Free Access | 2024-04-12

PROCESS ASSESSMENT OF THE PARISH DEVELOPMENT MODEL (PDM) PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION IN UGANDA

Authors/Editors: Economic Policy Research Centre

Abstract:

The Government of Uganda (GoU) launched the Parish Development Model (PDM) in February 2022 with the objective of transitioning 3.5 million households (33 percent) from subsistence to a monetised economy. The PDM is premised on seven pillars, that is, agriculture value-chain development (Pillar 1); infrastructure and economic services (Pillar 2); financial inclusion (Pillar 3); social Services (Pillar 4); community mobilisation and mind-set change (Pillar 5); Parish-Based Management Information System (PBMIS) (Pillar 6); and governance and administration (Pillar 7). The PDM programme aims for a holistic transformation of rural livelihoods by integrating subsistence households into the money economy. Central to the model is the Parish Revolving Fund (PRF), which provides UGX 1 million in publicly managed loans to selected cohorts of subsistence households. The program also emphasises inclusivity and community participation, targeting women (30 percent), youth (30 percent), persons with disabilities (10 percent), older persons (10 percent), and men/general community members (20 percent). The PDM is being implemented in three phases: the Establishment Phase (FY 2021/22–2022/23); the Stabilisation Phase (FY 2023/24–2024/25); and the Sustainability and Exit Phase (FY 2025/26–2030). This study assessed the implementation of the first two phases to inform programming during the final phase.