Kampala, Uganda, 8 February 2024 - IsDB in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government in Uganda, organized a learning dissemination workshop to present the evaluation findings and key lessons learned from the Second Millennium Villages Project (MVP II) on Feb 8th, 2024 in Kampala, Uganda.

The event brought together key stakeholders including representatives of the Ministry of Local Government and IsDB Regional Hub of Kampala. In her opening speech, Dr. Assumpta Tibamwenda, Technical Advisor, Ministry of Local Government Uganda, said “Poverty can be reduced from places that look like death valleys”. She also noted that “the impact of MPV is to remain as a great milestone in Isingiro district in terms of education, agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, roads, trade and water, among others”.

The Independent Evaluation Department of the Islamic Development Bank presented the main findings and lessons learned from the evaluation of the MVP II project. The sustainability of MVP II investments was primarily attributed to the initial investment of time and funds in establishing community-level institutions, such as cooperatives. These institutions served as a platform through which the project could implement various services and infrastructure within the district. The participants not only took note of the findings but also expressed their appreciation for the insights provided. The Ministry of Local Government went a step further by confirming and agreeing with all the evaluation findings, showcasing a prime example of a collaborative validation process. This collaborative approach ensures that key stakeholders acknowledge and commit to incorporating lessons into future projects, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

The MVP II, implemented from 2014 to 2017, aimed to build on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals through consolidation and scaling up. The project was financed by the IsDB and the Government of Uganda and executed by the Ministry of Local Government. The project successfully trained 10,100 farmers in modern agricultural practices, leading to significant yield increases for maize (442%) and beans (300%). Additionally, it enhanced the capacity of six microfinance institutions and 10 cooperatives to support business growth. In the education sector, the project trained 1,084 teachers, initiated a feeding program in 22 schools, provided scholarships to 143 learners for secondary education, and constructed three low-cost staff housing for teachers. Healthcare promotion efforts contributed to achieving measles immunization coverage of 88%, up from 83%. Infrastructure development included the construction of 345 km of roads and three water schemes, serving 20,000 households.

IsDB provided US$ 9.34 million for the MVP II, which was completed in December 2018. The dissemination workshop provided a platform to inform and exchange valuable insights into the achievements and challenges of the MVP II project.