CONTEXT
The Karamoja sub-region of Uganda, encompassing an area of 27,528 square kilometers and including the districts of Kotido, Kaabong, Karenga, Nabilatuk, Abim, Moroto, Napak, Amudat, and Nakapiripirit, is home to approximately 1.4 million people, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2022 data. The region faces significant challenges related to water availability, as most water sources in the area are seasonal and heavily influenced by the unreliable and unevenly distributed rainfall, resulting in prolonged extreme dry spells.
Recent studies by the Government of Uganda and its partners reveal alarming new weather patterns that could accelerate food insecurity in Karamoja if proactive measures are not implemented. Over the past 35 years, the region has experienced an increase in average monthly rainfall and an extension of the rainy season by two months. However, rising temperatures are also a critical concern, as shown by the 2023 report titled "Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security and Livelihoods in Karamoja."
The report also highlights that many residents remain unaware of the long-standing climate changes affecting their environment, while those who recognize these shifts often lack the knowledge or resources to adapt successfully. In some instances, communities have resorted to unsustainable practices such as charcoal and firewood sales as a reaction to agricultural failures, rather than implementing effective adaptation strategies.
Climate extremes, including erratic rainfall patterns, dry season bush fires, droughts, floods, and landslides, are increasingly frequent and intense in Karamoja. These extremes threaten the livelihoods, food security, and overall social stability of the region, which is classified as semi-arid and dependent on its communal forests. Unsustainable agricultural practices and excessive tree harvesting for firewood further erode the resilience and adaptive capacity of local populations in the face of these challenges.
The existential threat posed by hunger is worsened by desperation among affected households, prompting them to engage in drastic measures in search of food. Current estimates indicate that approximately 50 million people across East and Southern Africa are facing severe food insecurity, with Karamoja particularly hard-hit. As of recent reports, over 520,000 individuals in the sub-region are food insecure (Phase 3 with projections for January 2023 suggesting that over 22,000 children are at risk of Severe Acute Malnutrition.
The worsening food security crisis, exacerbated by drought conditions, emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated project initiative aimed at addressing these interlinked challenges of climate change, water scarcity, and food insecurity in the Karamoja sub-region.
In response to these challenges Oxfam in Uganda and Warrior Squad Foundation will implement the Karamoja Agro-Pastoral Resilience and Empowerment project. (KAREP) to promote Climate Smart Agriculture and Women Economic Empowerment (CSA-WEE) in the Semi-Arid Karamoja Subregion.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
With funding from the KANE Family Foundation, Oxfam in Uganda and Warrior Squad Foundation are implementing the Karamoja Agro-Pastoral Resilience and Empowerment Project (KAREP) in Kotido district, Karamoja sub-region.
The 3-year project will promote sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers especially women by enhancing climate-resilient food production, improving access to agricultural inputs, integrating climate-resilient value chains to enhance market access and profitability, rehabilitating and protect degraded ecosystems through Cash for Work, integration of VSLA in APFFS activities, Livestock disease & Community-Based Rangeland Management, and strengthening income-generating activities.
PROJECT AIM
Resilient and sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers in the Karamoja Sub region.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- Increased food security for small holder farmers especially women and youth.
- Increased income security for small holder farmers.
Enhanced capacity of smallholder farmers to adapt to climate change impacts.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER
Warrior Squad Foundation
KEY STAKEHOLDERS
- Small Holder Farmers.
- District technical teams.
- Water User Committees.
- Community Animal Health Workers
- Producer Marketing Groups.
Community Based Financial Services
PROJECT DURATION
3 Years
TOTAL BUDGET,
€1,100,000
FUNDED BY.
- KANE Family
