Learning alliances for better practice and policy in Uganda

Uganda is a frontrunner in WASH sector reforms in East Africa, but faces problems around household and school sanitation and hygiene. Previously, there was no learning mechanism on hygiene and sanitation at district level and limited trickling down of knowledge from the international and national level towards communities. To address this situation, SNV, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and NETWAS Uganda have partnered to facilitate a “Learning Alliance” at district level, by which sector stakeholders share experiences and agree on actions to improve sector efficiency and performance. The initiative is called LeaPPS: Learning for Practice and Policy on Household and School Sanitation and Hygiene.

LeaPPS

This local learning process is supported by action-research, documenting and sharing of experiences around household and school sanitation and hygiene. LeaPPS aims to foster stronger coordination, information sharing and learning between local governments, civil society organizations and the private sector. Harmonized approaches and coordination in the process could help reach effective, sustainable sanitation and hygiene improvements in households and primary schools in the district. Consequently, LeaPPS supports good governance and transparency, and the integration of HIV/AIDS into sanitation and hygiene programmes and initiatives.

Learning Alliances should be formed around real problems that cannot be solved by a single stakeholder, and an initial group of stakeholders who are committed to change. Each platform should bring together a range of stakeholders who capture diverse roles, interests, skills and experiences. The more representative the alliance is, the better it will capture the institutional complexities and other realities of the system. LeaPPS involves water, health, education, community development, planning and finance officials, local NGOs and private sector stakeholders at district and sub-county levels, Councillors, donor agencies and INGOs active in the districts. Ultimately, the Learning Alliance aims at improving how stakeholders work so that their interventions have greater impact and are better coordinated. This also implies building linkages between the different administrative levels from community to national level. LeaPPS partners have tried to link the initiative to existing structures for (technical) support and capacity building, for example the National Sanitation Working Group (NSWG). At district level linkages have been created with the district Water and Sanitation Coordination Committee (DWSCC) and the Sub-County politicians and government staff working in Water Sanitation Health and Community development.

The overall objective of the learning and sharing within LeaPPS is to influence change in policy and practice towards sustainable impacts. The Learning Alliance approach has a strong focus on improving existing practices through sharing locally acceptable and affordable innovations. Communication and joint actions can be supported by a shared commitment to learning for change and sharing best practices, jointly analysing challenges and agreeing on the way forward.

Lessons learned

As a result of this LeaPPS pilot, some general lessons can be learned regarding the Learning Alliance approach and its usefulness for improving policy and practice in Uganda:

• There is a demand for this Learning Alliance and participants appreciate it. Most stakeholders (more than 60%) attend each meeting, which reflects their commitment. Questionnaires have revealed that the attitude of the stakeholders is very supportive towards this Learning Alliance.
• Stakeholders have been able to identify their own weaknesses in the Learning Alliance. Cases shared have resulted in actions by the stakeholders.
• The stakeholders recommended more practical learning sessions to complement the Learning Alliance meetings. This is supported by the main recommendation in the questionnaire from stakeholders to include practitioners to complement and validate the Learning Alliance. Additionally there is also a request to include more sub-county representatives in the Learning Alliance from one of the districts.
• Several lessons learned have been transformed into actions. It has been observed that the successfully implemented lessons were linked with accessibility of materials, technical backstopping and other running programmes, which can absorb the learning into action. Therefore to strengthen successful learning; technical backstopping, provision of information and communication materials and the integration of programs has to be encouraged.
• Though the coordination and information sharing between the different stakeholders has improved, nonetheless it continues to remain a major issue. There is a general fear of sharing budgets amongst each other and there is a lack of trust noticed between districts and NGOs. Thus focus on improving coordination and information sharing is crucial.
• Ownership by the stakeholders of this Learning Alliance is still weak. Stakeholders attending seem to be rather recipients than champions of the platform. However having champions who take LeaPPS action points forward to the relevant bodies, such as DWSCC is vital in putting LeaPPS into actions.