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Great Lakes Regional College
and
Volunteer Uganda: Research Uganda
present
A Survey-Based Study of Multidimensional Poverty in the Kanungu
District, South Western Uganda: Initial Needs Assessment Report
Edited by
Luca Ferrini and Rebekah Yore
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Written by
Jit Wei Ang, Sara Essa, Nikolas Golino, Taireen Hussain, Adenife Modile, Peter O’Reilly
Research conducted by
Jit Wei Ang, University of York, Thomas Blake, University of Southampton, Sean Coulborn, University of York,
Liam Davies, University of West England, Anthony Demetriou, University of Nottingham, Grace Elliott,
University of West England, Sara Essa, Brunel University, Ginevra Floridi, London School of Economics, Nikolas
Golino, University of Essex, Rebecca Gooding, University of Leeds, Sally Harrison, University of Bristol,
Taireen Hussain, University of Essex, Jessica Jones, King’s College, University of London, Alex Lambert,
University of Plymouth, Luca Lixi, London School of Economics, Adenife Modile, Obafemi AwolomoUniversity,
Lucy Morrell, University of West England, Peter O’Reilly, Queen’s University, Hanbyeol Shin, University of
Bath, Willy Ssemugoma, Makerere University
In collaboration with
Aron Agaba, Innocent Byamukama, Sharon Kamagara, Dan Katabazi, Grace Muhimbise, Jackness
Muhumuza, Sarah Naturinda, Lawrence Niwagaba, Jemimah Tayebwa
Students of Great Lakes Regional College
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Summary
This report has been written following research conducted by Volunteer Uganda Research Uganda in the
Kanungu District of south Western Uganda with the aims of assessing and mapping needs of the local
community in order to inform strategies for poverty eradication as well as creating a baseline study for
future research measuring change and impact. The study uses descriptive quantitative analysis of the data
recorded from 551 structured household interviews to identify the most pressing needs and map them
through the use of geo-location. The survey used for data collection was purposefully adapted for this study
and includes 49 indicators of poverty classified under six dimensions: education and culture, organisation
and participation, income and employment, interiority and motivation, health and environment, housing
and infrastructure. This report is of particular significance to governmental and non-governmental
organisations, local institutions, community leaders and civil society organisations. It provides a reference
point and model for other similar studies at community and district level and is relevant to wider discussions
on strategy for poverty reduction in the region. On a broader scale this study aligns with new emphasis on
the multidimensional approaches to the study of poverty.
Keywords: poverty, multidimensionality, geo-location, needs assessment, Kanungu, Uganda.
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Contents
1. Introduction 5
2. Context and Relevant Literature 6
3. Methodology 7
3.1 Design 7
3.2 Participants 8
3.3 Procedure 9
3.4 Ethical Considerations 9
4. Results 9
4.1 Demographics 9
4.2 Highest Prevalence of Category Responses 9
4.3 Findings 14
4.3.1 Income and Employment 15
4.3.2 Housing and Infrastructure 15
4.3.3 Education and Culture 16
4.3.4 Organisation and Participation 16
4.3.5 Health and Environment 17
4.3.6 Interiority and Motivation 17
4.3.7 Mapping Needs 17
4.3.8 Mapping Services 22
5. Evidence-based Suggestions for Policy 23
5.1 Public Political Level 23
5.2 Private and Third Sector Level 24
5.3 Community Level 25
6. Conclusions 26
Appendices 27
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Table of Figures
Figure 1: Illustration of the household survey, demonstrating colour coding of each category
response……………………………………………………………………………………...8
Figure 2: Section of the data set spread sheet with demographics and categorised, colour coded
responses for each interviewee………………………………………………………...............9
Figure 3: Bar graph displaying the relative poverty levels per dimension……………………………....15
Figure 4: Bar graph displaying the average responses with standard deviation error bars per
dimension…………………………………………………………………………………...16
Figure 5: Mapping of category 1 responses for the ‘employment status’ indicator……………...............19
Figure 6: Mapped pinpoints contain the full index for the selected household………………………...19
Figure 7: Households collecting water for consumption from streams and swamps…………………..20
Figure 8: Households taking over thirty minutes to collect water for use in the home………………...20
Figure 9: Households that never or almost never consume potable (i.e. clean) water…………..............21
Figure 10: Closer view of households that never or almost never consume potable (i.e. clean) water…..21
Figure 11: Closer view of households that never or almost never consume potable (i.e. clean) water…..21
Figure 12: Households lacking in secure surroundings (category 1 responses)…………………………22
Figure 13: Households where children under 15 years old are not in education………………………..22
Figure 14: Households in category 1 for the provision school supplies………………………………...23
Figure 15: Households where children under 15 years old are not in education………………………..23
Table of Tables
Table 1: Respondent demographic data……………………………………………………………...10
Table 2: Indicators classified according to the percentage of category 1 and 2 responses…………….11
Table 3: Indicators classified according to the percentage of category 1 responses…………………...11
Table 4: Indicators classified according to the percentage of category 3 responses…………………..13
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1. Introduction
This report is the culmination of a field research study conducted in the Kanungu District of south Western
Uganda by the Research strand of Volunteer Uganda (VU), a UK-based umbrella organisation working in
the district with the aim of alleviating poverty through sustainable education. The study had the aim of
assessing, scrutinizing and mapping local needs and poverty dynamics in order to improve VU’s
understanding of the area and thus the efficacy and impact of its work, as well as that of potential
development partners both locally and internationally. The research was conducted by a group of 18
undergraduate and graduate interns under the guidance of qualified VU staff, and made use of a
purposefully-adapted index of multidimensional poverty comprising of 49 indicators across the six
dimensions of education and culture, organisation and participation, income and employment, interiority
and motivation, health and environment, housing and infrastructure. The ensemble of researchers and the
nature of the exercise insured against any conflict of interest in conducting the research.
