Climate innovations for resilience in Karamoja (CLIRK)

In Uganda’s Karamoja region, Farm Africa is partnering with CARE International and local organisations to enhance climate resilience, food security and incomes of pastoralist communities, with a particular focus on women and young people. The project is transforming valley dam landscapes into sustainable, productive farmland for pastoralists, addressing the region’s critical water retention and agricultural needs amidst rising climate extremes.

The project supports groups of farmers, each guided by a trained Village Based-Advisor (VBA), in climate-smart agriculture, vegetable production and post-harvest handling of their crops. Demonstration gardens are established to grow high-value vegetables and leafy greens and show irrigation innovations that maximise water retention and access to water. Farmers also receive solar-powered irrigation kits, treadle pumps and seeds. As a result, farmers are now growing and eating a diverse range of crops year-round, improving their food security, incomes and nutrition.

As part of the project, farmers are linked to agro-input providers who supply high-quality seeds and agrochemicals, and are connected to buyers for their produce. This enables them to sell vegetables to neighbouring and local markets, restaurants and hotels. With more income, farmers can now buy more healthy food to add to their families’ diets.

The project also strengthens leadership within community groups. Our work complements the work of our partners, African Tourism and Environment Initiative (ATEI), which is developing tourism as an alternative livelihood, and Karamoja Youth Effort to Save Environment (KAYESE), which is helping to increase water retention, access to water and environmental restoration.

By combining food security, climate resilience and economic opportunity, the project is helping Karamoja’s pastoralist communities to build a more sustainable future.

The project is funded by DANIDA.