The West Nile region has an estimated 4 million people and is the second poorest region in Uganda. By January 2019, the region hosted 704,902 out of the 1,205,913 refugees and asylum seekers (i.e., 59%). Bidibidi and Rhinocamp refugee settlements in Arua and Yumbe districts alone had 321,152 refugees.

These people face livelihood (food and income) insecurity. The project seeks to contribute to SDG 1 (end poverty), SGD 2 (zero hunger), SDG 8 (financial inclusion) and SDG 13 (environment conservation) with a goal, “Refugees and host communities have secure livelihoods and contribute to sustainable development within Rhino camp and Yumbe resettlement areas, in West Nile Region, Uganda.” 

Phase 1 (2017-19) was extended into another 3-year Phase II with the same goal and objectives was extended. Directly the project serves 750 households (572 females; 366 refugees) and 110 new youth (54 females; 55 refugees) and indirectly 5,250 (with average of 7 members per household). To date, 89% of the households eat three diversified meals daily. Their average monthly savings also rose from UGX 17,182 to UGX 35,315 and for youth from UGX 25,385 to UGX 38,864. They also planted 20,580 trees.

Project Budget: UGX 2,878,874,000

Donor: Austrian Development Cooperation, Bruder und Schwester in Not Innsbruck (BSI) and Caritas Kärnten and HORIZONT3000