The Ministry of Local Government, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has convened a seminar in Kampala to strengthen integrated planning and disaster preparedness in refugee hosting and affected districts in the West Nile Sub-region.
Held at Golf Course Hotel, the seminar brought together representatives from Local Governments, the National Planning Authority, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Office of the Prime Minister and JICA to review practical planning tools developed under the Project for Strengthening Resilience in Refugee Hosting and Affected Districts of the West Nile Sub-region (PROCEED).
Implemented across 12 districts of West Nile, PROCEED supports Local Governments to integrate the needs of host, affected and refugee communities into development plans and budgets while strengthening disaster preparedness and response. JICA confirmed that the five-year project, which commenced in 2021, focuses on integrated development planning, emergency preparedness and strengthening community resilience.
The seminar also provided an opportunity to present four handbooks developed under PROCEED, covering Local Government planning processes and tools; joint planning between Local Governments and Refugee Welfare Committees; the use of refugee and additional population data in development planning; and inclusive disaster preparedness and response.
Opening the seminar, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Ben Kumumanya, said PROCEED has strengthened evidence based planning and enabled Local Governments to better respond to pressures associated with refugee influxes. “PROCEED is teaching how to fish and not simply providing fish. I call upon all Local Governments to fully utilise and disseminate these handbooks so that the gains made can be sustained and translated into better service delivery for host, affected and refugee communities,” he said, while calling for stronger teamwork, transparency, accountability and community participation.
Speaking on behalf of JICA, the Director, Office of Peace Building, Mr. Yoshifami Yamanaka, underscored the importance of strengthening Local Government capacity to respond to the changing needs of refugee-hosting communities, noting that the tools developed under PROCEED provide a practical basis for data-driven planning, community engagement and emergency preparedness.
Closing the seminar on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the Assistant Commissioner, District Administration, Mr. JJ Geofrey , described the four handbooks as a “seed” that Local Governments must now plant and nurture through practical application, emphasising the importance of teamwork, evidence-based planning, accountability and effective use of resources. He urged Local Governments to integrate the tools into their planning and budgeting processes and sustain the gains made under PROCEED beyond the project period.
The seminar forms part of efforts to institutionalise the knowledge and tools generated under PROCEED within Local Government systems and strengthen resilient, inclusive and evidence-based development planning in West Nile.
