Uganda

Reflect graphic from Uganda Reflect is presently being put to use in 14 districts in Uganda and it has been adapted for different contexts ranging from conflict resolution to HIV/AIDS and CBO management. The implementing agencies in these areas include ActionAid Uganda, government as well as national and international development organisations.

There are over 50 Reflect circles, though attendance and participation has fluctuated quite a bit making it difficult to give an exact number of participants. This has been a result of wars in some of the areas of operation, inefficiency of facilitators as well as disillusionment resulting in drop out of participants.

Reviews and mini evaluations have been organised for relatively older programmes. A needs assessment exercise was conducted for internally displaced persons in Bundibugyo and Katakwi, to enable the Reflect programmes to design units relevant to people’s situations.

Recent work has included linking Reflect with work on HIV/AIDS (Reflect plus); influencing policy and exoenditure on adult literacy and piloting the Reflect ICTs project.

Networks: The Uganda Literacy Network (Litnet) were formed to share experiences and form a collective voice as civil society to lobby government on issues of adult learning and education. They have produced a draft proposal for developing Uganda Adult Education Policy. Other networks include the Uganda Participatory Development Network and the National Reflect Practitioners' Forum.

Organisations using Reflect include ActionAid Uganda in Mubende, BDYA Mbale, CARE International in Arua, Children and Wives of Disabled Soldiers Association, Church of Uganda Karamja Diocese, PIED in Iganga, Multi-purpose Training and Employment Association, and the Soroti Catholic Diocese Integrated Development Organisation.

In response to requests from Reflect Trainers, a new Trainers' Guidebook is in development by the Reflect Coordination Unit of ActionAid Uganda. A task force worked on putting together ideas generated by practitioners into a guidebook, and this is now being reviewed in preparation for publication. The RCU has also developed a documentary training video "The Eye Opener".

The programme of Training of Trainers has been adjusted, following a review of TOTs which showed that many new trainers were not confident to carry out training without substantial support from the Reflect Coordination Unit. Many new trainers felt that two weeks consecutive training was too intense to allow for internalisation of theory and practice. The new timetable allows several weeks between the first and second stages to allow time for internalisation of methodologies and allow time for trainers to try out the techniques before the training ends.

Reflect and CBO management: The Reflect Coordination Unit has been piloting the application of Reflect in CBO management training with impressive results. Maria Nandago writes: "…it all worked like a magic drug - the level of analysis, discovery and self-criticism was amazing." They key tools used in the process were: mapping out the CBO's area of operation, reviewing the operations of the CBO using timelines; using benefits analysis matrices to look at the impact of the CBO operations at individual and group levels; using case studies to outline situations similar to those the CBO faces; analysing power in the organisation using the 'power-centre' game; facilitalting critical analysis with a Reflect learning cycle; and developing guidelines for a working document to enable the CBO to reflect on their interventions and clarify a programme of action. These exercises and probing questions helped to generate ideas and unearth issues that the group had not before seriously considered.