This field research was informed by and builds upon the pilot study conducted by Volunteer Uganda in the
Kanungu area in autumn 2012, in which a total of 223 local participants were interviewed. As a result of the
pilot study, the survey tool was improved and the sampling strategy devised.
The study has value both in its specific context, for use by local and national government, local
organisations, institutions and civil society, and also in the wider study of deprivation and the deeper
investigation into the dynamics of varying aspects of poverty. It provides a reference point for other similar
studies at community and district level, and a model for assessing and mapping need prior to implementing
interventions Being broadly representative of the surrounding geographical area, it is relevant to wider
discussions of strategies for poverty reduction in the region. Furthermore, it provides a baseline study upon
which subsequent research studies can build in scope and density, and to which local organisations, NGOs
and charities can refer when designing and evaluating potential interventions.
More broadly, this study aligns with the new and growing emphasis on multidimensional approaches to the
study of global poverty. It is therefore more justifiable within the wider framework of the literature and
serves the purpose of informing the choice and design of socioeconomic interventions through the specific
assessment of needs. Rather than asking if local people are poor, it asks “in what are local people poor?”. It
is based on the assumptions that households possess great potential for improving their lives but face a
myriad of obstacles in doing so. It therefore asks: “what are the obstacles to local people’s abilities to
improve their lives?’’
The following section explains the physical and academic context within which the study lies; section three
outlines the survey and sampling methods employed, the data collection process and the data analysis;
section four describes the findings, both collectively and divided into each specific dimension of the survey;
section five explains and showcases the mapping element of the research; section six offers a number of
policy recommendations directly based upon the findings, aimed at potential evidence-informed
interventions at government, non-governmental and community levels. The final section summarises and
concludes.
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2. Context and Relevant Literature
Uganda has a total population of 36.35 million and a 73.2% adult literacy rate. Life expectancy is currently
58 years of age, the infant mortality rate stands at 6.3% and the maternal mortality rate at 310
deaths/100,000 live births. Almost a quarter (24.5%) of the population lives beneath the World Bank’s
$1.25 USD a day poverty line, and in terms of prevalent diseases, 6.5% test positively for HIV and 100,000
deaths occur annually from malaria.
The Kanungu District of south Western Uganda has a population of 240,800 with just over 50% under the
age of 15, only 6,640 people above 65 years of age and a population growth rate of 2.31%. The dependency
ratio is 114/100. The average life expectancy stands currently 48.9 years and the under-five mortality rate at
206 deaths/1,000 live births. Over 85% of the population lives on less that $1.25 USD per day and the
majority of people survive through subsistence farming.
The multidimensional poverty tool for assessing local need is adapted from the ‘Spotlight’ approach (‘El
Semaforo’) to poverty measurement developed by Fundación Paraguaya,1 and recently embraced by the
governments of Paraguay and Colombia as the official measure for poverty levels and for informing
national poverty alleviation strategies. It is partly related to the recently developed Multidimensional Poverty
Index (MPI), adopted by the United Nations, which assesses poverty according to ten indicators within
three dimensions: health (child mortality, nutrition), education (years of schooling, children enrolled) and
living standards (cooking fuel, toilet, water, electricity, floor, assets). A multidimensional approach allows
the incorporation of multiple aspects of deprivation in the assessment of poverty (e.g. insufficient access to
healthcare, lack of education, lack of access to clean water, scarcity of income, disempowerment etc.),
providing broad and influential evidence for informing and guiding poverty reduction policies. Extending
beyond a focus upon income alone, it is possible to identify more intricately a household’s living situation,
and thus devise more directly relevant and effective poverty eradication strategies. Additionally, a
multidimensional approach enables the examination of relationships between various aspects of poverty,
highlighting for prioritisation the factors with the most profound or widespread ramifications, and analysing
how changes to one indicator (e.g. education) can impact upon other indicators (e.g. employment, income,
health, living standards).
There is no knowledge of other, similar research studies having been conducted in the Kanungu District
prior to or since the initial pilot study undertaken by Volunteer Uganda Research in 2012. Bwindi
Community Hospital, located in south Western Uganda, has collected household survey data in sub-
counties west of Kanungu, however the emphasis was primarily focused on health dimensions.2
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(
!An organisation based in Paraguay dedicated to developing and implementing practical, innovative and sustainable
solutions to eliminate poverty and creating decent living conditions for families
(http://www.fundacionparaguaya.org.py/en/)!
2 Bwindi Community Hospital, Kayonza and Mpungu sub-counties Household Survey 2009 available at:
http://www.bwindihospital.com/pdf/about-annual-report-section/BCH-SURVEY-REPORT-2009.pdf [accessed 3rd
February, 2013]
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3. Methodology
3.1 Design
Surveyed households were selected through systematic random sampling. One every five households was
approached for interview. Only in particularly sparsely populated areas (where the distance between
households was deemed a minimum of 500 metres) every household was sampled, independently of the
one-in-five rule, so as to ensure the capture of sufficient data in all geographical areas targeted. The
multidimensional poverty survey was custom designed specifically for the Volunteer Uganda field research
programme in the form of an Android application for use on Google Nexus 7 tablets. It consisted of 49
questions categorised into six dimensions of poverty: ‘Income and Employment’; ‘Health and
Environment’; ‘Housing and Infrastructure’; ‘Education and Culture’, ‘Organisation and Participation’ and
‘Interiority and Motivation’. Each of the 49 questions comprised three pre-specified response categories
corresponding to the red, yellow and green traffic light scale. Category 1 responses indicated an ‘in poverty’
(red) score, category 2 responses an ‘at risk of falling into poverty’ (yellow) score and category 3 responses a
‘not in poverty’ (green) score. The full survey can be found in Appendix I.
