VEDCO Empowering Local & National HUM Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns (VEDCO-Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns (VEDCO) was founded in 1986 by a groupof university students in response to post war challenges of hunger, poverty and injustice that emanated from the social and economic disruptions caused by the military conflicts that occurred in Uganda as a country and Luwero triangle in particular during the period 1980-86. VEDCO at that time started as a relief support organization working with other relief agencies, mainly involved in relief operations then. VEDCO#s goal then was to improve the living conditions of the population by promoting emergency food security and livelihoods.

Empowering Local and National Humanitarian Actors (ELNHA) Project is to be implementedover three years commencing January 2016 in 6 disaster prone districts of: Kotido, Kaabong, Lamwo, Agago, Koboko and Zombo. These districts face challenges from climate change induced prolonged droughts and food insecurity as well as refugee influx as a result of the conflicts in the neighbouring countries (South Sudan, CAR and DRC). By the project design Oxfam will strengthen the capacity of local and national humanitarian actors, so that they can lead humanitarian action in Uganda. We will work to givethem the voice to create a strong domestic humanitarian agenda, by giving them the opportunity to design and implement quality humanitarian programs. The program will also create the space by influencing other international NGOs and donors to contribute tothis systemic change. We expect at the end of the project to see; Capable Local and National Humanitarian Actors (LNHA) in Uganda play a leading role in humanitarian work, putting the interest of women, men and children affected by disaster at the center.
To Kick start this process Oxfam conducted the fresh HuCoCa Analysis some of whose recommendations were adopted by stakeholders during the regional validation and dissemination workshops. The output from the validation meetings was the regional agenda for influencing and capacity building at local and national level. These action plans have been consolidated by the three lead actors to develop a proposal for capacity building and setting the influencing agenda at regional and national level.

1) Leadcause for defining common humanitarian agenda for specific region and to national level priorities towards increased humanitarian capacity; defining complementarities and opportunities for collaboration
2) Identifying the local humanitarian actors indistricts from govt., civil society <(>&<)> private sector for collaboration as well as supporting those actors in their capacity building effort.
3) Supporting these identified actors in identifying their capacity building needs and creating CB road map, linking to appropriate institutions/processes/ opportunities for CB.
4) Work in collaboration with specific District Disaster Management Committees and specific district sectors on ensuring humanitarian preparedness and response. SupportingDDMC for preparation <(>&<)> updating of district contingency plan, humanitarian CB plans etc.
5) Providing humanitarian leadershipat the locations (sub regions) of operations - calling local partners meetings etc.
6) Lead and support ELNHAs to deliver on any humanitarian responses.
7) Support design and operationalizing of the Humanitarian program preparedness and responses-in Liaison with the District.
8) Support and coordinate humanitarian preparedness and responses.
9) Participate in program advisory
10) Generate situation updates within the region or district of operations working with other local partners;
11) Support peer to peer learning - using its existing facilities, networks and other resources;
12) With guidance from Oxfam should lead the design of capacity building plans with local actors.
13) Documentation and information sharing experiences from within the region.