supported women’s center. The modest MWATF office is staffed by Sarah, a program coordinator named Mr. Ayor Okullu and an office volunteer assistant named Annette. MWATF works primarily in Mukono and Kayunga districts but has done a bit of work in Rakai district as well. There are 60 active members and 80 inactive members. Each parish (division of townships within a district which are further separated into villages) has 5 elected representatives for MWATF who report directly to Mr. Okullu. In each parish there are committees which oversee the implementation of MWATF’s various programs. MWATF’s programs focus on three main issues: gender, environment and HIV/AIDS. These issues encompass a myriad of topics including women’s property rights, orphans and vulnerable children, domestic abuse, nutrition and health, HIV/AIDS home based care and counseling, livelihood projects, energy saving stoves, poultry and livestock raising, and water.
• MWATF has been assisted by several international organizations including Global Fund for Women (who was responsible for helping with the initial funding for the creation of the organization). There is a strong presence in the community-and in Uganda in general-of support from the Norwegian government and other Scandinavian countries.
• MWATF has a very impressive reporting and accounting system which Sarah AND Mr. Okullu are committed to maintaining.
• Sarah has a remarkable ability to mobilize members rapidly and easily and seems to have gained a great degree of respect with the members she works with. The members met during the visit seem to be willing to participate in trainings with no expectations of receiving compensation for fares or meals-something that has been observed elsewhere as being necessary to travel to meeting s and trainings.
• There are many NGOs within Mukono and they are trying to organize themselves to be guided by a forum aimed at coordinating their efforts and creating an environment where they work together more effectively to change their community. The district chairman is a great advocate for the NGOs, recognizing the role of the NGOs as being vital to fill the gaps left by the government in community development and has pledged to give them support (particularly if the NGOs can find the resources and mobilize the people the local government will provide technical assistance). However, there is a general suspicion among many of the area NGOs that the majority of the local government does not support the NGO community and is alternatively trying to discourage donors from funding the NGOs directly believing instead that funding should be channeled through the local government. An interesting observation in local politics.
• The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is quite high in Mukono district, being 9% as compared to the national statistic of 6 %.
• Mukono district includes several island parishes. The islands are considered a challenge by the local government and NGOs where HIV/AIDS affects 25% of the population, low attendance of primary schools, commercial sex workers, and water are all looming problems. Few NGOs work in the islands because they are difficult to travel to and the resources and mobilization are lacking. This is an area the local government has urged the NGOs to focus on.

Project Implementation
Training for MWATF members on HIV/AIDS, WASH education, and PML:
• 30 PLWHAs participants
• CAWST WASH materials were introduced
• TIOS 5 Components of HIV/AIDS module was taught
• Participants were trained in Portable Mirobiology Laboratory technology and discussion followed to consider how to implement the PML within the target areas of MWATF (no definitive plans were created but there was excitement at the prospect of figuring how to incorporate the water tests into the MWATF programs)
• Mr. Okullu was very impressed with the simplistic and systematic approach of the TIOS model for teaching basic HIV/AIDS education. The current strategy of MWATF members is to sensitize the communities on HIV/AIDS through songs, drama and testimonials. The questions and debate raised during the presentation of the material made it evident that the correct and complete information about HIV/AIDS is still not ubiquitous, even among those living with HIV/AIDS. Only three participants had ever taught anyone how to use a condom. Sarah had all of the right answers but the people she works with and sensitizes don’t so there is a concern that the MWATF strategy for awareness has some gaps. Mr. Okullu particularly liked the aspect of training with the visual to show the spread of HIV/AIDS using the 15 year old boy as the origin. Hopefully, MWATF will be able to incorporate some of the lessons and activities from the TIOS module into their community sensitization.
Plans for AWWC project implementation and future water program activities:
• The AWWC water project MWATF has proposed is to build a demonstration Ferro cement tank as part of a training of trainers and implementers at the beginning of March.
• They plan to train 25 people in the basics of RWH and several different options for water storage along with WASH education. The trainer will be Maria, their TOT for RWH, who has implemented many RWH/FCT projects in Rakai district following a three week training she attended in 2006.
• The participants will include 5 People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs), 5 female youth, 5 male youth, and 10 women coming from two districts (Mukono and Kayunga).
• The training will be 5 days and will be held at the site of MWATF’s new office (which is being built and funded by Hand in Hand-a Norwegian-supported NGO that focuses on helping needy children pay school fees, from primary to university and children with disabilities. The building is on land donated by the town council and will be turned over to MWATF after a period of 10 years).
• The small tank proposed is insufficient for the size of the roof (which could easily support 40,000 liters of water storage) but the FCT is meant to serve as a demonstration
• The looming question about the implementation of the AWWC funded water project is how MWATF plans to fund the transportation, accommodation, meals for the proposed training. Sarah claims they have a budget for it and that the town council always supports them to fill in the funding gap.
• Following the training the participants will be expected to train community members and implement RWH/FCT projects within their respective locales.