Figure 1: Illustration of the household survey used, with colour coding of each category response
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Figure 2: Section of the data set spread sheet with demographics and categorised, colour coded responses for each interviewee
Geo-location tagging was employed to electronically map and identify each household and its overall
poverty score based on its survey responses. This technology enabled both the recording of households
already surveyed so as to avoid overlap in subsequent field studies and data collections, and allowed a visual
representation of household needs to be displayed in relation to their location in the Kanungu District.
Displayed online, current patterns of poverty and need, as well as longitudinal trends and situational
changes can be quickly and easily observed. It provides greater validation for evidence-informed
interventions centred on linking households to required local services and on both specific and more
holistic poverty alleviation strategies. It can be utilised by Volunteer Uganda and external entities such as
local government, NGOs and the communities themselves. Further elaboration on mapping, as well as
examples of the maps created, can be found in subsequent sections.
3.2 Participants
A total of 551 households were sampled within the boundaries of the Kanungu District in south Western
Uganda. Within these households, 221 males and 330 females were respondents to the survey. The ages of
respondents ranged between 18 and 80 years with a mean age of 41.9±16.6. Participation in the study was
entirely voluntary and did not involve remuneration so as to discourage partaking solely based on financial
incentive. Survey questions focussed on responses for the whole household rather than the individual
interviewee, enabling a more valid and thorough representation of the community as a whole by also
accounting for the portion of the population not interviewed. Considering household sizes, the data
collected describes the living situations of approximately 3,207 individuals in the Kanungu District.
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3.3 Procedure
Interviews were conducted by nine research teams consisting of two interns (one male and one female,
where possible) and one translator. The nine translators were selected from Great Lakes Regional College, a
local tertiary education institution, and were fully briefed on the aims and objectives of the study, as well as
on the mechanics of the poverty tool, the meaning of each question and the reason behind each response
categorisation. The target areas of the Kanungu District were strategically mapped on a daily basis. Each
interview commenced with a standardised briefing of respondents on the aims of the study and securing
their consent to proceed in English and Rukiga when necessary. Interviews lasted on average between 20-40
minutes. The geo-location was recorded to the accuracy of an eight-metre range using the GPS function on
the tablets to build a visual representation, in the form of an online map, of the households sampled.
Questions were asked in order from 1-49 (with the option to skip and also return to as many as necessary)
in English. However, where respondents did not possess sufficient English language abilities, translators
followed with the Rukiga translations of the questions. Responses were then translated back into English to
be recorded on the tablet.
3.4 Ethical Considerations
All respondents were briefed with a standardised project brief prior to being asked to sign and date their
consent to participation. This was particularly important in fully conveying the aims and objectives of the
research, clarifying its primarily long-term nature, and managing the immediate expectations of respondents.
Each respondent’s right to skip questions, to terminate the interview at any point throughout and to
withdraw their responses from the final results was emphasised prior to commencing. Respondents were
assured that all information disclosed during interviews would remain both anonymous and confidential and
that no direct immediate assistance from Volunteer Uganda would follow their participation.
4. Results
4.1 Demographics
The following table displays the demographic data of all surveyed respondents representing their
households as a whole.
Table 1: Respondent demographic data
Descriptors Range Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Age 72 18 90 41.91 16.60
No. in House 24 1 25 5.81 2.75
4.2 Highest Prevalence of Category Responses
The dimension demonstrating the highest level of ‘in poverty’ responses (category 1) is that of the income
and employment, with 57% of participants responding as ‘in poverty’, and 74% reporting as either ‘in
poverty’ or ‘at risk of poverty’ (category 2). In terms of housing and infrastructure, 34% of all the
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respondents reported an ‘in poverty’ rating and 42% an ‘at risk of poverty’ score. Indicators within
organisation and participation score low, with 67% of respondents either ‘in poverty’ or ‘at risk of poverty’.
The data demonstrates that although the health and environment dimension does not score as low as other
dimensions overall, 54% of respondents still report an ‘in poverty’ or an ‘at risk of poverty’ rating. Similarly,
within education and culture, 54% of respondents display an ‘in poverty’ or ‘at risk of poverty’ status.
Within the interiority and motivation dimension, 49% of people were ‘in poverty’ or ‘at risk of poverty’.
The highest prevalence of respondents in or at risk of poverty!among surveyed households was identified,
ranking indicators according to the percentages of category 1 and 2 responses.
Table 2: Indicators classified according to the percentage of category 1 and 2 responses
Indicator % of 1 % of 2 % of 3 % of 1&2 Total
Type of road 38.0% 61.8% 0.18% 99.8% 550
Monthly income 88.8% 6.8% 4.5% 95.5% 516
Water for consumption 16.0% 77.0% 7.1% 92.9% 551
Means of transport 63.7% 28.7% 7.6% 92.4% 551
Electricity access 85.5% 6.0% 8.5% 91.5% 551
Employment status 47.0% 41.4% 11.7% 88.3% 549
Basic English language 27.1% 60.3% 12.6% 87.4% 549
Toilet type 13.6% 73.5% 12.9% 87.1% 550
School supplies 13.9% 69.7% 16.4% 83.6% 489
Mosquito nets per head
ratio
37.2% 38.5% 24.3% 75.7% 551
Sources of income 61.4% 9.8% 28.8% 71.2% 549
It may be noted that a classification of need by percentage of respondents ‘in poverty’ or ‘at risk of
poverty’ may be misleading as high percentages of category 2 responses are given equal weight to high
percentages of category 1 responses. The assessment of need necessitates the identification of where
the most pressing needs lie. The following table ranks the indicators by percentage of respondents in
category 1 (‘in poverty’ in that dimension).
