Stakeholder perspectives on ownership and gender equality: : -A case study on development collaboration projects at Bussi Island, Uganda

Abstract: The tool for including local actors in development collaboration projects is called ownership and it is defined in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. However, researchers have detected flaws with the definition and implementation of ownership. Some also argue that gender equality and the empowerment of women are neglected aspects in the Paris Declaration and that they are not emphasised enough in the aid effectiveness dialogue. The objective of this study is to examine the perspectives and experiences of stakeholders about the meaning and implementation of ownership on different operating levels through a gendered lens. Additionally, in order to be able to investigate how these matters are interpreted and implemented in practice and affecting beneficiaries, two development collaboration projects on Bussi island, Uganda, were selected for this case study. The main objective was to gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives of the informants, and not to generalize. That is the reason why this is a qualitative case study where the information is based on words and not on numbers. Semi-structured interviews were used for the data collection. Informants form Erikshjälpen, a local organization called RODA and beneficiaries living on Bussi Island were interviewed as representatives for the different operating levels. The conclusion is that the critique provided by previous research can in some aspects be applied to the case of this study. There are no specific strategies on ownership or gender equal ownership by either Erikshjälpen or RODA. There are conflicting perspectives on what the term “ownership” actually means by all informants from the different operating levels. There are also coherent perspectives regarding the importance of ownership and gender equality on all levels, and participation is a key word used by all the informants. However, since a strategy is missing, there is no tool for examining if participation actually can be used to claim that successful ownership and gender equal ownership has been implemented. If a strategy were to be created, it should include a definition of ownership, a plan for gender equal ownership, and agreed upon indicators for measuring both phenomena.