Research & Consultancies

The research department profile UNIRI 2021

For every project that exist is linked to addressing problems of the community especially in environmental related areas. Research is an aspect that builds a project baseline because it assesses the problem, its magnitude and weighs the intervention models that can be designed towards addressing the identified need. Evidential and factual content helps us make informed decisions in setting and implementing pre-determined goals.

Universal Institute of Research and Innovations (UNIRI) aims at providing quality, timely, factual research driven projects and consultancies in environmental management, sustainable urban planning, sustainable energy technologies, organic agriculture, water resources management, waste management, nature conservation, technology and innovation, with the aim of generating relevant knowledge for the development of communities and solutions to problems confronting society.

Research into community problems is one of the strong pillars that makes up the institute technical structures. The institute is poised to further expand the institute partnerships and affiliation base for it is through such that it carries out its research mandate. In achieving the research mandate, a number of strategies are fronted among them is writing project proposals for grants and expressions of interests for consultancies and implementing the successful ones.

In the quest of addressing community challenges, the different kinds of trainings at the institute are research-oriented with the aim of generating researched solutions for the different innovations which are advanced to create practical and long-term solutions to the problems confronting society.

Research Projects and consultancies

Project grants

We implement research driven projects geared towards addressing challenges confronting society at local, national, and regional levels with participatory approaches through engaging locals, government, private sector and other stakeholders, and forming consortiums with development organizations that enables the institute in implementing research programs in society satisfactorily. Find out more on the institute research projects.

Consultancies

In providing timely researched information for decision making, the institute provides both field and field less, experimental and non-experimental research services in all aspects of life. It has technical expertise in conducting market surveys, project baselines, monitoring and evaluation, impact assessments and systematic reviews. Find out more on the current consultancies executed.

