More than a thousand dryland voices will be heard

Training of sixteen enumerators and four team leaders

A selection of project members from universities in Uganda, Kenya and Sweden met in Moroto town, Uganda to lead the training of enumerators and their team leaders in each site. The training covered both a common understanding of all questions and the possible answers; a section on how to handle and enter data in the survey gadgets and software as well as a practical training in how to measure and weigh mothers with a child aged 6 months-5 years. The training had specific time set aside for feedback and sharing of experiences while translating and trying to understand what and how to ask.

Final test of survey tools

After four days of intensive training and preparations, the teams were finally ready to go to the field to try out the survey. All team members were eager to reach the field to see the survey come to life. There was also a lot of curiosity among people in the villages.

From the final field testing we learnt a lot of lessons that could be brought back for discussion. For example that it is good if the mother is measured before the child in order to make the child feel more confident to try as well. The equipment was also found to be bulky and heavy to carry all alone, especially when roads are more or less absent in some places. It was also noticed that some questions, especially sensitive ones, needed to be re-phrased or appear within a certain context for it to be easier to ask.