tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-303266262011-12-15T02:37:11.934ZThis blog was created during my short term contract with MS Uganda (Danish Association for International Cooperation). My assignment was to advise 3 agricultural partner organisations with their various organisational challenges. In that capacity I traveled a lot and met many interesting people and visited tourist attractions as well as out of the beaten track places.Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.comBlogger251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1161204285424582822006-10-18T20:30:00.000Z2006-10-27T18:45:52.496Z

The contract is coming to an end. To day I have just completed my final report. All in all I was engaged in activities that needed the production of 6 full reports in this four months assignment. Two on Participatory Learning and Action trainings, one on Organisational Change, one on Membership Policy and one for a Participatory baseline - needs assessment for women and youth. Here they are

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1161203424953950802006-10-18T20:26:00.000Z2006-10-27T18:41:20.780Z

Merchinsons always has something new. I found this Patas monkey last time I drove through. It was interesting to see it feeding on the ground just like a baboon.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1161203146170254492006-10-18T20:19:00.000Z2006-10-27T18:43:43.600Z

I received a car with this tyre as the spare - a total wreck. Without knowing I drove 1500 km. in often areas with no help in case of emergencies. I could have been stranded somewhere in the bush - but happily I did'nt.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1161202172736949132006-10-18T19:57:00.000Z2006-10-18T20:09:32.753Z

Files and documents dissapear here - why. The answer might be right here in this photo.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1161201163358360652006-10-18T19:33:00.000Z2006-10-18T19:53:36.430Z

A pig was having a good time at the back of HODFAs office. It was having a manicure by some tick birds that were in the area. Every time a bird landed on the pig, it laid down to be tended to. Interesting how both wild and domestic animalt live in symbiosis with each other.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1160848695132271622006-10-14T17:46:00.000Z2006-10-14T18:01:24.233Z

The rain has changed Merchinsons. It is now green and most of the animals that were down at the delta are now up close to the road that goes through the park - the one I travel all the time.The Oribi are just jumping from one side of the road to the other.The bird with the red and blue wattles on the face is the abysinian ground hornbill. The fine eagle is most likely a young crowned eagle.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1160847875959037402006-10-14T17:40:00.000Z2006-10-14T17:46:20.483Z

Electricity can be a scarce commodity in Uganda. Happily the rural service stations are well prepared and have pumps that are both electrical and hand driven like this one.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1159268503627619972006-09-26T10:58:00.000Z2006-10-08T13:45:33.380Z

Some thoughts on participation in our activities.Often a participant list is written and the number of male and female participants counted.During the PLA (Participatory Learning and Action) field trainings in Nebbi and Apac, it became apparent that the above way of monitoring participation is very misleading. What we monitor is presence and not participation.Here are two photos from the

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1159040742140948232006-09-23T19:35:00.000Z2006-09-26T10:32:05.893Z

Community Mapping is a PLA tool that is simple and easy for needs identifications.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1159039997975272502006-09-23T19:12:00.000Z2006-09-23T19:33:17.986Z

In Apac we have been doing field work on PLA (Participatory Learning and Action)The meeting started in the church and later the farmers compared enterprises on a time line in the sand outside. It is interesting how all the farmers quickly realise the ease of using simple PLA tools.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1157816511076394312006-09-09T15:24:00.000Z2006-09-09T15:41:51.090Z

I am just from Nebbi where I have trained staff and board members in (PLA) Participatory Learning and Action Methodology. After the training we went to farmers groups to practice. Here we are

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1157815387736204822006-09-09T15:12:00.000Z2006-09-09T15:23:07.750Z

In Hoima I am doing a needs assessment for women and youth. It means that I am visiting some of the women and youth groups in the area. Here we are doing the work....

