Research and Innovation
AFIRRD was established in 2012 to contribute to knowledge and skills development through research and innovation activities. In this way, AFIRRD believes the use and promotion, development, and dissemination of research knowledge can bolster growth and development using scientific, research-based instruction and intervention that match community problems at a particular time and geographical location.
Being a non-profit and independent research organization resulting from an indigenous and local perspective, AFIRRD is strategically poised to be the leading private and independent research and innovation entity in Uganda and the East African community. The innovative approach, with the sustainable development and environmental orientation embedded in our work, puts AFIRRD at an advantage in building sustainable and resilient communities in the contemporary world, especially when the world is facing a trilemma of coronavirus, climate change, and Agenda 2030. AFIRRD is ready to collaborate with other NGOs, corporate companies, and institutions, local and international, to improve people’s quality of life and achieve sustainable growth and development as enshrined in the UN’s 2015 SDGs.
Training and capacity building
AFIRRD understands capacity building as strengthening the communities to increase their effectiveness and social impact and achieve the goals and sustainability over time.
Thus, strengthening communities is a core aim of AFIRRD through encouraging community mobilization, participation, and involvement of people in a community project to solve their problems. AFIRRD believes people cannot be forced to ”participate” in projects which affect their lives but should be given the opportunity wherever possible. This approach triggers the sense of ownership, ensures the security and safety of the projects, and enhances the possibilities of project success. At the start of the program, each organization is individually assessed using a specially developed approach to identify its capacity level and development needs and the good practices that the community can share, who are the primary stakeholders of the project at hand. The following training program combines an interactive training methodology. It will include opportunities for networking and the sharing of good practices, both between the participating members, other organizations, AFIRRD, and a wide range of stakeholders.
Advocacy and Lobbying
AFIRRD believes that advocating and lobbying influential decision-makers to take account of the interests of poor and marginalized people is one way of creating a just and equitable avenue for achieving sustainable and resilient societies. Particularly, lobbying and advocating for change at the local, national, and global levels bolster the strategic positioning of the poor at the complex multi-layered levels of development in the contemporary world. Thus, AFIRRD tries to influence policymakers from the inside (working together with them on the overarching issues), consultations, conferences, public meetings, lobbying in face-to-face meetings with authorities and written or telephone communications, all but to constantly remind policymakers of the duty-bound responsibilities towards the communities.
Growth and Development
AFIRRD activities include, but are not limited to, environmental, social, advocacy while working to promote socio-political and economic change on a broad scale or very locally. Thus, AFIRRD plays a critical part in developing society, improving communities, and promoting citizen participation in their communities in a sustainable and resilient fashion.