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About us

The Hunger Project’s vision

A world where every woman, man and child leads a healthy, fulfilling life of self-reliance and dignity.

The Hunger Project’s mission

To end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, women-centred strategies and advocating for their widespread adoption in countries throughout the world.

What we believe

We know it’s possible for hunger to end, and that our generation has the power to end it once and for all. In our experience, people who live in hunger are not the problem – they are the solution. We don’t see a billion mouths to feed, we see a billion human beings who are enterprising and resilient. The work, therefore, is to unlock their capacity, creativity and leadership so they can end their own hunger. That’s what we do.

The Hunger Project empowers women and men living in rural villages in Africa, India, Bangladesh and Latin America to end their own hunger. We reach 16 million people who are transforming themselves, their families and their communities, and are bringing about the end of hunger.

Our work in the UK

For us in the United Kingdom, we think there is more to life than just consuming. We are all connected, and honouring that connection through partnership makes life richer.

We all have a part to play in the end of hunger. Find yours by joining the movement of people rising up to end hunger by 2030.

Charity number: 1164839

Help us improve malnutrition and food insecurity in rural Uganda

Uganda is a land locked country located in the Eastern part of Africa that is crossed by the equator. About 68% of the population in Uganda is engaged in agriculture as their major source of livelihood. However, the agriculture sector is fragmented and dominated by small holder farmers most of whom combine subsistence farming with cash crops and livestock. Moreover, the increasing population, accelerated deforestation, poor soil and water management practices as well as increasing poverty and land degradation are posing a serious food security threat to millions of Ugandans.

Uganda has largely been known as the bread basket of Africa and for the most part this is still true. However, many regions of the country are beginning to show serious signs of lack and starvation. According to the Uganda Nutrition Status report of 2020, it was revealed that there are already alarming signs of chronic malnutrition among children specifically in the Western, West Nile and North eastern regions of the country. A study conducted in rural Uganda, Ankole region found that the main predictors of malnutrition and stunting among children included food insecurity among households.

Generally, the issue of malnutrition and food insecurity in Uganda is largely connected to the fact that around 68% of the population depend on subsistence farming and are therefore still very dependent on rainfall and climatic conditions. If these fail, communities are only able to grow certain crops while many will not even possess the disposable incomes to buy food from the market even if it is available. The reliance on rainfall both for small holder farmers and pastoralists is unlikely to change in the near future hence the need to encourage farmers to support nature through the integration of tree planting into their farming system.

Agroforestry involves the integration and use of trees in crop fields, farms and across agricultural landscapes. Trees buffer climate change impacts and variability and diversify land use and farming systems thereby providing additional livelihood and environmental benefits not delivered through land management without trees. Implementing agroforestry involves promoting a diverse set of options comprising innovation in technology, market and policy that need to be matched to the variations in environmental and social context.

The Hunger Project Uganda proposes to amplify the voices of rural small holder farmers in four districts of Nwoya, Bugweri, Kabale and Maracha through supporting them harness the potential of Agroforestry to achieve food and nutrition security in their households. This proposed project will complement the on-going Right to Grow program which is a purely advocacy program aimed at reducing stunting among children (under 5 years) in Uganda. The Right to Grow program is implemented as a consortium project by three organisations namely, World Vision Uganda, Action Against Hunger and The Hunger Project. Further, the proposed project is well aligned with the Uganda National Development Plan III whose theme is Strengthening Ugandas competitiveness for sustainable wealth creation, inclusive growth and employment and lastly with the COP26 recommendations where nature was recognised for both reducing emissions and building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The project will aim at promoting the Integration of agroforestry practices into small holder farming systems to ensure that farmer households are food and nutrition secure as a result of reduced risks associated with drought while at the same time improving biodiversity and nutrient content in food as well as water cycling in the agro-ecosystem. Lastly, the project will also focus on livelihoods strengthening through providing families entrepreneurship opportunities to increase the range of tree/crop products available on the market.

The project strategies will focus on increasing awareness of rural smallholder farmers on the importance of agroforestry in food and nutrition security strengthening, Forming partnerships with the private sector to enhance capacity and mentorships for small holder farmer groups including youth and women groups to be able to integrate agroforestry practices into their farming systems and lastly promote agroforestry entrepreneurship's through supporting a total of 24 entrepreneurs to invest in tree nursery projects that will increase accessibility to quality and affordable tree seedlings for their respective communities.

Among the key activities to be undertaken during project implementation include, mobilisation and awareness creation about the importance of trees in the agro ecosystem, capacity building of small holder farmer groups including women and youth in agroforestry farm management practices, establish agroforestry demonstration sites at sub-county level in partnership with the district agriculture/ production department and support investment in tree nursery enterprises with special focus on women and youth entrepreneurs.

It is envisaged that at the end of the 3 years, the communities will be in position to appreciate the importance of agroforestry in food and nutrition security strengthening, actively advocate for the protection and preservation of indigenous tree cover within their respective community farming systems, Improved food and nutrition security in farmer households resulting from increased crop diversification and lastly there will be increased incomes among small holder households resulting from the increased sale of tree seedlings plus a range of tree/crop products.

To enhance food and nutrition security across the four implementing districts, the project will purpose to integrate tree (particularly fruit trees) planting in agriculture farming systems by directly targeting small holder farmer households. Among the steps to be undertaken include, mobilisation of farmers to understand their attitudes, perceptions and practices concerning tree management. Analysing farmers decision to engage in fruit tree planting on farms will reveal key variables that affect their behaviors and which can therefore be used to inform the awareness and sensitisation activities to be undertaken during the life of the project.

Secondly, the project will engage with the private sector agroforestry entrepreneurs to mobilise and train lead farmers/ animators in agroforestry management practices with special interest in women and youth farmers. Women being the largest labor force in the agricultural sector have been continued to play a critical role in food security matters across households. Similarly, the youth are an upcoming labor force in the agricultural sector owing to the increased move towards technology and digital transformations within the agricultural sector. Agroforestry as a proven solution to addressing food and nutrition security provides a perfect opportunity for engaging the youth and women in the agriculture sector development agenda for Uganda.

Thirdly, the project will also focus on increasing adoption and conservation education through establishment of agroforestry demonstration sites. These demonstration sites will be established at sub county level across the 4 districts as a measure. In addition, a total of 24 entrepreneurs will be supported to establish tree nurseries that will increase the availability of tree seedlings in the community for easier access by the farmers across the 4 districts.

Proposed Project Activities

Conduct a Knowledge, attitude and practice survey (KAP) among farming communities to understand their attitudes, perceptions and practices around tree integration in agricultural farm lands.
Conduct community sensitisation and awareness sessions around the importance of Agroforestry in environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.
Organise mindset changing workshops to enable the communities develop a shared vision towards fruit tree integration within agriculture farming systems.
Conduct radio talk shows on different topics relating to agroforestry and its role in environmental conservation.
Organise essay writing competitions in schools to increase knowledge and early adoption of agroforestry practices among students.
Organise farmer exchange learning visits to promote learning and adoption of different agroforestry practices.
Identify and train lead farmers/ animators to mobilise and provide regular technical support to farmers during the integration process.
Establish demonstration plots for agroforestry farming at sub county level.
Support agroforestry entrepreneurs with seed capital to invest in tree nursery projects.
Establish community agroforestry management committees at sub county level to monitor and mitigate tree cutting in their respective communities.

To find out more visit - https://thehungerproject.org.uk/