Current Research Consultancies

Name of party	Dates	Title of the engagement	What the engagement involved and the work actually done
1. Community development resource network	March to July 2020	Design, develop and upgrade an early warning system (Kangabaije)	Reviewing the Kangabaije online platform in view of the current Networks for peace-Uganda project needs, Engage KRC and CDRN to build consensus on the outlook of the new system and advise on the appropriate ICT tools
2. Coalition for Religious Equity and Inclusive development (CREID)	Feb to May 2020	The integration of traditional religious beliefs in the conservation of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda: Processes, and lessons learned	We designed data collection tools, collected data analyzed it and produced a written research output “The integration of traditional religious beliefs in the conservation of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda”
3. Kabarole Research and resource center	November to December 2019	Mid-term evaluation for the Civic education project 2018-2021	The work involved investigating the extent to which the project achieved its outcomes, identify areas for improvement and ultimately guide the organization in the realization of its goals in pursuance of civically competent citizenry with ability to demand for a more responsive and accountable state in the 43 sub counties of the 8 districts of the Rwenzori region within 36 months
4. Rwenzori Forum for Peace and justice	September to November 2019	Needs assessment of the youth and their participation in violence, conflict and peace building processes in the Rwenzori region.	The study involved mapping out violent and conflict incidences both historical and contemporary driven by the youth, establishing perpetuators of violence and their roles and generating a theory on the drivers of Violence and conflict and devising mechanisms of building lasting peace in the Rwenzori region.
5. Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice	June to July 2019	Evaluation of end of project evaluation of the skills training for the youth survivors of 2014 and 2016 violence in Kabarole and Bunyangabu districts through work based learning project	The work involved investigating the extent to which the project achieved its outcomes, identify areas for improvement and ultimately guide the organization in the realization of its goals in pursuance of social-economic justice for youth survivors of 2014 and 2016 violence.
6. Uganda Biodiversity Fund/Wildlife Conservation Society and USAID	May to June 2019	Contextual analysis and synthesis of the Toro-Rwenzori and Bunyoro region, Western Uganda for a stakeholder driven and regionally embedded development programme	The work involved mapping out and scoping the Western region in the specified districts in order to support the process of developing a justified regional programming initiative in the region.
7. Operation wealth creation	February to May 2019	Integrating Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Environmental conservation (IMATE) in Kilembe mines: opportunities and the way forward	The work involved studying the state of Kilembe mines and proposing options for integrated development that includes Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Environmental conservation
8. Toro Botanical Gardens	February – March 2019	A socio-economic state of communities in and around degraded forest reserves in Uganda march 2019: A case study of Mbale, Lwamunda, Kagadi central forest reserves and Kirimirire local forest reserve	The work involved conducting a socio-economic assessment of communities in and around forests in Mbale, Kagadi, Mpigi and Ibanda to inform the Forest Demand and Restoration project for implementation in those districts.
9. Operation Wealth Creation	November – December – 2018	Developing Integrated Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Environmental Conservation (IMATE) framework and piloting it at Saaka area, Kabarole District	The consultancy involved developing and field testing an Integrated Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Environmental conservation (IMATE) framework and piloting the framework at Saaka area.
10. Kabarole Research and Resource Centre (KRC)	September – October 2018	Assessment of societal norms, values and attitudes that promote or fight corruption in Rwenzori region	The consultancy involved conducting a research on norms, values and attitudes that promote or fight corruption in the Rwenzori region.
11. Joint Effort to Save the Environment	July-September 2018	Agro-ecological characteristics of coffee, maize, and bean farms in Kamwenge and Kyenjojo districts in Rwenzori region	The consultancy involved an assessment of farms to determine the extent to which they comply with Agro-ecological principles.
12. Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice (RFPJ)	July-October 2018	Inter-ethnic bonding among individuals, families and clans in the Rwenzori region	The consultancy was to undertake a research that documents inter-ethnic bonds among ethnicities in the Rwenzori region.
13. Rwenzori Sustainable Trade centre	May-June 2018	Feasibility study on the Bird-friendly certification by Coffee and Cocoa Cooperative Organizations in Bundibugyo District-Western Uganda	The aim was to generate baseline information for enabling the establishment of a bird-friendly certification, full product specifications, quantities, developing the value-added qualities and opportunities for adaptation by Bundikakemba and Buka Cooperative Organizations in Bundibugyo District for the international market.
14. Rwenzori Anti-corruption	May to June 2018	Consultancy services to conduct baseline survey on the status of service delivery in the Rwenzori region	The baseline was aimed at finding out accessibility of quality services at public facilities like health centers, schools, roads and access to water, identifying availability of facilities providing quality health and education services, assessing the citizens and government representative engagement , identifying the leaders’ responsiveness to the citizen demands and the actions taken and identifying community priorities and considerations reflected in budgets released
15. PROTOS	May to June 2018	Detailed assessment of upper Lake Albert Catchment	The consultancy is aimed at bring forth baseline information about the upper Lake Albert Catchment issues that should be addressed by Protos and its partners in the implementation of IWRM. The Objectives were to find out the relevant intervention sites within the upper Lake Albert Catchment, Map out hot spots that need urgent attention in the upper Lake Albert Catchment, identify the stakeholders in the catchment and their roles and how they can be mobilized to fulfill those roles, and identify ecological and socio-economic issues in the catchment that influence the implementation of IWRM.
