Women’s plight in the refugee settlement and the host community in Lamwo District is worsened by the existing gender disparities among which is unpaid work that limits their economic empowerment and growth, women and girls being at a higher risk of unwanted pregnancies and contraction of STDs, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and among others.
In partnership with AWO International, UCOBAC recently concluded the “Strengthened resilience of refugees and vulnerable families from host communities through enhanced food security, livelihoods and women empowerment” project in Palabek settlement in Northern Uganda,Lamwo District, in Palabek settlement and host communities including Ajaaogala and Pawic villages. The project aimed at boosting food security, nutrition and resilience for refugees as well as for host communities and ultra-poor Ugandan families through enhanced Food Security, Livelihoods, Women Empowerment and Social Cohesion. This was achieved through promoting modern agricultural technologies and practices to boost food production and productivity which ensured improved food and nutrition security at household level and creating awareness of the link between women’s reproductive health and household food security.
It is against that background that our Development Partner AWO International with funding from “German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)” decided to extend services to refugees and vulnerable families from host communities in Palabek settlement under a new project phase entitled “Improving food and income security, climate resilience and women empowerment for refugees and host communities in Palabek Settlement” from 2023-2025. The project is being implemented in Zone 6, Zone 9 and Alimo-tiko West, Padollo and Beyogoya villages from the host community with the aim of having refugees, host communities and agro-pastoral communities at risk of child-trafficking have resilient livelihoods, peacefully co-exist and equally participate in decision making. The three main project result areas include i) food and income security, ii) women empowerment and SRHR, and iii) climate resilience. These target 360 beneficiaries with the help of leaders and social structures like male engagement champions, Community Extensive Volunteers who work as climate actors as well, Village Health Team (VHT) and youth mentors.
