EMBASSY OF DENMARK LAUNCHES UGANDA REFUGEE RESILIENCE INITIATIVE (URRI)

With more than 30 years of partnership between Denmark and Uganda, the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative, also known as URRI, reaffirms Denmark’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s refugee response. URRI - running until the end of 2028 - builds on the results and lessons from NURI the Danish funded predecessor programme Northern Uganda Resilience Initiative (NURI) 2018- 2022.

“Denmark is honoured to continue more than three decades of contribution to Uganda’s refugee response. The launch of URRI comes at a time where the refugee population is increasing and refugee and host communities are under significant pressure among other due to the effects of climate change. We are excited to embark on this adventure together with 12 strong partners representing local and international organisations with expertise in sustainable solutions for refugees and host communities” says Signe Winding Albjerg, Danish Ambassador to Uganda.

With an increasing refugee influx and climate change impacts, land in refugee-affected areas is under pressure, leading to environmental degradation and the exhaustion of natural resources and ecosystems. As a consequence, the viability of agriculture, the basis of livelihoods for many refugee and host communities, is significantly challenged. The majority of the refugee population consists of women and children, groups that often face heightened vulnerabilities through discrimination and rights abuses. These vulnerabilities are exacerbated under climate change which disproportionately affects women and girls.

URRI aims to address the challenges by enhancing climate resilience and adaptation through climate- smart agriculture training. In addition, URRI promotes sustainable management of the environment, strengthening conservation of natural resources, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and productivity. Finally, URRI aims to strengthen gender equality, women’s rights and empowerment in relation to agriculture, climate change adaption, and sustainable environmental management.

"The Danish Refugee Council specialises in working with refugee and host communities. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting the Ugandan refugee response alongside our consortia partners during this critical time of need,” says Samuele Otim Rizzo, Country Director of Danish Refugee Council.

“Over the next four years, we hope to make a significant impact for refugee and host communities, building resilient communities. We are going to work hard to strengthen the capacity of our local partners and local authorities to carry forward URRI’s legacy in many years to come," says Famari Barro, Country Director of Save the Children Uganda.

The programme will be implemented by two consortia led by both Danish Refugee Council and Save the Children.

The 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).

Save the Children is the lead partner implementing the programme in Northern and Western Uganda (in the districts of Adjumani, Lamwo, Kyegegwa), with partners 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).