Exploring accountability mechanisms in policy and practices in humanitarian sector in West Nile-Uganda: a case study of wash service delivery
Student name: Ms Kiden Gladys Robert
Guide: Dr Smriti Das
Year of completion: 2018
Host Organisation: Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD)-Arua Field Office
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Kennedy Ayeyo
Abstract: The study explored the Accountability Mechanisms in Policy and Practices in Humanitarian
Sector in West Nile- Uganda: a case study of WASH service delivery. The study was carried out
in Rhino refugee settlement in Arua district West- the researcher employed Nile, Uganda East
Africa and only qualitative techniques of research. I used three methods for data collection from
respondents. These are; interviews of the respondents, Focused Group Discussions and
observation. The information collected was organised according to chapters to make a
meaningful presentation, conclusion and recommendations of the study delivered at through
content analysis.
I found out throughout the study that accountability is indeed a very important principle in
WASH service delivery. However different stakeholders had different meanings which made its
implementation more of a myth than a reality which is done to please the donor agencies and
supervisor instead of the communities that organisations serve, and this is as a result of high
illiteracy and ignorance rates, limited funding among others factors.
It is from such conclusion that the study recommends that there be need to increase capacity
building of the local leaders and the community at large to enable the demand for information
and even be in a position to use it as expected. The government and the donor agencies should
fund Functional Adult Literacy to reduce the high rates of illiteracy among the adult refugees.
Also, they should help education accessibility and affordability of education among the young
generation of refugees and also there is need to increase community participation in policy
circles as the main conduit for the energetic participation of community members in determining
the outcomes of the development projects in WASH sector. Effective community contribution may
lead to social and personal enablement, economic development, and socio-political change. The
potential of community participation in reversing power relations and providing the poor with
agency and voice in the development literature.
Keywords: Accountability, Refugee, Humanitarian, WASH
