Uganda has, in the last two decades, experienced an alarming trend of climate change. The average temperatures have risen by about 1.3 ° C, and annual rainfall has decreased at a rate of about 3.5%. The hitherto two rainy seasons are no more as in the September 2022 Afrobarometer study, 57% national and 62% West Nile respondents reported that drought and floods have become more severe in the last 10 years. This situation is not any different in Pakwach district – the proposed project area – where the primary means of livelihood is rain-fed subsistence crop agriculture. This adverse climate change characterized by prolonged droughts, frequent floods, intermittent strong winds, and hailstorms has made subsistence farming ineffective to provide secure livelihoods for the rural population. Low yields (inadequate food to meet family needs between seasons) ultimately push many families to water catchment degradation and to destroy forests, wetlands, and hilltops for more farmland to be able to grow some crops as well as to cut firewood and produce charcoal as alternative income sources. A failed harvest also means limited or no income to afford other basics of life and gender-based violence. 

  1. Project goal:  

To enhance the quality of life and climate resilience for families in Pakwach district. 

  1. The specific objective  

 To enhance production, equity, and adaptive livelihood 

The project consists of three Result Areas:

  1. Livelihood Diversification, Improved Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Atyaks rural Promoting Equitable and resilient Production in the transition towards agroecology
  2. Income Generation and Diversification, Improved access to resources for women   in Rural Atyak Communities through an Equity-Focused approach
  3. Environment and Biodiversity Conservation, Strengthened Environment care and Conservation capacities in the Communities of Atyak through the adoption of forest resource protection and regeneration practices with gender Equity