Table 3: Indicators classified according to the percentage of category 1 responses
Indicator Question No. % of 1 % of 2 % of 3 % of 1&2 Total
Income after debt 4 94,54% 3,31% 2,14% 97,86% 513
Monthly income 3 88,76% 6,78% 4,46% 95,54% 516
Electricity 24 85,48% 5,99% 8,53% 91,47% 551
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Transport 29 63,70% 28,68% 7,62% 92,38% 551
Sources of income 1 61,38% 9,84% 28,78% 71,22% 549
Local government access 42 61,09% 14,00% 24,91% 75,09% 550
Banking facilities 6 47,72% 22,77% 29,51% 70,49% 549
Employment status 2 46,99% 41,35% 11,66% 88,34% 549
Habit of saving 5 42,44% 25,32% 32,24% 67,76% 549
Mosquito net use 20 39,38% 17,24% 43,38% 56,62% 551
Type of road 27 38,00% 61,82% 0,18% 99,82% 550
Mosquito nets per head ratio 19 37,21% 38,48% 24,32% 75,68% 551
Looked up to/down upon 48 36,61% 41,89% 21,49% 78,51% 549
Household budgeting 39 34,30% 44,83% 20,87% 79,13% 551
Health centre access 16 33,03% 44,28% 22,69% 77,31% 551
Moments of recreation 41 31,09% 48,73% 20,18% 79,82% 550
Clothing 26 30,67% 44,46% 24,86% 75,14% 551
Variability of water access 13 29,80% 21,94% 48,26% 51,74% 547
English proficiency 34 27,14% 60,29% 12,57% 87,43% 549
Adults' schooling 31 24,91% 32,91% 42,18% 57,82% 550
Waste disposal 21 23,64% 8,36% 68,00% 32,00% 550
Collateral 7 23,45% 3,45% 73,09% 26,91% 550
Type of building 22 23,45% 42,36% 34,18% 65,82% 550
Knowledge of human rights 36 23,27% 52,18% 24,55% 75,45% 550
Security of the area 28 21,42% 50,45% 28,13% 71,87% 551
Mobile phone 30 20,33% 43,92% 35,75% 64,25% 551
Considers wider consequence
of own actions
45 19,60% 19,41% 60,99% 39,01% 546
Variety in food consumed 15 19,17% 39,85% 40,99% 59,01% 527
Feeling of personal worth 47 17,52% 48,72% 33,76% 66,24% 548
Access to water 8 15,97% 76,95% 7,08% 92,92% 551
Reaction to feeling of being
looked down upon
49 15,43% 14,65% 69,92% 30,08% 512
Family confidence 44 14,73% 36,36% 48,91% 51,09% 550
Awareness of basic needs 43 14,57% 38,80% 46,63% 53,37% 549
School supplies 33 13,91% 69,73% 16,36% 83,64% 489
Type of toilet 23 13,64% 73,45% 12,91% 87,09% 550
Water collection time 12 12,55% 66,91% 20,55% 79,45% 550
Separate bedrooms 25 11,90% 25,46% 62,64% 37,36% 546
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Regular health checks 17 11,62% 71,51% 16,88% 83,12% 551
Water management 9 10,77% 74,64% 14,60% 85,40% 548
Condoms 38 10,58% 30,24% 59,18% 40,82% 539
Frequency of listening to the
news
35 10,36% 21,09% 68,55% 31,45% 550
Community involvement 40 9,26% 26,50% 64,25% 35,75% 551
Children’s schooling 32 7,36% 15,71% 76,94% 23,06% 503
Personal confidence 46 6,74% 21,68% 71,58% 28,42% 549
Clean water consumption 10 6,73% 26,55% 66,73% 33,27% 550
Vaccinations 18 5,84% 6,57% 87,59% 12,41% 548
Confidence in net's prevention
of malaria capacity
37 4,54% 30,49% 64,97% 35,03% 551
Water treatment 11 4,04% 2,39% 93,58% 6,42% 545
Hand hygiene, sanitation 14 1,82% 8,93% 89,25% 10,75% 549
According to the data, the most critical needs of households surveyed arose from low monthly income and
a lack of access to electricity. It was discovered that 95% of those surveyed had a monthly income of less
than 160,000 UGX per capita once household debts had been subtracted, a value equating to the $1.25
USD per day poverty line. Only 12% of respondents were employed with a contract while 47% reported
undertaking casual labour as a means of employment. Access to electricity was extremely limited, with 85%
claiming no access (an ‘in poverty’ score). The housing and infrastructure dimension demonstrates that 38%
of respondents reported only having access to footpaths from their homes as a means to reaching the
nearest town. In terms of methods of transportation, 64% of people stated that walking is their viable only
option. Only 7% of respondents reported having water in their homes, meaning that 93% of those surveyed
must travel to some degree to collect water for the household. Within the health and environment
dimension, it was discovered that 25% of respondents never sleep under a mosquito net and only 33%
occasionally sleep under a net. In reference to vaccinations, 30% of households reported not having
received any.
It is also important and pertinent to note in which indicators the most category 3, or ‘not in poverty’
responses were found.
