Improving Food Security and Incomes in Rhino Refugee Settlement

Context and Project Objective

Rhino Refugee Settlement, located in the West Nile region of Uganda, hosts more than 125,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children from South Sudan. Due to significant underfunding of the World Food Programme, this UN agency has been forced to reduce its refugee relief food rations in Rhino Refugee Settlement by 40%, accelerating an already existing problem of chronic malnutrition among children in the settlement.

As part of its refugee response strategy, Uganda provides refugees with access to land measuring 30 meters by 30 meters, but refugees often lack the skills and knowledge to produce a wide range of nutritious vegetables to meet the dietary needs of both children and adults. Because the presence of refugees puts pressure on host communities, host communities are also included in the project’s food security, income, and nutrition interventions.

The primary aim of the Improving Food Security and Incomes and Reducing Chronic Malnutrition in Rhino Refugee Settlement and Host Communities in West Nile project is to increase availability and consumption of nutritious vegetables, thereby enhancing food security, improving household income, and reducing chronic malnutrition in Rhino Refugee Settlement and host communities in the West Nile region of Uganda.

To reach the project objective, EWS-KT will promote a peer learning approach by increasing the capacity of key farmers to manage practical farming demonstrations showcasing profitable and sustainable cultivation techniques. A total of 280 demonstration plots will be set up, with each acting as a training hub of best practices for other farmers. Half of the demonstration plots will be in host communities, with the other half in refugee settlements. The project will also support the establishment of 180 kitchen gardens in refugee settlements.

Training on a wide range of topics, from seedling production to harvest, will be delivered in a variety of ways, from intensive training of core farmer groups to farmer Field Days and radio and digital learning. Farmers will not only be trained in agronomic practices but also learn about the economic aspects of vegetable production, including production planning and how to calculate the rate of return on their farming investment. In addition, farmers will be kept updated on prevailing prices and the latest trends in the vegetable market.

This project also has a training-of-trainers component. Through the use of a learning plot with several vegetable crops, EWS-KT will sharpen the skills of staff and sector professionals and will train local farmers as community-based trainers to ensure continuity of improved farming practices.

As developing a sustainable supply of high-quality agricultural inputs is a key objective, the market development work of East West Seed is critical to the success of this project. East West Seed will carry out market development activities so as to ensure increased access to seed.

Expected Outcomes 

• 7,000 farmers will be trained on good agricultural practices through demonstration sites, and 3,500 will be trained by agro-input dealers on good agricultural practices and on using quality seeds.
• With an average of 7 members per household, 77,280 family members will benefit from an improved supply of vegetables, better food security, and an increase in income.
• 10,000 farmers in the project area and beyond will benefit from peer-to-peer learning, radio, and digital learning (Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and GrowHow).
• 10 sector professionals—government extension officers and other extension agents—will be trained in improved farming techniques.

EWS-KT Partners

Funding partner: Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND)

Project Period

1 September 2022 – 31 September 2023

Location

Uganda: West Nile