Namibia - DRR
Investing in prevention saves lives and livelihoods in Uganda
Climate-related disasters affect Ugandans more than any other kind of crisis. Current and projected climate change and climate variability—such as the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the rise in global temperature and the changes in rainfall patterns leading to frequent and high-impact droughts and floods—will continue to adversely affect vulnerable populations, causing death, suffering, loss of property and productive capacity across the country.
Drought has affected a huge number of Ugandans over the last 30 years. According to documents that informed the Uganda National Development Plan (2008), seven drought events occurred in Uganda between 1991 and 2000, as compared to eight droughts of comparable magnitude that occurred in the 78 years prior to 1989. Moreover, a drought in 1979 affected about 500,000 people, compared to 700,000 people in 1999 and again in 2008.
There has also been an unusual trend in flood-related disasters in Uganda. In 2007, serious flooding took place in northern Uganda, affecting over 700,000 people and destroying many years of development gains and undermining the socioeconomic recovery of the communities in that part of the country.
 In Uganda, UNDP is playing the lead role in supporting the government in the prevention and mitigation of climate change-related disasters. The organization is providing support to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees to build community resilience and buoy the national and local capacity to prevent, mitigate, and respond to the impacts of disasters. UNDP contributed to the establishment of the National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Thirteen District Disaster Management Committees, which serve as local DRR platforms, were strengthened through the deployment of two national and eight district coordinators. UNDP also helped develop national and district contingency plans and facilitated the process that will soon culminate in the approval of the Uganda National Disaster Preparedness and Management Policy.
Following the 2007 floods that inundated the Teso sub-region, UNDP, through its quick impact programming, supported over 100 community projects in five districts to enhance the recovery process and livelihoods of disaster-affected communities. Over 3,000 households benefited directly from this intervention through the creation of small-scale infrastructure (to improve access to basic social services), skills development trainings, and other small-scale interventions.
Furthermore, UNDP supported several non-governmental and civil society organizations, such as the Uganda Environmental Education Foundation (UEEF) and the Programme for Energy Resources Development (PERD), to improve local energy-saving technologies. UNDP is also assisting the government in reducing the waste of biomass during charcoal production, raising the level of awareness on climate change in Uganda, and including sustainable land management activities in district development plans.
— Samuel Akera, Jose Manzano and Florian Schatz
Photo credit: UNDP Uganda
Photo caption:
The youth association in Aminit received 4 oxen and 1 ox-plough which they are using to till their land
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