OUTCOMES
• AWWC seed grant money distributed to MWATF
• 30 people trained in the TIOS HIV/AIDS module, introduced to WASH education resources, and sensitized about Portable Microbiology Lab
• MWATF program coordinator trained in PML and WASH education
• Introduced to district and municipal officials
• Meeting with MWATF RWH trainer
• 5 sets of WASH materials provided

CHALLENGES
• Sarah was often sick and absent but this challenge was mitigated by the enthusiasm and capability of the program coordinator to trained and engaged in discussion about project planning and implementation.
• MWATF not being “ready” for implementation as expressed to GROOTS and ASD prior to site visit (a challenge not unique to this group but with many groups from the AWWC). There is a general trend here in Africa for organizations not to engage in the implementation until the funding arrives.
GENERAL COMMENTS
• There were several nice and flattering compliments of note that came from the workshop we gave on the 20th. One man who attended is the nursery school teacher and teacher of women’s livelihood projects commented that the facilitator must be a teacher because the teaching methods and style were very effective (i.e. participation, visual aids, etc.). He was very impressed by the flow and order of information created by TIOS.
• MWATF expressed that the PWX process was challenging for them, particularly that they weren’t clear on the reasoning for the peer review and that the numerous emails received were confusing.
• The PML was not being used because Sarah was unwilling to implement the technology when the future acquirement of materials was unclear.
• Mukono District is notorious in Uganda for retaining strong traditional beliefs and
• Accommodation was provided by James Mulira, legal counsel to MWATF and friend of Sarah. The invitation is standing to return there whenever ASD or AWW organizers are in Mukono.
• There was much discussion about the two phases of NGO work-“In the brain and briefcase-‘brief casing’-and on the ground”
• The road running through Mukono is chaotic. This is a major route for goods and people traveling from Mombasa to many East African countries and the prevalence of accidents is high.
• Purified water is sold in small little plastic bags.
• Water Missions International’s installation of the Living Water Treatment System at the Salama School for the Blind (included in site visits around Mukono).
www.watermissions.org

FOLLOW-UP AND FUTURE PLANS
• Monitor closely the progress of the implementation to ensure accountability, i.e. establish a deadline, required regular reporting, etc.
• Community trainings to establish local groups to provide groups with skills and knowledge to address water issues (mainly to encourage action without waiting for the local government to initiate projects).
• Encourage proper and diligent reporting of PML water testing.

ACTIONS FOR AFRICAN WOMEN AND WATER ORGANIZERS
• Assist MWATF to procure funding for larger scale implementation
• PML and solar connection and support
• Directed to Jan: Sarah was asking about a woman at the conference who was interested in working with PLWHAs and she has expressed MWATF’s willingness to work with her. I do not remember this but Sarah wanted me to ask Jan about it so that they might pursue this partnership.

ATTACHMENTS
Pictures