An internship in Entebbe

LVRLAC is still in its inception period and during my time there I could sense its potential for becoming a major actor in the Lake Victoria Region and East Africa. It was established in 1997, on the initiative of the Mayors of Entebbe/Uganda, Mwanza/Tanzania and Kisumu/Kenya. The reason for the establishment was the awareness of the many various environmental, economic and social challenges the Lake Victoria Basin is facing and the recognition of similarities in the problems. Local authorities are responsible for the delivery of services such as water supply, sewerage systems, housing, roads, primary health care, social service, and education. Those services, which may seem a matter of course in the UBC region, are still underdeveloped in most parts of Africa and the Lake Victoria Region. The urban areas are relatively advanced. The roads are good and there are many clinics and enough hospitals. However, even in Entebbe, for instance, sewage and constant water supply seem to be a continuous problems. And in the more remote areas some towns cannot even be reached on a tarmac road.

LVRLAC has managed to promote local authorities as key players in the sustainable development of the Lake Victoria Region. To improve the situation it is vital for the organization to have a well functioning management. LVRLAC members and their staff need appropriate technical equipment for their work and communication between the members. Some time ago many places did not even have an internet connection. The secretariat faces enormous challenges to communicate with other members. Usually it is a high effort for the staff at the secretariat. It is costly both in time and money. Therefore, LVRLAC needs help to improve its infrastructure.

However, besides all difficulties, LVRLAC is a very ambitious organization - employees are very well motivated, hard working and determined to make a change. Help from more experienced and advanced network organizations like UBC is very important for them in order to be successful and reach LVRLAC goals in the long run. Continuous support, especially in terms of technical cooperation is in demand. However, on the technical side, there is still a lot UBC can do to help LVRLAC stand on its own feet.

Maria-Elisabeth Schmidt, a student at Leipzig University, Germany, and listener of African Studies with a specialization in politics, economy and society, got the chance, via mediation of UBC actors, to obtain practical experience inside LVRLAC from March to June, 2006.