CAPACITY BUILDING STRATEGIES AND SUSTAINABILITY OF INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS IN NORTHERN UGANDA, A CASE OF WORLD VISION, GULU MUNICIPALITY, GULU DISTRICT

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the role of capacity building strategies in promoting sustainability of income generating projects in Northern Uganda, a case study of World Vision Gulu Area Development Program (ADP) in Gulu Municipality. The research was guided by two main objectives; To find out how individual work learning processes contribute to sustainability of income generating projects in World Vision, Gulu municipality and to assess how group work learning processes contribute to sustainability of income generating projects in World Vision, Gulu municipality. A cross sectional case study design that guaranteed triangulation was used. Purposive random sampling, census and accessible random sampling methods were employed in selecting the sample size. The data was collected from 132 participants out of 143 respondents selected from a population of 206 including group members, World Vision implementing staff and Gulu Municipality Community Development Officers. The findings of the study established that all the independent variables; Individual work learning processes and group work learning processes did not have a significant contribution to sustainability of income generating projects in Gulu Municipality. Much as the organisation was injecting a lot of resources in the above capacity building strategies, they were not contributing to sustainability of income generating projects in Gulu Municipality. On the basis of these findings, it is concluded that the research was able to test the hypotheses set out in the study. These included; Individual work learning processes directly affect sustainability of World Vision income generating projects in Gulu Municipality and group work learning processes directly affect sustainability of World Vision funded income generating projects in Gulu Municipality, were all disproved by the evidence from the field and accordingly adopted. The study recommends; 1. Assessment of the capacity gaps of the different groups be undertaken prior to development and implementation of capacity building plans. This aids in identification, prioritization and development of suitable capacity building plans. 2. A participatory approach should be adopted while organizing study tours. xvii Groups should be involved in determining timing, relevancy, objectives and participants in the study tour. This does not only ensure realization of study tour objectives but also ensures participation and promotes sustainability. 3. Underlying issues in groups should be identified and focused on in team building sessions. Team building at times fails because of internal issues only known to the group members. 4. Appropriate and context appropriate capacity building strategies should be adopted. Whether or not to take on individual work learning processes or group work learning processes remains a decision of the agency involved, the context in which it operates and the groups involved. However, on the basis of the findings of this study, alternative capacity building strategies should be adopted if sustainability is to be registered.