| Sumario: | This policy note summarizes findings from an assessment of the impact of community advocacy forums – popularly known as barazas – implemented by the government of Uganda. The key messages from this study include: 1- Barazas are a worthwhile investment. Because barazas impact a large number of households and cost relatively little, the rate of return is generally substantial, even if treatment effects are small in size. 2- A mix of sub-county level and district level barazas is likely to be most effective. While for some outcomes, e.g., agriculture, barazas organized at the sub-county level are most cost-effective, for others, e.g., infrastructure, barazas at the district level provide most value for money. 3- Full barazas, in terms of both information and deliberation, are the best option. Whether the information component or the deliberation component matters more depends on the sector. A full baraza contains both components and costs the same as an information-specific or a deliberation-specific baraza. Best to do a full baraza. 4- Take a long run perspective. Sufficient time needs to pass before outcomes materialize. 5- Do not forget remote households. For some outcomes, barazas may have smaller effects on households that live in remote areas.
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