Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Food Security in Ugandan Refugee Settlements

About this CARP project

Food insecurity is a major problem for refugees in Uganda since most households rely on food aid and agriculture for sustenance and income. However, non-mechanized farming methods due to resource constraints in refugee settlements exacerbate the negative effects of climate change on food production, making them more vulnerable to food insecurity. Investigating the relationship between changing climate patterns, agricultural productivity, and the nutritional well-being of refugee populations would inform targeted interventions and policies aimed at improving food security resilience.

Study site: Kyaka II, Kiryandongo, and Bidibidi Refugee Settlements are located in different regions of Uganda: Southwest, Northwest, and West Nile, respectively.

 Main Research Questions

• What are the impacts of climate change on food availability in Uganda refugee settlements?
• How does climate change impact food access in Uganda refugee settlements?
• What are the impacts of climate change on food utilization among refugees in Uganda refugee settlements?
• What are the current and future coping strategies to improve food security within refugee settlements in the face of climate change?

The project identifies the vulnerable nature of refugee communities to food insecurity and malnutrition and aims to prevent a disaster from occurring in the midst of an existing humanitarian crisis. The research seeks to generate information to support the development of context-specific, climate-adaptive strategies to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition among refugees in Uganda.