Seated under a mango tree outside her home in Village 10, Zone 3, of Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, 30-year-old Adare Josephine, a breastfeeding mother, narrates on how far she and her family have come since they arrived from South Sudan in 2016 during the war. Back then, a single daily meal of beans and maize was the norm for her household of nine. The food aid they received, though lifesaving, was limited and rarely changed.
Today, Josephine not only feeds her children more regularly, but she also runs a small business and teaches other women in her community how to grow and prepare nutritious meals.
The weight of food insecurity in West Nile
Josephine’s experience reflects that of thousands of refugee families across Uganda, particularly in the West Nile region, where food insecurity remains a pressing issue. National figures show that 91% of refugee households are economically vulnerable. In West Nile, this number climbs to 96%, with many families unable to meet their basic nutritional needs. Women-led households are disproportionately affected, often lacking access to land, income, and information on proper infant and maternal nutrition.
Poor feeding practices, inadequate diets, and limited breastfeeding remain common. Only 8.6% of children aged 6–59 months in the region meet the Minimum Acceptable Diet, and just 60% of infants are exclusively breastfed. Many households skip meals, and some are forced to adopt harmful coping mechanisms such as early marriage or child labour.
A project offering more than just relief
In January 2024, Josephine enrolled in the Food Security and Nutrition Project implemented by DanChurchAid (DCA) and PALM Corps, with support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The project, running for four years, targets 10,000 female-headed households in Bidibidi, Imvepi, and Rhino Camp settlements, as well as in the host communities.
Participants like Josephine receive monthly cash transfers of UGX 82,000 for six months, alongside tools, seeds, and training in nutrition, farming through kitchen gardening, climate-smart agriculture in the block farms, and financial literacy. The project’s design blends immediate food access with long-term agricultural capacity, aiming to improve household nutrition and income.
“I was told clearly that the cash support was meant for food, not clothing,” Josephine explained. “So, I used it to buy vegetables and fruits I couldn’t grow myself. That was very helpful.”
She also learned about infant feeding best practices. “Before, I didn’t know about colostrum—the yellow milk that comes first. But now, I have learned to breastfeed a baby immediately after delivery.”
Turning knowledge into action
Josephine now manages a kitchen garden where she grows vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage, onions, and cowpeas. “Before the training, I just cooked what we had, without much thought. Now, I plan meals and make sure the children eat a balanced diet and on time,” she said.
What began as a survival tactic has evolved into a source of income. With the savings she made, Josephine started a small business selling soap, tomatoes, sugar, and dried fish. She’s also emerged as a peer educator in her community, serving as a lead mother who teaches others about breastfeeding, meal planning, and home kitchen gardening.
“There were women in my area who were known for being unwell, especially those who were pregnant or breastfeeding. But now, everyone is improving. The change is visible,” she added.
Results on the Ground
In 2024 alone, the project supported the establishment of 2,473 kitchen gardens across the three settlements. These gardens produce crops rich in nutrients, helping families diversify their diets and improve their health. A total of 1,250 acres have been targeted for block farms this year, offering access to larger plots for refugee farmers, an important step given the restricted land available to refugees.
Data from DCA’s August 2024 Post-Distribution Monitoring shows that 96.4% of participants used their cash to purchase fresh food items, including fruits and vegetables. This is a clear indication of shifting priorities and growing awareness around nutrition.
Edoni Brahan Nasur, Program Manager for Sustainable Food Systems at DCA, noted, “This project has enabled women and children to access and produce fresh, nutritious foods. Host communities provide land to refugee households for farming as a sign of solidarity with refugees, thus promoting peaceful co-existence between the refugees and host communities. The dietary diversity we’re seeing is encouraging, and it shows that the interventions are working.”
Shifting gender norms and building resilience
Beyond nutrition, the project is also challenging traditional gender dynamics. In communities where land is often controlled by men, women are now gaining access through collaborative arrangements with host communities. The introduction of seed inputs has given them a head start in food production, improving household food security and generating income from surplus yields.
As the second rainy season begins, Josephine is already preparing her next garden. “The lessons we’ve learned won’t be forgotten,” she said. “We’re ready to plant again—and this time, with more experience, I know we’ll do even better yields.”
Holding on to knowledge
Josephine knows that projects will eventually end, but she believes the knowledge from the training sessions built during this time will remain. “Projects come and go. But I encourage my fellow mothers: keep applying the knowledge that you learned,” she urged.
As Uganda commemorates World Refugee Day under the theme Solidarity with Refugees, Josephine’s story reflects a shift not just in her life, but in her entire community.
This transformation has been made possible through the combined efforts of development partners and the Ugandan government, which continues to uphold one of the world’s most progressive refugee policies. Uganda’s open-door approach allows refugees to live in settlements rather than camps, granting them freedom of movement, access to services, and the right to work and cultivate land.
Through initiatives like the Food Security and Nutrition Project, DanChurchAid (DCA), in partnership with PALM Corps and with funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, is complementing these national efforts by equipping refugee and host households with tools to grow their own food, earn an income, and support each other.
In this way, both DCA and Uganda are not just providing temporary relief; they are standing in practical, long-term solidarity with refugees by creating opportunities for recovery, growth, and dignity.
About this project
Title: Enhancing food security and nutritional outcomes for vulnerable women and children in West Nile, Northern Uganda
Period: 1. January 2024 – 31. December 2027
National partner: Palm Corps
Amount: 40,000,000 DKK
Number of people reached: 100,000 persons (60,000 female)
Donor: Novo Nordisk Foundation