Table 4: Indicators classified according to the percentage of category 3 responses
Indicator Question No % of 1 % of 2 % of 3 % of 1&2 Total
Water treatment 11 4,04% 2,39% 93,58% 6,42% 545
Hand hygiene, sanitation 14 1,82% 8,93% 89,25% 10,75% 549
Vaccinations 18 5,84% 6,57% 87,59% 12,41% 548
Children schooling 32 7,36% 15,71% 76,94% 23,06% 503
Collateral 7 23,45% 3,45% 73,09% 26,91% 550
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Personal confidence 46 6,74% 21,68% 71,58% 28,42% 549
Reaction to feeling of being looked
down upon
49 15,43% 14,65% 69,92% 30,08% 512
Frequency of listening to the news 35 10,36% 21,09% 68,55% 31,45% 550
Waste disposal 21 23,64% 8,36% 68,00% 32,00% 550
Clean water consumption 10 6,73% 26,55% 66,73% 33,27% 550
Confidence in net's prevention of
malaria capacity
37 4,54% 30,49% 64,97% 35,03% 551
Community involvement 40 9,26% 26,50% 64,25% 35,75% 551
Separate bedrooms 25 11,90% 25,46% 62,64% 37,36% 546
Considers wider consequence of
own actions
45 19,60% 19,41% 60,99% 39,01% 546
Knowledge of condom use 38 10,58% 30,24% 59,18% 40,82% 539
Family confidence 44 14,73% 36,36% 48,91% 51,09% 550
Variability in water collection 13 29,80% 21,94% 48,26% 51,74% 547
Awareness of basic needs 43 14,57% 38,80% 46,63% 53,37% 549
Mosquito net use 20 39,38% 17,24% 43,38% 56,62% 551
Adults' schooling 31 24,91% 32,91% 42,18% 57,82% 550
Variety in food consumed 15 19,17% 39,85% 40,99% 59,01% 527
Mobile phone 30 20,33% 43,92% 35,75% 64,25% 551
Type of building 22 23,45% 42,36% 34,18% 65,82% 550
Feeling of personal worth 47 17,52% 48,72% 33,76% 66,24% 548
Habit of saving 5 42,44% 25,32% 32,24% 67,76% 549
Banking facilities 6 47,72% 22,77% 29,51% 70,49% 549
Sources of income 1 61,38% 9,84% 28,78% 71,22% 549
Security of the local area 28 21,42% 50,45% 28,13% 71,87% 551
Local government access 42 61,09% 14,00% 24,91% 75,09% 550
Clothing 26 30,67% 44,46% 24,86% 75,14% 551
Knowledge of human rights 36 23,27% 52,18% 24,55% 75,45% 550
Mosquito nets per head ratio 19 37,21% 38,48% 24,32% 75,68% 551
Health centre distance 16 33,03% 44,28% 22,69% 77,31% 551
Looked up to/down upon 48 36,61% 41,89% 21,49% 78,51% 549
Budget 39 34,30% 44,83% 20,87% 79,13% 551
Water collection time 12 12,55% 66,91% 20,55% 79,45% 550
Moments of recreation 41 31,09% 48,73% 20,18% 79,82% 550
Regular health checks 17 11,62% 71,51% 16,88% 83,12% 551
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School supplies 33 13,91% 69,73% 16,36% 83,64% 489
Water management 9 10,77% 74,64% 14,60% 85,40% 548
Type of toilet 23 13,64% 73,45% 12,91% 87,09% 550
English proficiency 34 27,14% 60,29% 12,57% 87,43% 549
Employment status 2 46,99% 41,35% 11,66% 88,34% 549
Electricity 24 85,48% 5,99% 8,53% 91,47% 551
Means of transport 29 63,70% 28,68% 7,62% 92,38% 551
Access to water 8 15,97% 76,95% 7,08% 92,92% 551
Monthly income 3 88,76% 6,78% 4,46% 95,54% 516
Income after debt 4 94,54% 3,31% 2,14% 97,86% 513
Type of road 27 38,00% 61,82% 0,18% 99,82% 550
4.3 Findings
The following graphs provide visual representations for the results obtained in each of the six dimensions
of the survey. Each dimension is then discussed in detail in the subsections below.
Figure 3: Bar graph displaying the relative poverty levels per dimension
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
100.00%
Income and
Employment
Health and
Environment
Housing and
Infrastructure
Education
and Culture
Organisation
Participartion
Interiority
and
Motivation
3: Out of Poverty
2: Risk of Poverty
1: In Poverty
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Figure 4: Bar graph displaying the average responses with standard deviation error bars per dimension
4.3.1 Income and Employment
The income and employment dimension demonstrates the lowest average of all the six dimensions, standing
at 1.68. Within the dimension, the lowest average was produced by the income per capita after debt
indicator, standing at 1.08 and proving the lowest average across the entire survey. Income per capita before
debt averaged at 1.16 and 88.76% of respondents indicated that they live on less than 100,000 UGX per
month. It is important however to take into account the difficulties and inaccuracies encountered in the
collection of data relating to income and debt. In order to find solutions to these difficulties in future
research, an additional study was conducted with the collection of continuous rather than categorical data.
This study can be accessed separately.
In terms of number and type of income sources, 61.38% of respondents were classified as in poverty,
earning income from only a single source, and 88.34% were either self-employed (categorised as ‘at risk of
poverty’) or undertaking casual labour (categorised as ‘in poverty’). With reference to banking facilities,
although a total of 73.09% of respondents indicated that they had collateral for a loan, 70.49% had either
only local banking access or no bank account at all (47.72% were entirely unbanked), and 42.44% of
households reported no habit of saving.
4.3.2 Housing and Infrastructure
This dimension had an overall average of 1.90. A total of 23.45% of respondents were reported to live in
temporary buildings consisting of mud walls and thatched roofs, while 42.36% reported living in semi-
permanent housing with a wooden structure and tin roof. It was discovered that 87.09% of respondents
used uncovered latrines within their homes with the remainder of households possessing a flushing or
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
Income and
Employment
Health and
Environment
Housing and
Infrastructure
Education and
Culture
Organisation
Participartion
Interiority and
Motivation
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covered latrine. The highest average within this dimension (2.51) emanated from 62.64% of households
having separate bedrooms for adults, adolescents and children.
