WHO WE ARE

OUR VISION

 An empowered and self-reliant society living in harmony with dignity

Uganda Change Agent Association envisions poor rural communities in Uganda empowered and self-reliant, living in harmony with dignity. UCAA’s desire is to increase local capacities and provide opportunities through the change agent process for self-reliance with improved income as well as improving their access to basic services.

OUR MISSION

To promote the participation of marginalized communities in the decision-making, promotion and protection of their rights for sustainable development.

Uganda Change Agent Association works towards improving the quality of life of the most rural and impoverished communities through providing an environment that catalyzes sustainable development processes at community level, providing voice and space to the most marginalized groups to exercise their rights in the decision-making process, support people to access and develop the capabilities, services and opportunities needed to live a healthy, productive and otherwise fulfilling life, while sustainably using the natural resources they depend on. 

BELIEFS, VALUES AND PRINCIPALES

UCAA is committed to uphold and abides by the following fundamental beliefs and values in pursuance of her endeavors for the attainment of its missions and vision:

UCAA beliefs that:

• The rural impoverished marginalized communities have capacity to reverse the situation if given the opportunity to work together/ in a participatory way.
• Together we can develop local capacities, strengthen governance systems, and make markets work for the poor.
• The marginalized can become productive, if empowered with knowledge, skills and initial support.
• That change can only be positive if we influence positive change of attitude and self-reliance.

Values

• The core values that guide UCAA work are derived from set of values compass:
• Independence and neutrality: UCAA works entirely on the basis of its mandate by focusing on issues concerning the most vulnerable and marginalized persons.
• Inclusion – of the community and people we work with:  - respecting and working together with the community and people, so that they are empowered to participate in planning and implementation, as well as make right choices for sustainability and ownership.
• Gender equality – believes that all women and men are equal before and under the law; have equal dignity (worth) of the person and opportunities in economic, political, cultural and social life.   
• Social - accountability and transparency – we hold ourselves accountable to the highest level of ethical behaviour and responsibility for our actions, while maintaining integrity in our performance without anticipating reward. We shall also advocate for transparency and accountability from all duty bearers for improved service delivery and equitable development
• Mutual respect – for the equal rights of human person: UCAA uses change agent methodology for awareness and rights-based approach to its work to ensure that all vulnerable and marginalized persons can enjoy their rights and life opportunities without any kind of discrimination.
• Volunteerism - we commit to selfless services through our action and conduct towards humanity with Love and dedication to changing the conditions that enslave and reinforce marginalization of the poor rural women & Men.
• Empowerment and participation - we appreciate each other’s contribution and encourage ourselves that together we can achieve our goals as Agent of change and should have the opportunity to shape processes of development.

      Principles

UCAA is guided by the following principles: 

• Equal opportunity
• Innovation and continuous learning  
• Selfless service oriented for humanity  
• Empowerment and self-Reliance  
• Transparency and honesty 
• Non-discrimination

UCAA was formally registered by the National NGOs’ Board in 1993, Registration Number S5914/646; also incorporated by the registrar of companies as a non-profit limited liability company under the Companies Act. Uganda Change Agent Association (UCAA) founded in 1992 as a member - based voluntary national association of trained development workers by Quaker Service Norway (QSN). Currently it has over 3,000 members organized in 230 branches in districts throughout Uganda. Initially, the founding of UCAA was based on the desire of the Change Agent to keep in touch in an ‘old’ boys/girls sort of association. 

Over the years, UCAA, has grown and transformed itself into a nationwide membership organization for capacity-building, service-provision to vulnerable communities and community development. This is achieved through SRPD initiatives to the vulnerable rural and urban communities and non-governmental organizations in Uganda. The vulnerable persons successfully reached and empowered in the past five years included child and women protection, people with disabilities, rescuing street-connected children, women and youth economic empowerment, Ending VAWG, promoting SRHR, strengthening community resilience to climate change and livelihoods/economic empowerment of refugees and refugees hosting communities.

The changes UCAA wish to see:

• UCAA’s overall strategic goal is that impoverished rural communities are empowered to participate in the decision-making and livelihood enhancement for sustainable development. With support from its partners and other stakeholders, UCAA will work for the following changes.
• Rural communities and change agent members, including other stakeholder meaningfully engaged in local and national decision-making processes and structures and have positively influenced outcomes.
• An empowered and self-reliant citizenry able to realize and achieve their aspirations and dreams in a sustainable way.
• Institutions, structures, norms and barriers that reinforce impoverishment and marginalization are challenged and reformed so that impoverished rural communities can have access to information and influence decision-making processes, and can hold governments accountable for equitable development.
• Dialogue and constructive engagement between conflicting groups and conflict transformation as a means of resolving violence and conflict to enhance reconciliation and harmonious living.

UCAA’s strategic entry points:

• UCAA has trained change animators, facilitators and agents of change all over the country with well-established structures (branches and district change agent associations, regional and national). 
• Change Agents’ rural groups of women and men.
• UCAA has developed clear links between political governance and economic governance work, particularly around the equitable use of national resources for poverty reduction.
• UCAA uses international human rights standards as a platform for facilitating increased advocacy and networking with government and other partners.
• Previous and on-going project beneficiaries for scaling-up and follow-up initiatives.
• Government structures, local leaders and community institutions.