The Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of ULA. 

The Research Component 

Overview 

Research is one of the activities ULA has continued to emphasize in order to achieve organizational objectives. The information generated from the research is the basis for the rest of the organization’s activities to ensure that the land rights of the poor men, women, children and minority groups are protected and promoted. 

• Research provides information for lobby and advocacy on land matters.
• It also informs the Alliance strategic direction i.e. directs the strategic interventions for the Alliance.
• Research informs ULA stakeholders; the donors, members, policy makers and the general public of the issues that need to be tackled to address land problems of the people.

 

Research has been an integral part of ULA activities. A number of researches have been undertaken by the organization and the results disseminated in form of publications. 

The Way Forward

In its 5 year strategic plan, the Alliance intends to take further steps to strengthen its research component. One of the most important efforts to this end has been the formation of a separate unit in charge of research, monitoring and evaluation as a separate program area. This will help to ensure that research as one the core engines of the organisation’s activities is handled as extensively and intensively as possible. 

The researches will be concentrated on those issues that are considered pertinent from time to time. The following areas have been identified as some of the intervention issues for research and eventual advocacy.

• Land tenure regimes
• Gendered tenure land ownership
• Other emerging issues such as HIV/AIDS, climate change and food security.

 

Current Publications

A number of researches have been conducted on different topics relating to land over time. These issues have been very critical in informing ULA of which areas need intervention. These researches have also helped the Alliance to successfully play its advocacy role on behalf of the vulnerable and marginalized communities. The research publications so far made can be found in the ULA resource center or on the website www.ulaug.org. 

Methodology for Conducting the Researches

The methodology for conducting research in ULA will basically depend on the individual research need for a specific subject from time to time. However in comprehensive terms both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies will be applied as may be required. However the following will be the general methodologies that will be adopted for the period of the strategic plan.

1. Field data collection mainly from the land rights centers. This information will be collected case studies and reports from the LRCs in all the regions of Uganda. Information from the center will be the basis for informing the alliance on which land issues and problems are rampant in our communities.
2. Field work data will also be sought from those new areas where the interventions of the LRCs might have not engulfed.
3. Consultations with land practitioners and the academia on pertinent issues of land. These issues will be studied and published to inform policy direction through advocacy.
4. Conducting Action Research sessions. This will involve the use of dynamic and interactive approaches to have communities participate in the identification and addressing of their community problems.

 

The Monitoring and Evaluation Component (M&E)