Community empowerment related factors affecting the performance of poverty reduction programs in Pallisa District: A case study of Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) Projects

Abstract

The study was about Community empowerment related factors affecting the performance of poverty reduction programs in Pallisa District; A case study of NUSAF projects. The objectives included community access to information, community participation and community capacity development. The community is empowered when it is able to access information that enables it to take advantage of opportunities, access services, understand rules and regulations, and exercise their rights. The study findings showed that there is a positive and strong relationship between the community empowerment factors and poverty reduction. Although it was not a focus of study, the researcher had a chance to glance at the performance of NAADS which is also a sister program intended to empower the community to reduce poverty level through increased agricultural production. Based on observations, focus group discussions and data analysis, the researcher came up with some recommendations that could be much more cost effective in community empowerment as regards poverty reduction programs generally and not limited to NUSAF projects. For example, for ease of community mobilization, sensitization and supervision, every sub county should have a community development officer assisted by a community facilitator in each parish. It is recommended that the public should be sensitized and encouraged to join a co operative society through which the government should facilitate them. It is also recommended that many technical or vocational institutions be constructed. Lastly it is strongly recommended that NARO be facilitated and more of its centres opened so that they come out with more improved seeds so as to boost crop production while NAADS is restricted and limited to its role of advisory.