16. FHI/USAID/ MUCCRI	March 2017 – August 2017	Climate change education capacity building, awareness, and publication consultancy	The work involved training the trainers (university students) to train teachers through a methodological process to engage teachers in primary and secondary schools and track the process and document the key lessons in scholarly journals.
17. FHI/USAID/ MUCCRI	June 2016 – October 2016	Climate change curriculum development consultant	The work involved developing teaching guides for supporting teachers to teach climate change in primary and secondary schools and training Makerere University students on using the guides and proposing how the guides can be adopted in schools in Kampala City Council Schools and the rest of Uganda.
18. Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice	December 2015	Proof read and edit content of the Youth and women Agenda	The work involved work involved reading, commenting, editing and suggesting the layout and design of 2 documents called the Youth and Women Agenda.
19. Kabarole Research and Resource Centre (KRC) and BroederlijkDelen (BD)	October 2015 to December 2015	Climate change vulnerability assessment in the Rwenzori Region	The work involved developing a concept note, detailed proposal and designing a socio-ecological assessment of climate change vulnerability for the Rwenzori region western Uganda.
20. Ministry of Water &Environment Water & Sanitation Development Facility – South Western Branch	August 2015 to November 2015	Consultancy services for Review & Finalization of Semuliki Catchment Management Plan	The consultancy involved stakeholder engagement, literature review, review of the available draft catchment management plan and preparing the final plan.
21. World Wide Fund (WWF)	June 2015 to August	Facilitating the Strengthening organizational development of Community Based Tourism (CBT) Groups in the Rwenzori Region	The consultancy involved training local community groups in Community Based Tourism and developing manuals on organizational structure and management, Rights Based approach, accounting and tourism entrepreneurship.
22. Joint Effort to Save the Environment	June 2015 to July 2015	Rapid socio-ecological climate change vulnerability assessment of four target communities (Nyantungo, Kasule, Kahunge, and Hakibale) in selected districts of the Rwenzori region	The consultancy involved as assessment of the vulnerability of selected communities in the Rwenzori region.
23. Rwenzori Women’s Forum	July 2015 to August 2015	An assessment of skills and knowledge required in entrepreneurship, management, leadership and sexual and reproductive health.	The consultancy involved an assessment of knowledge, and skills related to leadership, entrepreneurship and reproductive health for youth and women in the Rwenzori region.
24. Toro Development Framework	June 2015 to August 2015	Assessment of the Effectiveness of SMS-Radio-Online Data Collection Initiative through Tracfm Application	The consultancy involved conducting an assessment of an innovative tool that uses sms-radio-tracfm to share views between the public and service providers on service delivery in the Rwenzori region.
25. Ministry of Water &Environment Water & Sanitation Development Facility – South Western Branch	January 2015 to April 2015	Consultancy services for Review & Finalization of; Mpanga Catchment Management Plan	The consultancy involves stakeholder engagement, literature review, review of the available draft catchment management plan and preparing the final plan.
26. GIZ	2015	Proof read and edit content of the study on pre-selling coffee to middlemen in Uganda	The consultancy work involved reading, commenting, editing and suggesting the layout and design of a report by GIZ entitled “The farmer, the middle man and the quality of coffee in Uganda”
27. Tooro Development Network	2014	Review of the SMS-Radio-Online data collection through Tracfm application	The consultancy involved reviewing the merits and demerits of the SMS-Radio-Online data collection through Tracfm application process as a scientific method of inquiry and proposing how it can be improved.
28. Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice and Kabarole Research and Resource Centre.	2014	Unmasking the “Truth”: Analysis of Perceptions, Manifestations, Drivers, Trends and Actors of Conflicts amongst the Social and Cultural groups in Rwenzori region	The consultancy work involves dedicated research to understand the real and perceived factors underlying tribal conflicts in the Rwenzori region.
29. Kabarole Research and Resource Centre	2012	Stuck in the mist: Conflict in the Rwenzori region	The work involved conducting a contextual analysis for the 2012 conflicts in the Rwenzori region.
30. PROTOS	2013	Sanitation manual	The consultancy involved the development of a user manual on sanitation and hygiene for primary school children and their teachers
31. PROTOS	2011 and 2012	River Mpanga Integrated Management Plan Project (2011/2012)	The consultancy work involved developing 4 manuals which were used in schools near river Mpanga to Monitor the river, understand climate change, engage in soil and water conservation and properly manage wastes.
32. Joint Effort to Save the Environment	2012	Manuals for water catchment management and climate change adaptation	The work involved the development of two manuals for trainers of trainers in water catchment management and climate change mitigation.
33. Fauna and Flora Internationals and Uganda Wildlife Authority	2012	Consultancy for Cultural Values and Conservation Project phase 2	The consultancy work involved undertaking focused research in and around the Rwenzori Mountains in order to proposed a plan on how different stakeholders (including cultural institutions in the Rwenzori region) can collaboratively manage sacred sites in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
34. PROTOS	2011/2012	River Mpanga Integrated Management Plan Project (2011/2012)	The consultancy work involved developing a manual which was used to conduct community sensitization and community dialogues using the Orugendo Rwakavera film. The ultimate goal of the project was to develop a River Mpanga Integrated Management Plan.
35. Fauna and Flora International and Uganda Wildlife Authority	2009	Consultant for Cultural Values and Conservation Project phase 1 (2009).	The work involved undertaking focused research in and around the Rwenzori Mountains in order to propose a community conservation plan for sacred sites management to Uganda wildlife Authority.
36. Consultant for IFAPIO (2007).	2006	Consultancy for restoration activities	The work involved planning for the restoration of degraded and abandoned areas in Isingiro hills, Isingiro District.

