Despite facing immense challenges including conflict, displacement and culturally rooted gender-based violence, refugees as well as the host community women in Adjumani districts, Northern Uganda have shown remarkable resilience and determination to rebuild their lives. However, they struggle to access opportunities and support to secure a stable source of income and provide for their families. This has resulted into persistent cycle of vulnerability, exacerbated by climate change and lack of funding. For instance, the food ration has been reduced by World Food Program from 35,000 ($10) to 19,000 ($5.4) per individual monthly due to lack of funding and it is expected to be reduced further. Addressing the lack of livelihood opportunities for refugee and host women is not only a matter of justice and human rights, but also a crucial step towards creating self-sufficient, resilient and peaceful communities. We have seen through our previous project that women working together promote peace, social cohesion and solidarity among them.
It is against this background that SPEAKS as a refugee-led organization with a critical understanding of the context is implementing the “Refugee-host Women Inclusive Socio-economic” project to provide access to financial services and market, offers capacity strengthening and skills training. At the pilot phase supported by Athari group, SPEAK is supporting nine (9) refugee women from different ethnic backgrounds in South Sudan based in Ayilo I refugee settlement to create conversations that aim at unlearning negative tribal assumptions which contributes to conflict while they practice climate-smart agriculture to support their families.
