The project supported the Government of Uganda in integrating food security and nutrition concerns into district and sub-county development plans. By the end of the project it was expected that district authorities had the capacity to formulate, manage and monitor district development plans with priorities that strongly feature food security and nutrition. Its focus was on the greater northern Uganda region but most of the expected outputs will be of relevance to all districts of Uganda.
Seven pilot districts had been selected, namely-Nebbi, Yumbe and Zombo (West Nile), Gulu (Acholi/Lango) and Soroti, Serere and Abim (Teso/Karamoja).

The selection was based on how disadvantaged these areas are-in terms of poverty, food security and nutrition indicators - compared to the rest of the country. In these selected districts, the project  assessed to which extent food security and nutrition are integrated into sub-national plans, identify major constraints and suggest remedies. Simultaneously, guidelines for integrating FSN into the plans will be drafted, used and subsequently refined.

The project offered technical assistance and capacity development to enable the local government to collect and analyze food security data; translated the food security information into concrete action that will be costed and included in the plans; and defined indicators, targets and goals in order to monitor whether the activities lead to the expected outcome (reduction in malnutrition and vulnerability). The projecte furthermore empowered civil society members to become actively involved in the priority-setting, formulation of the plan, implementation and monitoring of activities and the budget. Many district councils were amending their legal basis for giving more weight to food security by drafting by-laws (ordinances).

This appreciation of the role of the legal framework and the importance of food security ordinances presented a unique opportunity for promoting recourse and accountability mechanisms at sub-national level. The Food Security and Nutrition Council, to be formally established by the Food and Nutrition Law, could support district level activities by creating an enabling national policy environment. Activities comprised dissemination of information and material, advocacy for budget increase, capacity development and organization of lessons learned events.