Log Frame!

Today I have reached log frame carrying capacity. I simply cannot design another program for this project, which is a shame, because I’m in the home stretch with only three left.

For months I have been saying I have a desk job, it just happens to be in Africa. It’s true! When I first arrived in Gulu, I pledged to visit the “field” at least once a week and by and large, I stuck to that pledge. The “field”, by the way, means going to visit projects outside of Gulu town, where my office is. It means visiting the internal displacement camps that are now emptying and visiting communities in their villages, where most of the work is now located. It’s an important distinction, because many people come to Gulu and feel that they’re in the field. However, Gulu or “Club Gulu” as I now refer to it really doesn’t paint the picture of the challenges people face in their recovery from two decades of conflict. Gulu has a swimming pool and ethnic restaurants. (I just tried the new Ethiopian last night…not bad!) It has admittedly poor wireless internet cafes that serve cappuccinos to war tourists; the countless temporary visitors to Gulu who arrive pledging to solve or study all of northern Uganda’s problems during their short stay. Ok, that was bitchy, especially since I was one of them before I moved here. However, I am saddened to think most of their stay is in Gulu, when they need to be out in the community.

No matter what, when I travel to the field, I return re-energized and re-committed to the work.

The problem is that most of the time I’m now trapped at my desk on the damn log frame. I’m tired of coming up with x # of community dialogues in x # of sub-counties that will require x amount of fuel, stationary, flip charts, etc. etc. Although I did recently get to place bulls in the log frame. Yes bulls, as in the animals! 1 bull was budgeted for lunch for each of the 8 meetings that will take place in 8 sub-counties where traditional leaders will host community dialogues. Ok, I guess the log frame isn’t too bad. I mean, the projects that emerge from the log frame are pretty cool. The two I’m working on now are called “Unpacking the P in PRDP” and “Fortifying Families in Recovery.” The names alone sound good, right? Although just coming up with the names probably cost me a half a day on the desk. Hayden keeps asking me how I could possibly be keeping up with the new season of Mad Men when its not available here. Please don’t tell him that like all desk jobs, I’ve got the internets to distract me.

So I guess I shouldn’t despair. The end of log frames is in sight and the projects starting up are being well received so far. I’ve even managed to squeeze a trip or two to the field in the last month (see Pawel blog.) But for today, anyway, I’m flaking out…I can’t look at the thing today. Today is Maureen Dowd, facebook and a long lunch day.