Maracha, Nebbi and Zombo (MANZO) Youth Empowerment Project (MAYEP) was a 3-year project whose goal was to ‘contribute to sustainable poverty reduction among youth in West Nile Region, Northern Uganda’. The
project’s specific objective was to ‘increase access to employment/self-employment opportunities for 3,000 youth in Zombo, Nebbi, Maracha districts in West Nile Region.’ Meanwhile host communities have persistently failed to produce adequate food that can last a family for the period between the agricultural seasons. This situation is primarily attributed to: (i) low production of subsistence farming; (ii) limited alternative sources of income; (iii) large family sizes; and (iv) weak community dialogue for harmonious and peaceful co-existence. The Covid-19 pandemic and climate change have aggravated this situation. It therefore comes as no surprise that the 2020 Vulnerability assessment found that 98% of both refugee and host community households exhibited high livelihood vulnerability (Bidibidi 98%) as the monthly per capita expenditure was very low (Bidibidi UGX 8,993) and the Famine Early Warning System Network assessment confirmed that the food security situation of refugees hosting districts was at a crisis level.
RELIP II therefore seeks to address the root causes of these challenges with a goal, “Targeted refugees, host communities and agro-pastoral communities at risk of child trafficking in Uganda, organized in social structures, have resilient livelihoods, peacefully co-exists and equally participate in decision-making” and specific objective, “South Sudanese refugees and host communities in Yumbe district have improved incomes, food security and peacefully co-exist.” To ensure that 1,951 targeted refugees and host communities attain sustainable socio-economic self-sufficiency, RELIP II will draw lessons and best practices from RELIP I (2019 – 2022) and deepen its 4-pronged approach: sustainable and climate smart agriculture and agribusiness; strengthening the newly formed Romogi Kiri cooperative and other social structures; improving Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) Plus methodology and promoting peaceful co-existence within families and among group and community members.
Project Budget: € 236,000
Donor: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through AWO International
