UNDP in Uganda - Millennium Villages Project

The Millennium Villages are designed to demonstrate what it takes to meet the eight Millennium Development Goals in rural Africa within five years. By initially working in 12 research villages located in 10 African countries, the Millennium Village initiative works directly with the respective communities, key non-governmental organizations and national governments to show how rural African communities can lift themselves out of poverty and achieve the Goals if they have access to proven and powerful technologies to improve their farm productivity, health, education, and access to markets.
More information on the Millennium Village initiative»»

The Ruhiira Millennium Project is a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Earth Institute at Colombia University, the UN Millennium Project, and Millennium Promise. Activities started in March 2006 in the Ruhiira Research Village of Nyakitunda sub-county in Isingiro district in South Western Uganda, and by August 2006 activities were rolled out to 7 other cluster villages surrounding the research village. The total population in the project area is 43,056, comprising 8,133 households. The project aims to empower communities with knowledge and skills to use the resources they have to come out of poverty in all its manifestations. This is done through participatory processes that enhance local ownership and sustainability of the overall program.

The project intervenes in five core areas: health, agriculture and environment, water and sanitation, education, and infrastructure. The project has also initiated activities in enterprise development to improve livelihoods and increase incomes. Lessons from the village become powerful advocacy tools for the Ugandan government, showing that with the adequate resources the MDGs can be attained both at the local and the national level. Just recently (20 August 2007) the State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development visited the Village to take stock of lessons learned for future national planning purposes.

Some of the project’s impact includes:

Increased bean production by 50% and maize production by 150% through distribution of improved seeds; assisted farmers to store and market about 500 tons of maize
Communities trained in goat management and vaccinated animals against Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)
Production initiated for banana fibre beads and linkages with market in collaboration with Beadforlife, an American NGO main partner
Mobilization of rural savings with formation of Women Group SACCO with a membership of 450 persons; 200 people sensitized and 30 of them trained in entrepreneurship skills
School Action Plans developed for the 18 government schools and all the 18 primary schools are currently benefiting from school feeding programme (7,051 pupils) which has led to increased attendance
Family planning clinics conducted in which 150 people participated; recruitment of 26 various categories of health workers for the 6 health units in the project area; distribution 40,000 LLTN (mosquito nets) to all sleeping sites in the project area
HIV/AIDS prevention clinics conducted with school staff; 2 drama groups trained to sensitize communities on various health issues
Construction of 5 classroom blocks and 5 kitchens in 5 primary schools; installation 28 PVC water harvesting tanks to the primary schools; rehabilitation and construction of health units; light grading done on 26 km of road in the area
4 central tree nurseries created and 46 community tree nurseries established, run by the communities

United Nations Development Programme
UGANDA

'a trusted partner, supporting Uganda to achieve the Millennium Development Goals'

United Nations Development ProgrammeUGANDA

'a trusted partner, supporting Uganda to achieve the Millennium Development Goals'

United Nations Development Programme
UGANDA