Services offered under research

Projects

- Support organization establishment and scale-up
- Writing fundable proposals for and jointly with other organizations
- Implementing development projects in environmental management, sustainable urban planning, sustainable energy technologies, organic agriculture, water resources management, waste management, nature conservation, technology and innovation.

Consultancies

- Conducting field and non-field-based studies (surveys, exploratory research, feasibility and market research studies both experimental and non-experimental designs)
- Conduct monitoring and evaluation researches (Baselines, midterm, end line/summative, post-project evaluations and impact assessments)

Mentorships

- Tactics of writing and winning fundable proposals
- Offering guidance from idea conception to final research product (Research paper, Dissertation or Thesis).

For more information contact

Prof. Dr. Moses Muhumuza (PhD)

Director Operations

Email:msquaredservices2020@gmail.com

Tel: +256772565565/+256750769079

Dr. Mark Kaahwa (PhD)

Director Academics

Email:director@uniri.ac.ug

Tel: +256700503592/+256783803615

The research department profile UNIRI 2021

Research Projects and consultancies

Project grants

Consultancies

Current Research Consultancies

What the engagement involved and the work actually done

1. Community development resource network

Design, develop and upgrade an early warning system (Kangabaije)

Reviewing the Kangabaije online platform in view of the current Networks for peace-Uganda project needs, Engage KRC and CDRN to build consensus on the outlook of the new system and advise on the appropriate ICT tools

2. Coalition for Religious Equity and Inclusive development (CREID)

The integration of traditional religious beliefs in the conservation of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda: Processes, and lessons learned

We designed data collection tools, collected data analyzed it and produced a written research output “The integration of traditional religious beliefs in the conservation of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda”

3. Kabarole Research and resource center

Mid-term evaluation for the Civic education project 2018-2021

4. Rwenzori Forum for Peace and justice

Needs assessment of the youth and their participation in violence, conflict and peace building processes in the Rwenzori region.

5. Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice

Evaluation of end of project evaluation of the skills training for the youth survivors of 2014 and 2016 violence in Kabarole and Bunyangabu districts through work based learning project

The work involved investigating the extent to which the project achieved its outcomes, identify areas for improvement and ultimately guide the organization in the realization of its goals in pursuance of social-economic justice for youth survivors of 2014 and 2016 violence.

6. Uganda Biodiversity Fund/Wildlife Conservation Society and USAID

Contextual analysis and synthesis of the Toro-Rwenzori and Bunyoro region, Western Uganda for a stakeholder driven and regionally embedded development programme

The work involved mapping out and scoping the Western region in the specified districts in order to support the process of developing a justified regional programming initiative in the region.

