Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The project aims to increase social and ecological resilience to climate vulnerability in the Albertine Rift region of Uganda, through incorporating climate mitigation and adaptation response strategies into local practices.

Expected results

1) Degraded sections of River Waki catchment are restored;

2) Target communities have adopted agroforestry as a livelihood diversification strategy to mitigate climate change-induced vulnerability;

3) Women's energy vulnerability in target communities is reduced through the promotion of sustainable/efficient options;

4) Women's vulnerability to climate-induced water stresses is reduced through alternative water options;

5) Target communities have enhanced capacity to implement livelihood options for specific value chains;

6) Communities have access to better market opportunities;

7) Community members and school children have improved awareness of and knowledge on climate change mitigation and adaptation practices.

Target group / Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries of the project are 2,150 households (9,900 community members) in 43 villages in the catchment area of the River Waki in the sub-districts of Budongo and Kabango in Masindi district and the sub-districts of Biiso and Kihungya in Buliisa district. In addition, the project will directly target 10 local government officials and one private company, Kinyara Sugar Works Ltd., which has a considerable proportion of the River Waki catchment forests on its estates.

Activities

Mobilize stakeholders and beneficiaries to channel reforestation activities; provide support to target communities to undertake reforestation of catchment buffer zones and community forests; support women’s groups seedling (trees and high-value crop) production at a central nursery per target parish; provide training to the target community on agroforestry techniques; facilitate distribution of agroforestry seedlings to target households; conduct initiation workshop to mobilize local government institutions and establish community-based organizations to channel energy saving technologies in target communities; train two representatives per project target village to become ‘Energy Extension Volunteers’; conduct participatory consultative meetings to assess the water needs of the community; identify priority sites for the establishment of new water sources; establish new Water Users Associations (WUAs) and supporting the construction of three boreholes; organize women’s and youth farmers' groups to facilitate bulking of produce and input; organize enterprise groups into Village Savings and Loans Associations; facilitate market agreements between producers and identified markets; mobilize and support environmental clubs in target schools; dissemination of awareness materials on climate change in schools; train Gender Focal Points; etc.

Context

The project area is located in the Albertine Rift, one of the most biodiverse regions in Africa. The Waki River, with its multi-layered riparian and wetland forests, is an important refuge for countless (also endemic) species along the eastern shore of Lake Albert.

In addition to these protected areas of global importance, subsistence and, for some years now, commercial agriculture (primarily sugar cane) is practised in the region. The recent discovery of oil threatens the habitat and increases the pressure on natural resources due to the influx of job seekers. Population growth has led to an increased demand for firewood, water and arable land. Climate change in the catchment area has further exacerbated problems by adversely affecting biodiversity and water resources. The protection of the catchment area is therefore a priority to reconcile development and conservation priorities at local, national, and global levels.

Core to JGI‘s hypothesis is that biodiversity conservation and healthy ecosystems contribute positively to reducing socio-economic vulnerability to shocks for people living in biodiversity-rich areas, and that improved resilience for people can in turn incentivize and enable them to engage in biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management. This requires a gender-specific approach and the creation of sustainable options for dealing with the climate crisis in order to strengthen the resilience of people and ecosystems.

ADC co-financing rate: 50% of total project cost.