In Uganda’s Acholi region, home to nearly 80,000 South Sudanese refugees displaced by war, African Women Rising helps women and children build peaceful, prosperous lives through ecological agricultural training. With most refugees under 18 and lacking farming skills, AWR’s “permagarden” methodology quickly increases food production using regenerative techniques like rainwater harvesting and soil enrichment.
This approach reduces land degradation while sequestering carbon, enabling greater yields, food security, and climate resilience. AWR’s model aligns with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID)’s goals to reduce reliance on food aid through sustainable livelihoods for refugees and has the potential to transform emergency food provision globally. With support, refugee women and children in Uganda will be empowered through regenerative gardening that restores the environment and fosters self-sufficiency.