The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has assured potential applicants for the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) Call that the selection process for grantees will be handled objectively.
Speaking at the DINU Call for Concept Notes Information Session in Gulu on May 20, the DINU National Programme Coordinator, Mr Pius Ongom Okello, who represented the OPM Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Christine GuwatuddeKintu, said, “We will do due diligence and handle the DINU Call in an objective and professional way.”
DINU is a Government of Uganda programme supported by the European Union (EU) aimed at improving livelihoods of people in the five sub-regions of Acholi, Karamoja, Lango, Teso, and West Nile.
Mr Ongom said the DINU Call for Concept Notes Information Sessions that have been organised in Moroto, Gulu, Arua and Kampala, will guide interested and qualified entities to objectively submit proposals for grant contracts amounting to EUR 27 million or Shs114.5 billion to implement projects in Northern Uganda.
The information sessions bring together potential applicants and interested parties for a presentation on the DINU programme, the Call Guidelines, including rules and procedures which are to be followed throughout the application process.
The National Authorising Officer (NAO) – Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) representative, Mr Francis Okello, said: As MoFPED, our main mandate is resource mobilisation and compliance… DINU Call is competitive. Ensure you read the guidelines carefully and comply.”
The DINU Call for Concept Notes was launched by the National Authorising Officer (NAO) – Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on May 10, 2019.
Under the DINU Call, the funds will be awarded under two lots for projects in five sub-regions of Acholi, Karamoja, Lango, Teso and West Nile, to improve livelihoods through increased production of diversified food, enhanced market opportunities and better maternal and child nutrition as well as to improve performance and accountability of local governments through strengthened participation of communities.
At the occasion of the information sessions,Mr. Keith Muhakanizi, the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) said: “As Contracting Authority of the DINU Call, the NAO/MoFPED is happy to facilitate the process leading to the award of large grant contracts under which the Government shall work with different actors in the development of Northern Uganda.”
Mrs. Christine GuwatuddeKintu, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), said: “DINU is a continuation of the affirmative action in the recovery of Northern Uganda. The launch of the DINU Call marks an important milestone in the programme implementation under the OPM supervision. The Call and its large-scale actions will raise the Government profile in improving livelihoods, private sector engagement in the agricultural sector and local government ownership as engines for sustainable economic development in Northern Uganda.”
Mr. Cedric Merel, the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Uganda, said: “DINU is a flagship programme of our partnership with the Government of Uganda through which the European Union continues to support the consolidation of peace, stability and socio-economic development of Northern Uganda. Poverty, food insecurity and undernutrition remain significant challenges for many people in the region, and the continuing refugee inflow from South Sudan and DRC is posing additional challenges in certain districts.”
“Agriculture, Infrastructure and strong Local Authorities are crucial to enhance the region’s economic growth and the livelihoods of its people. A comprehensive approach ensuring engagement of local governments and other actors such as the private sector and CSOs, is key for a sustainable response to these challenges. The DINU Call opens opportunities for a variety of actors in Northern Uganda to support the implementation of this large multi-sector programme.”
The information sessions bring together potential applicants and interested parties for a presentation on the DINU Programme, the Call Guidelines, including rules and procedures which are to be followed throughout the application process.
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