The Karamoja region, in north-eastern Uganda, is one of the most vulnerable and marginalised areas on the African continent. Approximately 68.9% of the population lives in conditions of chronic poverty, compounded by limited access to basic services and inadequate infrastructure. On top of this already fragile situation, the effects of climate change are intensifying: prolonged droughts, flash floods, and the progressive degradation of water resources and soil threaten the livelihoods of communities that depend largely on agriculture and livestock farming.

Water scarcity and the deterioration of natural resources fuel social tensions and conflicts, making an integrated intervention all the more urgent — one that addresses environmental, productive, and social challenges together. In this context, reforestation and agroforestry practices are not merely tools for ecological restoration, but fundamental levers for building resilience and sustainable development prospects for local populations.

The “Greening Uganda” project, coordinated by No One Out and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), aims to improve the quality of life of communities in the districts of Napak, Moroto, Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit, through integrated environmental actions aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 2, 13 and 15.

The initiative is structured around three lines of action: strengthening the capacity of rural communities in natural and energy resource management; supporting the production and storage of cereal and legume seeds; and rehabilitating water harvesting systems — including sand dams and valley tanks — alongside reforestation interventions, to increase water availability and reduce pressure on natural resources.

Construction of “Valley Tanks”, water retention structures

Etifor is involved in activities aimed at improving biodiversity and soil regeneration in riparian areas, through the design and implementation of agroforestry practices. Our role is to ensure that these practices are grounded in solid scientific foundations while also responding to the needs of local communities, combining knowledge of regional agro-climatic conditions with a participatory and context-sensitive approach.

The goal is to restore biodiversity and improve soil health in degraded areas near water harvesting systems, helping to promote sustainable environmental management over the long term. Through this experience, Etifor brings its expertise in agroforestry and ecosystem regeneration to the service of communities among the most exposed to the effects of climate change, demonstrating how nature can be both a solution and an ally for equitable and resilient development.

Neighbouring areas to be restored through agroforestry interventions and local community consultation