Together For Localised Humanitarian Action in Uganda

The challenges facing the humanitarian sector today are multifaceted, ranging from health crises to an increase in climate-induced disasters. Uganda is no stranger to this phenomenon, with regular exposure to floods, droughts, landslides and epidemics which are putting a strain on the local population and natural resources. To meet these challenges head-on, effective collaboration is essential. Funded by the Programmatic Partnership between the European Union (EU) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Uganda Red Cross Society and the Netherlands Red Cross are engaged in a powerful cooperation to accelerate local preparedness for, and responses to, crises in the country.

Driving localisation through partnership

The Netherlands Red Cross has 12 bilateral partner National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. These partnerships are boosted by Desks which coordinate with teams in-country, as well as ensuring alignment and timely support based on local priorities and needs. In context of the Programmatic Partnership between the EU and the IFRC, the Uganda Red Cross Society and the Netherlands Red Cross work together to strengthen elements of localisation. When disaster strikes, local actors are often the first responders as they possess vital access to areas beyond international reach. Their continuous presence within communities connects immediate relief to long-term resilience-building. Within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, National Societies spearhead aid coordination, liaising with national authorities and partner organisations. With this understanding, efforts are made to align disaster preparedness and response systems at national, district and community levels in Uganda. The partnership between the two National Societies centres itself around three different forms of humanitarian action: anticipatory action, community engagement and accountability, and cash assistance.

“The Programmatic Partnership brings new questions to the forefront. What does localisation mean, and what does it look like in Uganda? Overall, this programme across multiple countries provides a mirror showing where we can improve at a global level, and highlights opportunities for harmonising localisation.”

Els van Dam, Portfolio Officer at the Netherlands Red Cross’ Uganda Desk

Preparing for disasters with the IBF Portal

A cornerstone of the collaboration between the two National Societies has been the development and implementation of anticipatory action strategies, leveraging innovative tools such as the Netherlands Red Cross’ Impact-Based Forecasting (IBF) Portal. The IBF Portal is a comprehensive digital platform designed to help disaster managers make timely decisions that save lives. By providing crucial warnings about an impending disaster’s impact, informed by real-time data sources, anticipatory action professionals are empowered to anticipate, mitigate, and respond effectively to evolving extreme weather events, from floods to cyclones and droughts. On top, the portal can pinpoint at-risk infrastructure, facilitating tailored solutions to address the specific challenges and needs of each community. As such, the IBF Portal serves as a critical platform to trigger proactive response measures based on data-driven forecasts.

In Uganda, the IBF Portal is used to provide alerts ahead of major floods. In November 2023, the portal triggered the activation of an Early Action Protocol (EAP) for the first time in anticipation of heavy rainfall and subsequent floods, launching intervention activities pertaining to shelter, WASH and disaster risk reduction. In recognition of the IBF Portal’s immense potential to save lives and costs in emergency responses, the Uganda Red Cross Society envisions to expand its usage and implement it for more general flood monitoring across multiple thresholds, as well as to complement it with a monitoring mechanism for impending droughts. To implement the National Society’s vision, workshops and discussions together with local government and technical partners and the Netherlands Red Cross have highlighted opportunities to improve the portal’s functionality, such as enhancing data availability and accuracy, and defining thresholds for disaster declaration. This pooling of local expertise and technical input has led to further development of the IBF Portal, based on the priorities and needs of local actors.

“The IBF Portal has helped me as a user to identify high risk areas prone to flooding and likely affected populations, as well as to activate Red Cross teams in carrying out preparedness activities. Across Uganda, affected communities have been able to clear drainage channels and evacuate before hazardous floods hit, reducing impact to houses and averting life loss.”

Joel Kitutu, Project Manager for the Programmatic Partnership at the Uganda Red Cross Society

Making humanitarian action more community- and data-driven

The Uganda Red Cross Society further aims to implement a structured approach towards effectively connecting with and responding to communities, in order to collect and act on feedback efficiently, and quicken their response to those in need. In February 2024, the Netherlands Red Cross team undertook a visit to the Uganda Red Cross Society’s headquarters in Kampala to conduct a digital community engagement and accountability workshop which revealed the need for a feedback mechanism to make humanitarian action more community-driven. In recognition of the potential of digital solutions in terms of collecting, storing and visualising data, as well as following up on incoming feedback, the National Society aims to adopt integrated digital tools towards ensuring that community voices are not only heard but also a central part of decision-making processes. 

Finally, the Uganda Red Cross Society partners with the Netherlands Red Cross in scaling up efficient, safe and fast cash assistance through digital delivery. Here, the Netherlands Red Cross team has provided technical support towards the development of a cash information management system, carried out by Ugandan IT agency NITA-U. As the rollout of this system, developed and hosted by local stakeholders, progresses, the Netherlands Red Cross provides continued technical assistance, with concrete plans for the Uganda Red Cross Society to take over sole ownership and maintain the system autonomously.

Looking ahead

The collaboration between the Uganda Red Cross Society and the Netherlands Red Cross symbolises the power of partnership in driving localised, community-centred humanitarian action. By leveraging innovative tools and strategies, such as digital engagement platforms, streamlined cash assistance systems, and impact-based forecasting, both National Societies are at the forefront of proactive disaster preparedness and response. As they navigate the multifaceted challenges posed by climate-induced disasters and health crises, their dedication to effective collaboration not only accelerates local responses but also ensures that the voices and needs of communities remain in focus. Moving forward, continued efforts to enhance the functionality and reach of these initiatives, guided by mutual learning and expertise exchange, will further strengthen local action to uplift affected populations in Uganda.