The ‘access to electricity’ indicator had the lowest average in this dimension, at 1.23. The data highlighted
that 85.48% of those surveyed did not have access to electricity at all.
In terms of methods of transportation, 92.38% either had access to shared/hired transport (e.g. boda-boda)
or travelled on foot, with only 7.62% of respondents possessing their own means of transport. A total of
63.70% of respondents reported ‘walking’ as their means of travel, and the homes of 99.82% of those
surveyed were connected to the nearest town via either a marrum road or foot path. The residences of only
0.18% respondents reported direct access to a tarmac road.
4.3.3 Education and Culture
The average score for this dimension was 2.30. In terms of education, 75% of households reported all adult
members or at least one having completed primary school. Similarly positive results were discovered for
children currently in primary education, with 76.94% of households stating that all children below the age of
15 were in education. However, 83.64% of respondents indicated that they did not have any school supplies
or that some were missing. Furthermore, 87.43% of respondents testified to having either no members or
only one member of the household with a basic understanding of the English language.
In reference to knowledge of human rights, 75.45% of respondents reported either having no knowledge or
only having heard of human rights without fully understanding them. In relation to disease prevention and
sexual health, 64.25% of respondents had full knowledge of the use of malaria nets in preventing malaria.
However, only 10.58% of respondents demonstrated no knowledge of the use of condoms as both a means
of preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and as a method of family planning.
4.3.4 Organisation and Participation
The organisation and participation dimension resulted in an average of 1.99. It was found that 61% had
never approached local government to seek a solution to a problem; however, 24.91% of respondents had
approached local government more than once. At the community level, 90.75% of all respondents reported
having family members attached to a community group, leaving only 9.26% with no affiliation.
In reference to financial matters, 79.13% of all respondents did not keep written records of money entering
and leaving the household. Written records of household finances were reported by 20.87%, whereas
34.30% kept no track of household income and expenditure at all.
In terms of recreation, only 20.18% of respondents regularly partook in periods of family recreation, with
31% indicating no ability to enjoy such pursuits. The majority, 48.73%, indicated occasional moments of
recreation.
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4.3.5 Health and Environment
The average score for this dimension was 2.28. When questioned over water access, only 7.8% of
respondents reported having piped water in their households, while the remaining 92.92% accessed their
water from communal and protected springs or from streams and swamps. A total of 67% of respondents
travelled up to 30 minutes to collect water for the home. In terms of water treatment for consumption,
93.58% boiled (as opposed to chlorinated, solar disinfected or employed other means of treating) water as
their primary method of preparation for consuming originally non-potable water.
When asked about access to healthcare, specifically proximity to a local health centre, over one third of
respondents reported having to travel a distance of over 90 minutes to visit a doctor or to receive treatment.
Furthermore, 71.51% of respondents only had health checks (e.g. at the dentist or optician) if problems
arose and 11.62% reported no access at all to such services for physical or financial reasons. A total of
87.59% had received vaccinations.
In reference to malaria, it was discovered that 24.3% of households used mosquito nets, however of those
reporting having nets, 23.46% admitted to not usually sleeping under them.
Finally, 68% of respondents regularly (meaning at least once per week) disposed of their household waste.
4.3.6 Interiority and Motivation
This dimension averaged at a score of 2.33. A total of 46.63% of households were able to identify the basic
needs of their family. Confidence levels among surveyed households appeared high, with 71.58% believing
in their abilities. Only 21.68% reported not feeling confident in their abilities.
In relation to perceived standing within the community, the data demonstrates that 66.24% of respondents
felt that people viewed them as ‘worse’ in terms of their personal worth, and 33.76% feeling themselves
viewed as ‘better’. Furthermore, 21.49% of respondents reported feeling most often looked up to within
their community, while 78.51 felt most often looked down upon or neither looked up to nor down upon.
4.3.7 Mapping Needs
Mapping needs through the geo-location of the households surveyed formed a fundamental component of
the study. This constitutes an integral part of the approach being developed to conduct efficient needs
assessments that can lead to effective interventions as it allows the planning and targeting of interventions
specific to the areas under consideration. It increases efficiency, efficacy and relevance in resource
allocation. It not only allows household-specific interventions to be devised, but given the sample’s
representativeness of the areas as a whole, it also enables the strategizing of community-wide interventions.
Furthermore, mapping supports the tracking of change over time and the ability to return to the areas
sampled with accuracy3.
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3 Currently, the map created is available online specifically for the researchers involved in the project. The agreement with
the software developer and the nascent stage of the technology and research approach does not yet allow for open source
access.
!
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The vast potential for the varied analysis and visual representation of the data is beyond the scope of this
report, however examples of the nature of the mapping currently possible are displayed in this section.
More precise analyses and manipulations of the GPS mapping application can be undertaken for particular
projects and in conjunction with institutions and individuals interested in specific aspects of the survey and
geographical areas.
Figure 5: Mapping of category 1 responses for the ‘employment status’ indicator. The pinpoints therefore indicate surveyed
households with only source of income.
In addition to geo-locating needs, the mapping facility also allows the display of the full stoplight survey for
each located household.