7. Operation wealth creation

Integrating Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Environmental conservation (IMATE)

in Kilembe mines:

opportunities and the way forward

The work involved studying the state of Kilembe mines and proposing options for integrated development that includes Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Environmental conservation

8. Toro Botanical Gardens

A socio-economic state of communities in and around degraded forest reserves in Uganda

march 2019: A case study of Mbale, Lwamunda, Kagadi central forest reserves and Kirimirire local forest reserve

The work involved conducting a socio-economic assessment of communities in and around forests in Mbale, Kagadi, Mpigi and Ibanda to inform the Forest Demand and Restoration project for implementation in those districts.

9. Operation Wealth Creation

Developing Integrated Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Environmental Conservation (IMATE) framework and piloting it at Saaka area, Kabarole District

The consultancy involved developing and field testing an Integrated Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Environmental conservation (IMATE) framework and piloting the framework at Saaka area.

10. Kabarole Research and Resource Centre (KRC)

Assessment of societal norms, values and attitudes that promote or fight corruption in Rwenzori region

The consultancy involved conducting a research on norms, values and attitudes that promote or fight corruption in the Rwenzori region.

11. Joint Effort to Save the Environment

Agro-ecological characteristics

of coffee, maize, and bean farms in Kamwenge and Kyenjojo districts in

Rwenzori region

The consultancy involved an assessment of farms to determine the extent to which they comply with Agro-ecological principles.

12. Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice (RFPJ)

Inter-ethnic bonding

among individuals, families and clans

in the Rwenzori region

The consultancy was to undertake a research that documents inter-ethnic bonds among ethnicities in the Rwenzori region.

13. Rwenzori Sustainable Trade centre

Feasibility study on the Bird-friendly certification by Coffee and Cocoa Cooperative Organizations in Bundibugyo District-Western Uganda

14. Rwenzori Anti-corruption

Consultancy services to conduct baseline survey on the status of service delivery in the Rwenzori region

15. PROTOS

Detailed assessment of upper Lake Albert Catchment

16. FHI/USAID/

MUCCRI

Climate change education capacity building, awareness, and publication consultancy

The work involved training the trainers (university students) to train teachers through a methodological process to engage teachers in primary and secondary schools and track the process and document the key lessons in scholarly journals.

17. FHI/USAID/

MUCCRI

Climate change curriculum development consultant

The work involved developing teaching guides for supporting teachers to teach climate change in primary and secondary schools and training Makerere University students on using the guides and proposing how the guides can be adopted in schools in Kampala City Council Schools and the rest of Uganda.

18. Rwenzori Forum for Peace and Justice

Proof read and edit content of the Youth and women Agenda

The work involved work involved reading, commenting, editing and suggesting the layout and design of 2 documents called the Youth and Women Agenda.

19. Kabarole Research and Resource Centre (KRC) and BroederlijkDelen (BD)

Climate change vulnerability assessment in the Rwenzori Region

The work involved developing a concept note, detailed proposal and designing a socio-ecological assessment of climate change vulnerability for the Rwenzori region western Uganda.

20. Ministry of Water &Environment Water & Sanitation Development Facility – South Western Branch

Consultancy services for Review & Finalization of Semuliki Catchment Management Plan

The consultancy involved stakeholder engagement, literature review, review of the available draft catchment management plan and preparing the final plan.

21. World Wide Fund (WWF)

Facilitating the Strengthening organizational development of Community Based Tourism (CBT) Groups in the Rwenzori Region

The consultancy involved training local community groups in Community Based Tourism and developing manuals on organizational structure and management, Rights Based approach, accounting and tourism entrepreneurship.

22. Joint Effort to Save the Environment

Rapid socio-ecological climate change vulnerability assessment of four target communities (Nyantungo, Kasule, Kahunge, and Hakibale) in selected districts of the Rwenzori region

The consultancy involved as assessment of the vulnerability of selected communities in the Rwenzori region.

23. Rwenzori Women’s Forum

An assessment of skills and knowledge required in entrepreneurship, management, leadership and sexual and reproductive health.

The consultancy involved an assessment of knowledge, and skills related to leadership, entrepreneurship and reproductive health for youth and women in the Rwenzori region.

24. Toro Development Framework