Profile: Henry Opolot (Uganda) - 2006 Irish Aid Fellow
In 2006, Henry Opolot was successful in his application to Irish Aid for a Fellowship to undertake an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in University College Dublin (UCD). Prior to his studies, Henry worked as an Agricultural Extension Worker (AEW). Since gaining his qualification and returning home in 2007, he has been promoted on several occasions. Here, Henry discusses how his studies in Ireland have impacted on his work in Uganda to contribute to capacity development.
Henry returned to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) with new knowledge and skills after his 2006-07 fellowship
"The opportunity to study Rural Development in Ireland at UCD has helped me significantly in understanding the complexities of rural development and to appreciate the principle that there is no quick fix to problems of rural areas."
"Working as an AEW at the sub-county level in Pallisa District, I could not comprehend why farmers did not adopt ‘modern’ farming technologies being disseminated to them. With the rural development training, I am now able to appreciate the multifaceted nature of problems in rural areas that, many a time, development workers take for granted."
"Through my training I acquired skills in monitoring and evaluating rural development activities, social research, communication and report writing. It enabled me to do proper problem identification analysis and effective implementation in a country where over 75% of the population depend on agriculture to earn a livelihood."
"These skills, as well as many others gained, grounded my agricultural science background and on this strength, I was promoted on transfer from the district local government to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) headquarters as a Senior Agricultural Officer Food Security in later 2008. My duties included collaborating with national, regional and international organisations to assess and promote food security."
"In October 2009, I was again promoted to the position of Principal agricultural Officer (PAO) Cash Crops which is indeed a rapid rise through the ranks and strongly attributed to the richness of the rural development training. My current duties in this position include monitoring and giving technical guidance to local governments, NGOs and other stakeholders on cash crops, thus helping to build capacity development."
"Following my training, the increased scope of my competencies have proved useful not only for my formal employment job but also for other agencies, the private sector and local community groups, who I support on project planning and management."
Henry Opolot, December 2009