Uganda : Moving away from the cycle of relief in Karamoja

KAMPALA [ACTED News] – NGO and government programs in Uganda’s Northeastern Karamoja region are changing the dynamics of their operations to enable traditional Karimojong communities to increase self sufficiency and improve livelihoods. The strategy has shifted from direct food aid to cash and voucher based food security programs, in line with the government's World Bank-funded Northern Uganda Social Action Fund II (NUSAF II), which aims to improve the region's infrastructure and create employment in the construction, health and agriculture sectors among others. ACTED is a new partner of the WFP implemented branch of the NUSAF program, implementing public works and household income support activities in Nakapiripirit district, Karamoja. ACTED, active in other parts of the region, goes even further to build the capacity of agro-pastoralists to absorb climate shocks, which are recurrent in the region. It aims to build community resilience to droughts through a community based disaster management approach, strengthening and diversifying livelihoods and early warning surveillance systems.