Repositioning Uganda’s CSOs in the Grand Bargain Process, Charter for Change, and Localization Agenda: Towards a Local Research Agenda

This paper – “Repositioning Uganda’s CSOs in the Grand Bargain Process, Charter for Change, and Localization Agenda: Towards a Local Research Agenda,” examines the changing landscape of humanitarian and development financing and how it affects Ugandan civil society organizations (CSOs). Uganda has a vibrant CSO sector with approximately 4,000 operational organizations that play a crucial role in creating awareness, delivering services, advocating for policies, and contributing to the economy. However, the sector faces significant challenges, especially in terms of financing, which is largely foreign, conditional, and inflexible.

Global initiatives such as the Grand Bargain, Charter for Change, and Localization Agenda are aimed at promoting effective local responses to these financing challenges. This paper delves into the relevance of these initiatives for Ugandan CSOs, which often operate in complex, resource-constrained environments. When Ugandan civil society engage with these global frameworks, they can better position themselves to take advantage of opportunities, strengthen their capacities, and enhance their impact.

The Centre for Basic Research is leading this exploration, focusing on fundamental research and thought leadership. This paper suggests a research agenda to support the localization agenda, providing evidence-based insights to guide the sector’s strategic positioning. Through a series of sense-making seminars, CBR aims to kick-start and foster a deeper understanding of these global initiatives and how they could potentially transform the operational landscape for Uganda’s CSOs.