KLEP - Karamoja Livestock Enhancement Project
Project facts
Date:
01/01/2017 31/12/2021
Payment Mechanisms / Support:
Partners: VSF Belgium; MADEFO, DADO
Funding: DGD and VSF Belgium
Country:
Uganda
Region:
SSA (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Site:
Karamoja, Moroto and Kaabong districts
Contact:
Emmanuel EMARUK
Dethie FAYE
Alternative email
Case overview
Main Challenges
Marketing livestock products, Improve sustainable livestock production, Managing the commons, Sustainable grassland management, Reduce Household poverty.
Starting point / Challenges
The sub-region has experienced about three and half decades of civil unrest leading to low development indicators
Risks of drought that often affect specific groups of households in the sub-region.
The poverty line is 56% of the population whereas the national average is 19%.
Livestock constitutes an important part of community livelihoods. Basic services like veterinary care, water accessibility are hardly adequate. Animal feeding is mainly based on natural pastures.
Pastoralist and pastoral livelihoods in Karamoja has been largely inhibited by the government in favour of sedenterization, despite ecology dictating otherwise.
Purpose / Objectives addressed, results expected
Specific objective: Food and economic security of agro-pastoralist communities has improved through optimization of livestock production and livelihoods diversification in eastern Uganda
Result 1 : Animal health in the intervention area is improved through local animal health services
Result 2 : Households have developed IGA due to better access to micro-credit
Result 3 : Production and market access for producer groups has improved
Result 4 : Enhanced sustainable natural resources management, and reinforced advocacy on issues affecting pastoralists
Type of case
Capacity building, Land development, Livestock development.
| Agroecological zone | Semi-arid (75 < x < 180 LGP) |
| Land area size (km2) | Moroto district: 3,538 km2 Sub-counties: Rupa, Katikekile, Nedunget, Tapac Kaabong district: 7,224 km2 Sub-counties: Karenga, Kawalakol, Loyoro, Kakamar, Lodiko and Sidok |
| Number of people | Total beneficiaries: 28,757 Households i.e 201,000 beneficiaries |
| Sub-area | |
| Land ownership | Collective |
| Ownership comments | Land is customarily and mostly communally managed in Karamoja |
| Livestock system | Grazing |
| Livestock Type: | Cattle, Goats, Other, Sheep |
| Comment livestock systems: | Extensive livestock system, pastoralism, Cattle, goats, sheep & poultry |
| Operating environment: | Free market, subsistence |
| Participants in the case/project: | Pastoralist communities, VSLA groups, animal husbandry groups, Livestock marketing associations, CAHWs, water users committees, hand pump mechanics, district local government . Community institutions and development trusts. |
| Methods / Approaches applied to reach objectives: | Groups and associations formation and support (training, material, technical backstopping and monitoring). Logistic, financial and material support to districts' animal health interventions. Pilot trial for improved breed and pasture. Promoting a dialogue framework for improved management and peaceful sharing of natural resources. Creation of linkages between different stakeholders. Capacity building of local partners for ownership and improved sustainability. |
Outcome / Beneficiaries / Issues
Sustainability regarding economic issues
Improved animal health and increased productivity lead to increased availability of animal products and income
VSLA groups are involved on some IGAs and therefore improve their livelihoods.
Sustainability regarding social issues
VSLA methodology uptake is very high among beneficiary communities who meet regularly, save and take loan. Improved animal husbandry practices are well adopted by farmers who are looking for improved productivity in order to improve food security and generate more income. These therefore help to address social issues. Most of CAHWs are generally motivated, like the profession and see it as a source of additional income.
Sustainability regarding ecological issues
Livelihoods diversification will prevent destructive coping mechanisms such as charcoal burning and fuel wood.Community action plans on Natural Resources Management (e.g. grazing management) will be developed and implemented to prevent environment degradation.
The project will be engaging local authorities to develop bi-law of sustainable use of fuel wood products in the region by studying/reviewing existing laws.
Knowledge Exchange
Reports, capitalization documents, meetings
Key Conflicts / Problems
Conflicts over natural resources use / sharingLimited access to grazing areas due to inaccessibility of water points
Community based animal health services not being optimal
Lessons learnt
Conflict in Karamoja has been evolving from armed raids focused on theft of cattle by warring communities to resource based conflict pitting Karamojong communities against government and mining companies. With increasing livestock numbers conflict over water and pasture resources is increasingly being recorded and will escalate in the near future.
Research Gaps
Traditional Karamojong management of natural resources.
Source of information
Project reports
Keywords:
Sustainable livestock production, Sustainable grassland management, Household poverty