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Western Regional Launch of the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative (URRI)

Denmark and Save the Children Launch Refugee Resilience Initiative in Western Uganda

29 Apr 2025 Uganda

Uganda hosts the largest refugee population in Africa at a time when the refugee influx is increasing, and the impacts of climate change are placing further strain on communities and ecosystems. As a longstanding partner of the Uganda refugee response, Denmark and Save the Children are pleased to launch the Western regional roll-out of the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative in the district of Kyegegwa.

The Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative, also known as URRI, is a five year programme with a budget of approximately USD 40 million (approximately 145 billion UGX). The programme seeks to enhance resilience and self-reliance in refugee and host communities through climate-smart agriculture, sustainable environmental management, and gender equality in West Nile, Northern and Western Uganda. It builds on the results and lessons from the Northern Uganda Resilience Initiative (NURI) implemented in the West Nile and North of Uganda (2018-2022).

“URRI is a Danish-funded programme, but thoroughly rooted in Uganda’s unique and commendable open-door non-encampment model towards refugee hosting. It is aligned with local priorities and driven by the vision of resilient, inclusive communities. In Kyegegwa and beyond, we are proud to stand with government, civil society partners, and communities to support climate-smart, gender-responsive solutions that empower both refugee and host communities. URRI reflects what Denmark believes in: partnerships build on trust, action grounded in local leadership, and a future where no one is left behind,” says Signe Winding Albjerg, Danish Ambassador to Uganda.

In Western Uganda, URRI is led by Save the Children in partnership with Word Vision, AVSI Foundation, Kabarole Research Centre Uganda (KRC), Uganda Network on Law Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET), Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT), Uganda Response Innovation Lab (U-RIL). Activities in Kyegegwa will reach both refugee and host communities through regenerative agriculture, environmental restoration, and targeted support to women and youth.

“Save the Children is proud to be part of URRI. In partnership with local actors, supporting farmers’ groups to adopt climate smart agricultural practices, supporting communities to find nature-based solutions protecting the environment and supporting adolescent girls, youth and women to claim their rights and reduce sexual and gender-based violence is so important in Uganda and globally. The climate crisis is a child rights crisis and strengthening adolescent girls to claim their rights is at the core of what Save the Children believes in” says Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, CEO, Save the Children Denmark.

URRI will support approximately 8,000 smallholder farmers and their families in the district of Kyegegwa. It is one of three districts where the Save the Children-led consortium is implementing URRI. The programme will work with approximately 50,000 smallholder farmers and their families in refugee hosting areas in West Nile, Northern and Western Uganda. Nearly 250,000 individuals will be supported on their journey towards long-term self-reliance and resilience.

About URRI:

URRI is a five-year programme running from 2024-2028 funded by Denmark. The initiative supports the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion within refugee-hosting communities.

Save the Children is the lead partner implementing the programme in Northern and Western Uganda (in the districts of Adjumani, Lamwo, Kyegegwa), with partners World Vision, AVSI Foundation, Kabarole Research Centre Uganda (KRC), Uganda Network on Law Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET), Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT), Uganda Response Innovation Lab (U-RIL).

Danish Refugee Council is the lead partner implementing the programme in West Nile (in districts of Madi Okollo, Terego, Koboko, Yumbe, Obongi, Moyo), with partners DanChurchAid, Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD), Partners in Development and Center for Holistic Transformation (PICOT), and Promoters of Agriculture and Center for Hoslistic Transformation (PALM CORPS).

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