U-Learn Uganda

11/09/2026

URRI's Annual Report: Taking Root – Building resilience in Uganda’s refugee-hosting communities reflects on the initiative’s first year across nine refugee-hosting districts, sharing progress, community stories and lessons from work on climate-smart agriculture, environmental restoration and gender equality.

One key takeaway: access to land emerged as a bigger barrier than initially assumed. Without productive land, it is difficult for farmers to apply new techniques, invest in their livelihoods or participate in environmental restoration.

In 2025, URRI’s engagement contributed to the allocation of 117 acres of land to women and youth.

📖 Read the full report: https://ulearn-uganda.org/taking-root-building-resilience-in-ugandas-refugee-hosting-communities/

Embassy of Denmark in Uganda
Save the Children International
Response Innovation Lab - RIL

10/09/2026

What is working in refugee resilience programming and where do we still need to learn more?

After one year of implementation, Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative (URRI) is taking stock of the evidence emerging across its work on climate-resilient livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and gender equality and social inclusion.

The new URRI Year 1 Learning & Reflection Brief highlights several important lessons. Integrated approaches are producing stronger results than standalone training; practical demonstrations and peer learning can accelerate the uptake of climate-smart practices; and stronger links to markets, finance and private-sector actors can help livelihoods continue beyond project support.

The evidence also reinforces that land access remains a major structural constraint, particularly for refugees. Insecure or short-term access can discourage farmers from investing in soil fertility, high-value crops and other longer-term improvements.

Across gender and inclusion programming, the findings point to the importance of working not only with individuals, but also with households, community leaders and institutions. Meaningful changes in social norms require sustained engagement rather than one-off training.

These are not simply conclusions. The brief distinguishes between established lessons and emerging lessons where more evidence is still needed — helping URRI partners identify what to strengthen, test and learn from as implementation continues.

📄 Read the URRI Year 1 Learning & Reflection Brief: https://ulearn-uganda.org/urri-year-1-learning-reflection-brief-what-works-in-refugee-resilience-programming/

Integrated solutions. Local leadership. Lasting resilience.

Embassy of Denmark in Uganda
Save the Children International
Response Innovation Lab - RIL

After one year of implementation, URRI is taking stock of the evidence emerging across its work on climate-resilient livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and gender equality and social inclusion.

04/09/2026

We have re-published 12 Climate Hazard Assessment Reports on the U-Learn Resource Center, focusing on refugee-hosting districts across Uganda. Across all 12 districts, the data points to clear key trends:

- Rising temperatures: Projections show steady warming by mid-century, bringing more heatwaves and drying out soils faster.

- Unpredictable rains & dry spells: Rain seasons are becoming erratic, causing unexpected dry spells that ruin crops and strain water supplies.

- Flash floods: Heavy, concentrated downpours trigger recurrent flooding in low-lying areas, destroying crops, homes, and roads.

- Double pressure: These shocks hit refugee-hosting regions hardest, placing extra pressure on shared land and natural resources.

Check out the full assessments and district profiles here:👉https://ulearn-uganda.org/tag/climate-environment/

📸 Photos: Taddewo William Senyonyi, Uganda Radio Network, Newsflare

Save the Children International
Embassy of Denmark in Uganda
UK in Uganda
IMPACT Initiatives

02/09/2026

In Moyo, farmers participating in the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative (URRI) training are putting Climate-Smart Agriculture into practice. They are learning how small changes in farming can help them better respond to a changing climate.

From using an A-frame to plant along contour lines, helping reduce soil erosion and conserve water, to mixed cropping, mulching and other soil and water conservation practices, the training focuses on practical solutions that farmers can apply directly on their own land.

These are more than farming techniques. They are tools for building resilience, protecting livelihoods and strengthening food security in communities facing increasing climate pressures.

📖 Click here to read more about approaches to Climate-Smart Agriculture that have been impactful in Uganda’s refugee response: https://ulearn-uganda.org/application-of-climate-smart-agriculture-approaches-in-ugandas-refugee-response/



Embassy of Denmark in Uganda
Save the Children International

28/08/2026

'Access is not activation - Access is less about whether people want a service and more about whether the delivery layer can reliably operate'.

