Why We Care

Growing up and working with rural communities in Western Uganda, we have witnessed how climate change continues to affect vulnerable households through prolonged droughts, flooding, poor harvests, rising food insecurity, and loss of household income. Many young people and women struggle to survive despite depending on agriculture as their main source of livelihood. Through our daily work with farming communities, we realized that practical climate-smart agriculture and environmental restoration are essential for both community survival and long-term resilience.

Understanding the Landscape

The Rwenzori Region of Western Uganda is rich in fertile soils and biodiversity, but climate change is increasingly threatening livelihoods. Communities face unpredictable rainfall patterns, soil erosion, deforestation, wetland degradation, declining crop productivity, and increasing youth unemployment. Most smallholder farmers still rely on traditional farming methods that are highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Limited access to agricultural training, quality seedlings, irrigation systems, and sustainable farming knowledge further weakens household resilience and environmental protection efforts.

Our Approach

YAWE Foundation Uganda will implement a community-based climate-smart agricultural intervention model through local training centres and demonstration farms. The project will establish indigenous tree nurseries, organic farming demonstration plots, composting systems, and small-scale irrigation support within target communities. Youth groups, women farmers, and vulnerable households will receive practical training in agroforestry, soil conservation, organic manure production, water harvesting, apiary, poultry, and sustainable food production techniques.

The approach combines practical hands-on learning, peer mentorship, and community mobilization because communities learn best through demonstration and local participation. Local leaders, farmer groups, extension workers, schools, faith leaders, and youth champions will actively participate in awareness creation, implementation, and monitoring activities to ensure ownership and sustainability.

The Change We Hope to Create

Within six months, communities will begin establishing kitchen gardens, tree nurseries, composting sites, and climate-smart demonstration farms. Farmers will gain practical skills in sustainable agriculture, while households start improving food production and environmental conservation practices. Indigenous tree planting activities will begin restoring degraded areas and improving soil protection.

Within one year, the landscape could show increased vegetation cover, improved soil fertility, reduced erosion, greater food security, and stronger climate resilience among vulnerable households. Youth and women will have improved access to green livelihood opportunities, while communities become more aware of sustainable environmental management practices that protect ecosystems and future generations.

Community and Partnership Engagement

The intervention will be implemented in partnership with community groups, local governments, farmer associations, schools, religious institutions, and youth organizations across the Rwenzori Region. Key collaborators may include VSF Belgium, CARE International, local agricultural extension workers, and community leaders who already support youth skilling, nutrition, and environmental conservation initiatives in Western Uganda. Together, these partnerships will strengthen local ownership, sustainability, and long-term community impact.

Project Goal

To strengthen climate resilience, improve food security, and promote sustainable livelihoods among vulnerable youth, women, and farming households in the Rwenzori Region of Western Uganda through community-based climate-smart agriculture practices and environmental conservation.

Specific Objectives

To train youth, women, and smallholder farmers in climate-smart and organic farming practices.
To establish community demonstration gardens and indigenous tree nurseries for practical learning and environmental restoration.
To promote sustainable land management, soil conservation, and organic manure production within target communities.
To improve household food security and income through climate-resilient agricultural practices and green livelihood opportunities.
To strengthen community awareness and participation in environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

Project Activities and Time Frame

MonthActivitiesMonth 1Community mobilization and stakeholder meetings with local leaders, farmer groups, schools, and extension workers; baseline assessment and beneficiary identificationMonth 1–2Training of youth and women groups on climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, organic farming, composting, soil conservation, and sustainable land useMonth 2Establishment of indigenous tree nurseries and preparation of demonstration gardens at community training centresMonth 2–3Distribution of seedlings, farming tools, and climate-smart agriculture learning materials to target groupsMonth 3–4Practical hands-on training sessions on irrigation methods, organic manure production, kitchen gardening, apiary, poultry, and water conservation techniquesMonth 4Community environmental awareness campaigns, tree planting exercises, and school/community sensitization activitiesMonth 4–5Follow-up mentorship visits, technical support, and monitoring of household demonstration gardens and community nursery sitesMonth 5Farmer exchange learning visits and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing among beneficiary groupsMonth 6Final monitoring and evaluation, documentation of lessons learned, community reflection meetings, and sustainability planning with local stakeholders

Expected Outcomes

Increased adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices among vulnerable households
Improved household food production and nutrition
Increased indigenous tree planting and environmental restoration
Improved soil conservation and sustainable land use practices
Enhanced youth and women participation in green livelihood opportunities
Strengthened community resilience to climate change impacts in Western Uganda