Laguti subcounty pilots’ community-led flood resilience initiative

23 October 2024, 8:38 pm

By Odong Daniel

Elderly women and young girls attending LIFE-AR sensitisation meeting.

The community of Lalur village, Kilim parish in Laguti subcounty has identified floods as the most dangerous hazard affecting development in their area.

A focused group was held in Laguti subcounty and will continue in Pajule and Pukor subcounties, targeting four groups: elderly women, young girls, elderly men and young men. The aim is to develop adaptive strategies to cope with the climate hazards.

Mr. Odongtoo James, an elder, stated that floods have significantly impacted them this year, making roads inaccessible. Some farmers who grew watermelon were left stranded as their fruits rotted due to their perishability.  

The Low Developed Countries Initiative For Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR) is conducting consultations in the community of Pader to assess how climate hazards affect people’s livelihoods.

LIFE-AR aims to place Uganda on a climate resilient development path by 2030, with 70% climate finance supporting local-level climate action.

Mr. Okumu Robert, L.C.III Chairperson of Laguti subcounty, urged the community to embrace this project positivity and act as champions noting that they are fortunate to have been chosen as a pilot project area.

Coordinated by the Ministry of Water and Environment through Ministry of Finance, LIFE-AR intends to support locally prioritised climate investments at the local level, starting with 12 pilot districts of Pader, Pakwach, Yumbe and Kabong among others.

Mr. Aaron Werikhe, Senior Climate Finance Officer, said that this project will be unique because it will be community driven, unlike other projects which come with predefined structures to just implement, document and report.

LIFE-AR is in its initial stage of consultation with the community to identify the climate hazards affecting them and to develop resources that will directly benefit the community.

Mr. Werikhe added that more resources will be allocated to the local community, with 70% of the local community receiving direct investment.

He emphasised that while most projects spend funds on meetings, workshops and monitoring, LIFE-AR will be a community driven, where the community is actively involved from project selection. This approach will improve road access, generate income and support youth projects to uplift the lives of local citizens.

Mr. Okello Martine, Pader District Forestry Officer, states that they will build the capacity of local government and communities to prepare and implement viable projects for climate resilience.