New Project launch to Build women smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacities in Uganda
Uganda, 5 September 2023 – A transformative research project is set to take root in Uganda’s cattle corridor, focusing on enhancing the adaptive capacities of women smallholder farmers. Entitled “Building Women Smallholder Farmers’ Adaptive Capacities in Uganda,” this initiative aims to tackle the gender-based constraints that make rural women farmers particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
As Uganda experiences rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall, the agricultural sector, especially in drylands and the “cattle corridor” areas that stretch across the country, is grappling with mounting challenges. In response, a collaborative effort between Makerere University and the Association of Uganda Professional Women in Agriculture and the Environment (AUPWAE) is launching a three-year project funded through the CLARE programme, a UK-Canada framework for research initiative focused on Climate Adaptation and Resilience to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action that will build resilience to climate change and natural hazards.
The project’s approach is centered on gender-transformative interventions designed to empower women farmers and enhance their ability to adapt to climate change shocks. Through a combination of training, mentorship, peer learning, and community engagement, the project aims to promote the adoption of sustainable climate-smart agronomic practices. Women-friendly digital innovations will provide timely climateinformation to support decision-making, and participatory conversations will address discriminatory gender norms. The project will also engage policy actors and practitioners to develop gender-responsive policies that support women’s empowerment and resilience.
With CAD$1,500,000 in funding from the CLARE programme, the initiative is poised to drive tangible progress in gender equality, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience in Uganda’s rural landscapes, directly benefiting 1,504 smallholder farmers (both women and men).
“I am proud to see this project taking shape, enabled by the long-standing, successful partnership between IDRC and UK FCDO and by exciting partnerships with researchers and practitioners around the world. We are looking forward to seeing these partners co-producing needs-driven, action-oriented research that will use science and innovation to address short-term climate shocks whilst enabling long-term, sustainable, and equitable development” said Professor Charlotte Watts, UK FCDO Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Research and Evidence.
The anticipated impact of the project is substantial and willfoster gender-responsive adaptation practices, climate-smart agriculture, and enhanced resilience to climate-related shocks. The project will also empower local leaders, government staff, and policy makers, ensuring a wide-reaching impact on gender equality and climate resilience.
“IDRC’s longstanding partnership with the UK has been of great value for the advancement of sustainable development. the CLARE project announced today represent the focus of our partnership – supporting Southern-led climate-adaptation research to identify innovative solutions and help build long-term resilience while promoting gender equality and inclusion” said Julie Shouldice, IDRC Vice-President, Strategy, Regions and Policy.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
[Florence Kyoheirwe Muhanguzi]
[Makerere University, School of Women and Gender Studies]
[flora.muhanguzi@gmail.com]
[+256777108535]
[https://www.mak.ac.ug/]
[https://chuss.mak.ac.ug/]
[https://womenstudies.mak.ac.ug/]
About CLARE
Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) initiative is a £110m, UK-Canada framework research programme on Climate Adaptation and Resilience, aiming to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards. CLARE is an initiative jointly designed, funded and run by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Canada’s International Development Research Centre. CLARE is primarily funded by UK aid from the UK government, along with the International Development Research Centre, Canada