Figure 6: Mapped pinpoints contain the full index for the selected household
Showcasing the important functionality of mapping and its ability to present compelling case studies at
household and community level, the examination of water collection and consumption patterns can be
taken as an example. Figure 7 identifies those households collecting water for consumption from streams
and swamps (as opposed to communal protected springs or from a household tap). A visual comparison
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can be made with Figure 8, which identifies households taking over thirty minutes to collect water for use
within the home. Further still, both maps can then be compared to Figure 9, which identifies those who
never or almost never consume potable (i.e. clean) water. Mapping allows a full-scale and immediate
appreciation of the size of an issue, geographical distinctions and the study of multiple and related
deprivations. This in turn aids in the ability to respond to need quickly and with appropriately designed
solutions.
Figure 7: Households collecting water for consumption from streams and swamps
Figure 8: Households taking over thirty minutes to collect water for use in the home
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Figure 9: Households that never or almost never consume potable (i.e. clean) water
Figure 10: Closer view of households that never or almost never consume potable (i.e. clean) water
Figure 11: Closer view of households that never or almost never consume potable (i.e. clean) water
22. ! !
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Some areas of policy can benefit more from the mapping exercise than others, for example when addressing
matters of security. The map for this indicator, displaying the category 1 (in poverty) responses, can be
observed below.
Figure 12: Households lacking in secure surroundings (category 1 responses)
Mapping enables the scrutiny not only of the extent of deprivation within a problem area, but also some of
that area’s different angles. Comparing households in category 1 for children’s education and households in
category 1 for school supplies helps to identify the possible relative influence of different factors. Moreover,
it allows the identification of concentrations of specific deprivations, such as households where children are
not reportedly in education, as can be observed in Figure 15, which demonstrates a closer view of a cluster
of households displayed in Figure 13.
Figure 13: Households where children under 15 years old are not in education
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Figure 14: Households in category 1 for the provision school supplies
Figure 15: Closer view of a cluster of households where children under 15 years old are not in education (from Figure 13)
4.3.8 Mapping of Services
The approach being pioneered includes the mapping of services available in Kanungu town and the
surrounding area in which household need is also geo-located. When referring to services, the term includes
all businesses, public health, education and religious facilities, civil protection entities (i.e. police stations,
courts etc.), community projects and social enterprises which meet social needs in the community such as
the those included in the Stoplight Index. Mapping the available local services allows interventions to
operate out of the existing framework, thus avoiding redundancy, overlap and inefficiency in operation and
delivery. It also enables the provision of immediate support as a direct result of research conducted by
directing households towards required services which are available and of which they may not be aware.
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5 Evidence-Based Suggestions for Policy
This section of the report addresses a number of the poverty indicators that demonstrated the highest
prevalence of respondents in or at risk of poverty!among surveyed households identified in the preceding
section. Here, a variety of suggestions relating to policy at the public sector level, the private and third
sector (e.g. non-governmental, non-profit, charity etc.) level and at the community level are presented.
Although proposals for addressing needs have been assigned to specific actors, many recommendations fall
within the scope and capacity of multiple actors to respond, and ultimately the combined and synchronised
efforts of all parties to spur development and bring about positive, lasting change is advocated.
5.1 Public Political Level
Public sector engagement with issues leading to targeted, evidence-informed interventions is integral to
economic development and the efficacy of poverty alleviation strategies. Policy recommendations at the
public political level relate predominantly to the research findings highlighting limitations in the
development of fundamental infrastructure.
Roads
Only 0.18% of households surveyed reported that the roads connecting them to the local town were
surfaced with tarmac, while 61.8% remained marrum and 38.0% only accessed the local town via footpath.
If the arterial roads leading in and out of the Kanungu District were to be surfaced with tarmac, people,
goods and services would all benefit through vastly increased ease of personal and commercial mobility,
locally and countrywide. This would impact on almost every sphere of human life and fuel the development
of the area, from national and international business and investment to civic participation, health and
education. !
Water
The data suggests that there is a compelling need to improve accessibility to water in the Kanungu District.
Currently, 76.95% of respondents spend over thirty minutes accessing a water source, and 92.92% source
their water from communal and protected springs which may be contaminated or unsafe for consumption.
Greater accessibility (both physical and financially) to piped water, the creation of more communal taps
closer to settlements and the dissemination of more comprehensive sensitisation to methods safe water
collection and treatment, including rainwater harvesting, is recommended. In achieving this, greater
cooperation and cross-sector partnerships (i.e. private and non-governmental) could ease the burden of
implementation, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation of such services, and enable more extensive and
effective outreach beyond the government’s capacity as a sole agent.
Electricity
A total of 85.5% of surveyed households had no access to electricity, and of the 14.5% that do, only 6% is
accessed from the national grid, which can be unreliable. Increasing the range of power cable networks
(which would be facilitated by better quality, tarmacked roads) providing consistent and affordable national
grid access, as well as increasing access to personal/community generators could have a tangible affect on
well being, livelihoods and opportunity.
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A key improvement would lie in the harnessing of environmentally friendly and potentially profitable
sources of energy (households can sell excess energy produced) such as solar. Again, cross-sector
collaboration could expedite its use and efficacy. Access to reliable electricity could bring a multitude of
benefits, from increased business manufacturing and trading hours, and therefore levels of economic
activity, to improvements in healthcare provisions, academic performance and quality of recreation time.
English Language Education
Although one of Uganda’s national languages, 60.3% of households surveyed reported having only one
member possessing a basic understanding of English. A further 27.1% had not one member possessing
such an ability. Extending English language lessons at various levels to the adult population could yield
widespread benefits, including: increasing employment and labour opportunities and therefore earning
potential; access to education (as well as aiding children’s education at home); better household planning
and management (financial, legal etc.); increasing access to public and private services; encouraging greater
knowledge of rights and increased levels of civic participation; and increased access to knowledge, news and
information. It could play a role in enhancing personal and community empowerment and augmenting self-
confidence and motivation.
