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Tropical Forest Research Network |
SUMMARY OF THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR PROPOSALS TO IMPLEMENT DISTRICT FORESTRY SERVICES IN UGANDA SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMME FACILITY
By Sara Namirembe
The National Forestry Program Facility (Facility) supported the first year of a three year proposal by the Uganda Forest Working Group (UFWG) in partnership with Forestry Inspection Division (FID) to deliver District Forestry Services (DFS) in Uganda.
The first year’s activities under the agreement with UFWG were to be undertaken in five pilot districts selected because of their proximity to the city centre (for easy monitoring and learning) and existence of positive initial steps towards DFS implementation. These districts were Mukono, Masindi, Tororo, Wakiso and Luweero. A national launching workshop was conducted to introduce the Facility to partners from FID, UFWG and members from the pilot districts, constituting 42 participants. The proposed activities were outlined and the modality of implementation of UFWG activities through an open bidding by UFWG members was introduced. Successful bidders would then sign contractual agreements with Environmental Alert, which is the UFWG coordinating and accounting organization. Criteria for the eligibility of bidders were shared and agreed on.
A call for proposals, detailing the nature of activities and the budget range for each, was made two weeks after the workshop in national newspapers, through ordinary and electronic mail. Further information on the eligibility and criteria for appropriate proposals was provided by the coordinating office of UFWG. At the deadline, eighteen bids were received. A UFWG steering committee meeting, with observers from FID and FAO, was convened to open and vet the proposals.
Criteria used to evaluate and rank stakeholder proposals
Before the evaluation and ranking meeting started, the selection criteria were agreed upon and score sheets were provided to evaluate the proposals. The eighteen proposals were randomly distributed to the steering committee members taking into account conflict of interest. Each proposal was reviewed independently by two persons of the steering committee. Then, the evaluation was presented to the panel for further discussion to minimize bias. Steering committee members who were also applicants were requested to declare a conflict of interest and absent themselves during discussion of their proposals. Before a decision was made, the proposed location of activities was taken into consideration to ensure good spread of quality implementation of proposed activities. The final decision was made, by consensus, by UFWG steering committee members. Observers could advise, but not make decisions. The process took about two days.
Eight out of the eighteen bidders were considered successful. All bidders (successful and unsuccessful ones) were given feedback with comments from the review process. Many of the successful applicants needed to make some revisions, which had to be approved by the coordination office before contracts could be signed.
Activities carried out by these NGOs are now well underway in these five districts. First results are expected in a few months’ time.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Sara Namirembe
Senior Programme Officer,
Capacity Building Environmental Alert
P.O. Box 11259
Kampala
Uganda
Phone: 00256-(0)41-510547 or 510215
Mobile: 00256-(0)71-937297