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1156618982166470022006-08-26T18:49:00.000Z2006-08-26T19:05:44.036Z

Murchinsons Falls from above. I had the oportunity to see the falls from above last time I went to Nebbi. Here they are.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1156618049880374942006-08-26T18:31:00.000Z2006-08-26T18:47:31.066Z

I did a Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) training in Agency for promoting Sustainable Development Initiative (ASDI) Apac. It was an enjoyable 3 days. Everybody were keen to get to the field and practice what they had learnt. We will go to the field and practice in september. Here two groups are doing a comparison of enterprisesHere the chapatti diagramming is helping in understanding the

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1156616954818161282006-08-26T18:10:00.000Z2006-08-26T18:29:14.833Z

The Organisational Change workshop in Nebbi District Farmers Association (NDFA) was a succes acording to the written evaluation from the participants.Here we are. Some board and staff members .We had a long list of learnings on the days programme - one of them was organisational culture. I always compare culture with a hippo as it gives a good positive starting point to a very sensitive matter. .

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1155562826355107712006-08-14T13:35:00.000Z2006-08-14T14:22:12.683Z

Home LeaveAlan and I had fantastic summer weather in Denmark, where we spent a lot of time catering for family and friends in our home.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1151651691575387932006-07-01T07:10:00.000Z2006-06-30T13:45:08.436Z

Information about our homeleave. Kampala. 31st June 2006HiAlso this year we will take some leave in our home in Denmark.We will be in Møldrup from 16th July to 5th August.I will also take 1 week in Nairobi together with Alan and Bibi.We hope to see you there in Denmark or Nairobi.Greetings Mona

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1151676099144440472006-06-30T13:47:00.000Z2006-06-30T14:02:51.170Z

A postcard for you

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1151591611353638412006-06-29T14:22:00.000Z2006-06-29T14:34:01.260Z

The Shoebill.I hardly believed my own eyes when I actually saw it - the odd looking bird, but there it was at the delta in Murchinsons falls. I had to use my binoculas to get it close enough to identify it.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1151564104340370502006-06-29T06:02:00.000Z2006-06-29T07:01:44.180Z

The Pearl of Africa.Uganda is surely unique. The countryside around Kampala is very lush. The northern part is drier - more like semi arid lands.The National bird - the Crested Crane is often seen and the local cattle with the huge horns are numerous.I have included a map of the places where I work. There is also the Ugandan flag.

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1151522367050842702006-06-28T18:49:00.000Z2006-06-29T08:37:00.770Z

The Hotels I stay in.I stay in the best hotels in the district towns. The photos here tell for themselves what standard we are at. The bungalow type hotel is Gab Apartments in Nebbi and the tropical holiday looking hotel is Crown Hotel in Hoima.Lamco Hotel in Apac has some interesting features..... The aquarium. It is artificial/electric and only put on if you ask for it - then the artificial

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1151518223231289702006-06-28T16:43:00.000Z2006-06-29T08:47:11.443Z

Murchinsons Falls National ParkOn my way from south to north I pass through the park and stay at Red Chilli Camp. I stay in a self contained banda, but it is also possible to sleep in a tent with a real bed.A resident family of wart hogs graze around the tents. They are very tame and only run away if you get right up to them.On a 17 km trip up the nile it is possible to see the huge Nile crocs

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1151415920960828532006-06-27T13:09:00.000Z2006-06-28T16:46:02.916Z

Nebbi Districts Farmers Organisation (NDFA)Is a membership based organisation that was established in 1993 as a branch of Uganda National Farmers Assosiation. NDFABecame an autonomous organisation in 1998 and is now in partnership with MS Uganda. Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) tools are introduced in the organisation to include the farmers in the process of the Project Cycle (Planning,

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1151411066379056422006-06-27T11:50:00.000Z2006-06-28T16:26:12.873Z

Agency for promoting Sustainable Development Initiative (ASDI)ASDI was formed by 15 local activists in 1994 and is now a partner organisation to MS Uganda (Danish Association for International Cooperation)The organisation engages in:1 Agricultural Development2 Income Generating Activities3 Information and IT (Internet Café)

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30326626.post-1151566394473578992006-06-27T07:06:00.000Z2006-06-29T08:52:57.760Z

Hoima District Farmers Association (HODFA):The organisation was registered as an NGO in 1998. Before then it was a district branch of Uganda National Farmers Association which was started in 1992. HODFA has been in partnership with MS Uganda since 1996 and is at present in the phase out period. The office is in Hoima - the district town. The towns lay out is open and with quite a few trees, which

Mona Phippshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409674112287378581noreply@blogger.com0