5.2 Private and Third Sector Level
Private and third sector organisations could prove efficacious in a multitude of arenas, however policy
recommendations relate predominately to the findings within the realms of healthcare and education.
Interventions here would benefit in operational success if conducted in coalition with regional governments,
but could nevertheless contribute significantly to community development in isolation.
Malaria
One such element of this is in promoting the prevention and treatment of diseases such as malaria. The data
revealed that 76% of surveyed households either did not have sufficient mosquito nets for each bed or had
none at all, and 57% did not consistently sleep under a net. Furthermore, 35% of respondents demonstrated
limited knowledge of the benefits of sleeping beneath a net in the protection against malaria contraction.
Conducting more extensive community research through studies such as randomised control trials would
enable investigations into motivations for using and avoiding mosquito nets (such as expense, culture or
knowledge) to be made and potential interventions to be implemented. Such organisations could engage
with effective methods of local net production, distribution and education by focussing on promoting
community-based manufacturing and sensitisation.
Disease and Sexual Health
Another key area of recommendation is the continued promotion of sexual health and family planning. The
data illustrates that 41% of respondents possessed either no knowledge of condoms as a means of disease
prevention or birth control, or knowledge of their use for one purpose only. Community mobilisation
around education of the various forms of contraception would continue to confront myths, taboos,
misunderstandings and cultural stigmas as well as disease and unplanned pregnancies.
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Healthcare Access
Health-based organisations should consider initiating mobile or provisional community health centres, as
77.3% of respondents reported having to travel over 30 minutes to access their nearest health centre, 33%
of which cited a travel time of over 90 minutes. Coupled with the fact that 64% of households reported
having only walking as a viable means of transport, bringing health care to more isolated communities
would both educate around the importance of receiving health checks regularly and encourage its practice,
as currently 83% either never have regular checks or only access such services if problems arise.
5.3 Community Level
As 64.25% of surveyed households reported having at least one member regularly involved in a community
group, there could be potential for the development of further community support and participation
initiatives, led and sustained by the community leaders and members alike.
Social Protection
Community groups could function through open and inclusive community centres offering a multiplicity of
opportunities for community engagement and development. Such centres could foster social protection
groups encompassing savings schemes, small community loans groups (to accrue and lend funds to help in
the event of unexpected negative events or crises) and aid in forming guarantee groups for microfinance
applications.
Capacity building
They could serve as hubs of empowerment, capacity building which could cultivate increased confidence
and motivation levels. Centres could host external speakers (e.g. from academic institutions and sector-
specialist organisations such as NAADS (National Agricultural Advisory Services)4 advisors, microfinance
loan officers etc.) to deliver community talks, seminars and workshops and encourage skill, knowledge and
information sharing within and across communities. Moreover, they could support the provision of
informal education and skill acquisition, vocational, business and entrepreneurial training, disease and sexual
health support and advice, and more efficient/healthy household and smallholding/subsistence practices
e.g. in methods of cooking, water consumption, farming, financial management etc.
Youth Empowerment and Mobilisation
Importantly, community groups and centres can create stimulating environments for mobilising youth,
offering positive influences and role models for active citizenship and change making, fostering ideas and
nurturing untapped talent and energy. Groups and centres could also be linked to establish networks across
communities, sub-counties, districts and even regions.
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!See http://www.naads.or.ug/!
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7. Conclusions
This report has presented the findings of the field research study conducted in the Kanungu District of
south Western Uganda with the aim of assessing local need according to a multidimensional poverty index
survey. It has built upon the pilot study conducted by Volunteer Uganda the previous year, in 2012, and has
superseded its range and scope to illuminate more comprehensively and representatively the socio-
economic statuses of residents in the area, to generate a baseline needs assessment for further research,
analysis and statistical evaluation of inter-dimensional relationships, and subsequently a means through
which to track and evaluate longitudinal change.
The study holds merit in both its specific context, providing valuable data relevant to local and national
government, non-governmental organisations, institutions and civil society, and also in the wider study of
deprivation and the deeper investigation into the dynamics of poverty. It provides a reference for similar
community-based studies within the district, and its broad representativeness of the surrounding
geographical area adds value to wider discourse on regional poverty alleviation strategies. Importantly, it
provides a baseline study upon which subsequent research studies can build in scope and density, tracking
current patterns of poverty and need, as well as longitudinal trends and situational changes to which
Volunteer Uganda, local organisations, NGOs and the communities themselves can refer in designing
evidence-informed strategies and interventions.
Integral to the objectives of a needs assessment, the findings enabled the identification of the indicators
yielding the highest prevalence of in or at risk of poverty! responses from households, and therefore
distinguishing a number of key areas of indigence among the surveyed population. The three dimensions
exhibiting the highest numbers of households in a situation of poverty or at risk of poverty were income
and employment (74%), housing and infrastructure (76%), and organisation and participation (67%).
Elevated poverty levels in income and employment were largely attributable to a prevalence of low monthly
incomes (equating to the $1.25 USD per day poverty line), high levels of debt and insecure employment
status. Deficiencies in housing and infrastructure were primarily associated with extremely low access to
electricity as well as modes of transport other than walking alone, and households’ absence of income and
expenditure records coupled with the lack of ability or inclination of its members to approach and challenge
local government over personal and community-related issues accounted for heightened poverty rankings
within organisation and participation.
Drawing upon elements of the data illuminating the proven areas of greatest need, a number of evidence-
based suggestions for policy were formulated and targeted at three levels of agency: the public political level,
the private and third sector level and at the community level, ideally with an emphasis on collaboration
between all actors in devising apposite intervention-based responses, and supported by the sharing of the
data collected and the maps generated.
