About Us

OUR VISION:

Healthy, Sustainable Communities liberated from poverty.

OUR MISSION:

Building self reliance in the most impoverished communities in Uganda through participation and human development.

OUR SLOGAN:

Partners in Community Transformation

OUR VALUES

• We believe in empowering the marginalised to a just and equal society.
• We believe change must happen at a local level- responsibility is with the people.
• We believe active participation of beneficiaries is critical for sustainability.
• We believe partnerships with local and international organisations ensure lasting impact.
• We believe capacity building will multiply small efforts in many ways.
• We believe dedicated teamwork requires openness, integrity, commitment and hard work.
• We believe our staff, volunteers and all key actors should actualise these principles in all they do.

Background:

The Foundation for Development for Needy Communities (FDNC) was formed in May 1996 by concerned, development oriented people who felt the need to work in line with government efforts to create jobs, raise incomes and increase investment, and expand possible opportunities for sustainable development in Uganda.

The invasive socio-economic and political problems in Uganda that have been in place since the 1970's have had uncoordinated attention by government and international aid organizations to objectively address them. As a result, the battle to REDUCE the suffering of marginalized populations; high unemployment among youths, the growing gap between the 'have' and have-nots', the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and other social ills often falls to local, participatory development efforts like those practiced by FDNC.

The struggle against poor living conditions is a challenge to us all. Over the years, FDNC has responded at the local level by coordinating a range of efforts within the neediest and most underserved communities in Eastern Uganda. Programs address critical needs for community-based primary health care and community development, education and training, human rights, the arts, institution building, with a focus on impact on the ground, transformation in the lives of beneficiaries, and sustainability and self-reliance for individuals, communities, and programs.

FDNC expects support from the grassroots beneficiaries, donor agencies, friends, and international well wishers. More so, we anticipate securing support through local fund raisers at the national, district, county, sub-county, parish and village levels.

Broad Program Objectives:

• To respond to Uganda's unemployment and social crises in a developmental context.
• To support the development of income generating activities as a vehicle for addressing social-economic difficulties and devastation caused by wars and HIV/AIDS.
• To provide a link where people of all races, religions or tribes can work together, express ideas and extend practical support.
• To enable youth and women to establish self help projects that equip them with skills for empowerment.
• To establish a resource centre that stimulates a new vision for community development through collection of useful information on relevant institutions and issues related to grassroots development.
• To develop a long-term capacity for FDNC to become financially self-sufficient while maintaining a commitment to and advancement toward the achievement of the aforementioned objectives.

Implementation Strategy:

FDNC implements its various programs using a sustainable, community-based approach: working together with grassroots communities to build capacity in a way that promotes self-reliance. Most often, we mobilize groups of youth and/or women, as doing so has proven to have the greatest positive impact on family living conditions and socio-economic development.

By building capacity, FDNC ensures sustainability. For example, we actively strengthen self-reliance through training and development of income-generating activities among vulnerable groups so that they may become job creators.

Most of our health-related programs are implemented through a cadre of 30 Community Health Workers (CHWs) who come from villages throughout the region. Over the years, these community leaders have gained vast knowledge and, in return, have sensitized members of their respective communities about topics such as HIV/AIDS, malaria prevention, sanitation, nutrition, and more.

Accountability, Monitoring & Evaluation:

FDNC employs a well-qualified Accountant, who works closely with the Treasurer of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director to ensure continuous financial accountability. Each program budget is managed carefully to stay well within spending limits. FDNC also contracts with independent auditors to audit its books at the end of the fiscal year.

Although programs are implemented by FDNC staff and volunteers, the overall responsibility for the success of all programs falls under the Executive Director and the Board of Directors. They oversee quality assurance and control aspects of all programs.

Process evaluation shall be done with the help of local consultants and donors, if they so wish. All projects are monitored and evaluated continually by FDNC management staff, and overall program evaluation is carried out at the end of every of program.

Sustainability:

All the activities of FDNC are carried out using a sustainable approach. Through training of youth and women’s groups and support of income generating activities and skills development, FDNC ensures its programs and projects are sustainable. Similarly, by working strategically with local leaders, volunteers and partners, we pursue all programs in a thoughtful, community-sensitive fashion that maximizes the likelihood that they will be sustained.