Uganda: British Red Cross Societies conduct assessment for disaster risk reduction interventions

Written by Catherine Ntabadde
By: John L. Sengendo-Communications Volunteer

The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) recently conducted a baseline survey to strengthen its Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) interventions in Bududa and Manafwa Districts.

URCS with funding from DFID through British Red Cross is implementing short term and long term DRR initiatives that started in 2011 and will last until 2014.

A team from URCS, a representative from BRC Robert Roots met with communities to establish the needs that the DRR program should address.

All interventions or projects implemented by URCS involve communities because they are in better position to understand the problems and work with Red Cross to identify solutions.

Among the tools used were detailed questionnaires and the Focal Group Discussions (FGDs).

The questionnaires were conducted in a household setting whereby the head of the home or anyone at the selected home at the time of the interview was taken through it in the local language (Lumasaba) and the findings analysed.

The FGDs were conducted in a different setting whereby local leaders were asked to choose groups of respondents from both Manafa and Bududa (Youth, Women and Men).

Two groups were then selected from Manafa (men and Youth) while women were selected from Bududa and the discussions conducted in the respective areas.