The French Government has allocated €535,000 (approximately 2.1 billion Ugandan Shillings) in humanitarian aid to the Karamoja region through the Aid Food Programme 2024. This initiative aims to enhance food security and nutritional health in the Nakapiripirit and Amudat districts.

Administered by ACTED in partnership with Caritas Moroto diocese, the project seeks to improve agricultural practices and reduce child stunting among vulnerable households. The consortium has received a grant from the French Embassy in Uganda to support these efforts.

ACTED, a global NGO dedicated to eradicating poverty and exclusion while promoting sustainable development, will lead the project. The initiative will benefit 1,500 households, focusing on enhancing agricultural skills and maternal and child health.

Amelia Savell-Boss, ACTED Country Director in Uganda, highlighted the project’s inclusive approach, particularly targeting 66 women and households with pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as children under 24 months. The project is expected to indirectly benefit 21,000 individuals across the target communities.

Key activities include cash transfers, agricultural training, and environmental restoration to combat soil erosion and climate change. Additionally, the project will focus on improving maternal and child nutrition and promoting healthy eating habits in schools.

French Ambassador to Uganda, Xavier Sticker, emphasized the longstanding partnership between the French Embassy and ACTED. This project builds on previous successful collaborations, such as the REVIVE project and the 2022 Aid Food Programme, which strengthened community resilience and nutrition in Karamoja.

Caritas will manage around 40% of the budget, focusing on disseminating good food practices, detecting malnutrition, and distributing nutritious foods to vulnerable households and schools. The project continues ACTED’s mission to achieve zero poverty, zero carbon, and zero exclusion in the region.