United Nations
Development Programme

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Kampala, Uganda

Tel: (256) 414-233440/1/2/5

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Email: registry.ug@undp.org

The UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Theophane Nikyema listening in at the launch of the new Northern Uganda project

Three UN agencies have launched “Northern Uganda Early Recovery Project”, a new project aimed at hastening recovery and development in Northern Uganda after 20 years of insurgency.

The project, spear- headed by the United Nations Development Programme, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organisation with the support of the Japanese government through the UN Trust Fund for Human Security is aimed at supporting the Lango sub region, specifically the districts of Lira and Oyam to embark on recovery and sustainable development.

The UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Theophane Nikyema said at the launch that as one of the three partnering agencies, UNDP was committed to ensuring that the project is responsive and responds to the needs of key stakeholders including women, children, and youth, and religious leaders, cultural and local leaders.

He said the project was premised on the understanding that the emergency and relief phase in the two districts was over, and that it is now time for more long term, sustainable interventions. “That is why this project is designed in such a manner that it is multi-sectoral in response, with the aim of creating an environment that empowers the post conflict and disaster affected population to restart a productive life in a sustainable way.”

The project covers a comprehensive array of services; agricultural and non-agricultural livelihood, Local Government capacity-building, peace-building and conflict. In addition it implements activities to promote good health and nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention interventions, community infrastructure and environmental protection.

UNDP’s focus areas within the project are; (1) Support to livelihood activities, (2) Capacity-building for local government, and (3) Peace-building and conflict prevention. These activities are intended to improve productivity and household income through agricultural and non-agricultural activities, access to markets, credit and savings facilities.

“We hope that this initiative will benefit at least 10,000 returned households comprising of approximately 60,000 persons. The project will ensure that at least 50 percent of the participating
Individuals will be women,” he said.

UNDP will also diversify the livelihood opportunities in the communities by organizing the local beneficiary communities into Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) and training them on business and marketing technologies.

It is hoped that the project will also facilitate the promotion of peace and conflict within the community. Mr Nikyema said that this was a development project which needed participation from the local people so that it can address their real needs.