This book is about engendering local governance. It explores the euphoria with which Uganda's decentralization policy took centre stage as a sufficient driver to engender local development... Show moreThis book is about engendering local governance. It explores the euphoria with which Uganda's decentralization policy took centre stage as a sufficient driver to engender local development responsiveness and accountability. Using a case study of AFARD in Nebbi district, it shows first that decentralized governance is gendered and technocratic as grassroots women's effective participation is lacking. Second, it shows that the insertion of women in local governance is merely a symbolic political gesture lacking the effective representation by women leaders of women's constituency. The book concludes that political capability and citizenship building is an effective bridge to engendering local governance. - Alfred Lakwo obtained his PhD in Social Sciences in 2007 at Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Currently he is Programme Director of the NGO Agency for Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD) in West Nile, Uganda. Show less
This study examines in what ways and to what extent microfinance services facilitate the empowerment of married rural women in Nebbi district, northwestern Uganda. In particular, it examines the... Show moreThis study examines in what ways and to what extent microfinance services facilitate the empowerment of married rural women in Nebbi district, northwestern Uganda. In particular, it examines the gender relations inherent in the livelihood practices of the community, the changes in well-being (if any) of the recipients of microfinance, and the ways in which changes in well-being are translated into changes in gender relations at the household and community levels. Using the sustainable livelihood approach, empowerment was measured at two levels, viz. the livelihood endowment status, and the livelihood entitlement status. The analysis reveals that microfinance did not make any significant change in the well-being status of clients. However, microfinance significantly facilitated women's empowerment at the individual, intrahousehold, and community levels. In this way, women's agency has sparked their struggle to engender livelihood practices. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
