Over the years, LWF Uganda has moved away from a service-delivery approach to increased focus on empowerment and community-led approaches. The community-based approach engages communities in the attainment of their own development goals. Through basic Participatory Rural Appraisal, LWF works in partnership with communities to conduct needs assessments and surveys at the local level, the results of which determine their development needs. Community participation is ensured throughout the process to enhance transparency, sustainability and ownership, by utilizing of the input and data collection of community volunteers even at the lowest level.
One of LWF Uganda’s program focus is the right to food and the right to an adequate standard of living. However, the program is keenly aware that the causes of food insecurity in rural communities are complex and require holistic approaches in order to find solutions. Two insights guide this approach. First, in order to prevent fragmentation of interventions which reduces impact severely, offering comprehensive development packages to small communities through intensive interaction is preferred to setting up area-wide programs affecting many loose individuals in communities. Group dynamic strengthens the impact on individual communities, while strong communal bonds are supported and encouraged. Strong groups can consequently withstand potential risks better than individual households, and the inclusion of vulnerable people in larger communities stimulate their advancement. Our work therefore directly addresses and facilitates the removal of these barriers individually in the targeted communities, tailoring development initiatives for each area to ensure that all areas can in the future partake in holistic and sustainable development.
Along addressing emergencies, LWF rolls-out the LRRD concept throughout its programmes to broaden benefits to programming that includes structuring humanitarian relief and development assistance in such a way as to reduce dependence on aid and support self-reliance for communities at the earliest opportunity. LRRD also includes components of risks reduction, vulnerability reduction, promoting of sustainable livelihoods and mainstreaming the human rights approach.
All human beings have the right to a life in dignity. People who are oppressed, vulnerable and poor are not objects of charity but rights holders. The emphasis on human rights in the context of development helps us to focus on the structural inequalities that cause and perpetuate impoverishment and exclusion, so that the root causes of poverty and exclusion receive proper attention. within the Framework of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), LWF Uganda raises awarenesses and advocates for people's rights at all levels. We assist communities to acquire knowledge and skills which leads to changed attitudes and transforming people into informed decision makers and active citizens. Active citizens are able to challenge policies or actions and existing structures on the basis of principles such as equality, inclussiveness, diversity and social justice.