We were pleased to join the Leaving No One Behind in the Digital Era (LNOB) close-out event, organised by UN Capital Development Fund supported by Embassy of Sweden, marking five years of work advancing digital and financial inclusion across Northern Uganda.

The event brought together partners and stakeholders to reflect on what has been achieved in the Lango and West Nile sub-regions, share findings from the programme’s recent impact assessment, and, importantly, consider what comes next.

The conversations reinforced the importance of turning evidence and learning into action. Understanding what worked, what did not, and why, is critical to designing more inclusive digital and financial systems that respond to the realities of underserved communities.

As LNOB transitions into the next phase through the FinWise programme, we look forward to seeing these lessons inform continued efforts to expand access, strengthen financial inclusion, and ensure that no one is left behind in Uganda’s digital transformation.

21/08/2026

How can digital tools transform financial inclusion for refugee and host communities?

This case study highlights the impact of the partnership between Grameen Foundation and UGAFODE Microfinance Limited under the USAID-funded Uthabiti Activity in Nakivale, Isingiro District. By digitizing Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and delivering tailored financial products, this collaboration achieved key outcomes:
• Enhanced financial inclusion: expanded loan access, improved financial literacy, and fostered self-reliance.
• Digital innovation: introduced digital tools and tablets to streamline savings group management, boosting transparency, accuracy, and security.
• Community empowerment: shifted mindsets toward formal banking and strengthened long-term financial planning.

Read the full summary to learn how localized presence and complementary strengths drive sustainable development: https://ulearn-uganda.org/private-sector-engagement-case-study-grameen-and-ugafode/

19/08/2026

North-west / Northern Uganda vs. South-West Uganda: land challenges can look very different.

Recent challenge mapping workshops with communities and local actors highlighted some clear differences in the land issues affecting refugees and host communities.

In North-West / Northern Uganda, land conflicts, unclear boundaries and informal agreements are major concerns. Poverty also makes it difficult for farmers to afford land and basic agricultural inputs. Strengthening land agreements and resolving boundary disputes came out as important priorities.

In South-West Uganda, the picture is different. Farmers face risks of eviction, particularly when land becomes more productive, while high rental costs can make access to land difficult. Protecting tenant rights and improving land consent processes were among the priorities identified.

The takeaway? There is no one-size-fits-all solution to land tenure security. Understanding what is happening at local level is essential if solutions are to work in practice.

What approaches have you seen work to improve land?



Embassy of Denmark in Uganda
Save the Children International
Response Innovation Lab - RIL

07/08/2026

Request for Proposals: Response Innovation Lab - RIL - U-Learn Uganda
Save the Children Uganda is inviting qualified consultants and experts to submit proposals for consultancy services under the Uganda Response Innovation Lab (U-RIL) Framework Agreement.

Consultants are sought in the following thematic areas:

🔹 Qualitative Learning & Research
Support learning processes, research, evidence generation, and insights to improve humanitarian and development programming.

🔹 Information Technology for Development (IT4D)
Develop and support digital solutions, tools, databases, data visualisations, and technology-enabled approaches.

🔹 Communication & Design
Create accessible communication materials, visual products, knowledge outputs, and design solutions that support learning and innovation.

🔹 New Product & Service Innovation Design
Support innovation processes including human-centred design, co-creation, prototyping, testing, and development of new solutions.

📩 How to apply:
Visit https://www.savethechildren.net/tenders/invitation-tender for more information on this tender.
Submit a complete proposal in English together with an expression of interest letter to:
[email protected]
and
[email protected]

📅 Deadline: Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 2:00 PM (EAT)

📍Proposals should be clearly marked:
“Provision of Consultancy Services in Various Thematic Areas – Uganda Response Innovation Lab (U-RIL)”


Save the Children International Embassy of Denmark in Uganda Response Innovation Lab - RIL

06/08/2026

Five new partnership case studies are now available in the U-Learn Resource Centre.

These case studies highlight lessons from private sector partnerships working with refugees and host communities in Uganda, covering financial inclusion, market linkages, agricultural production, and business development. Together, they show how collaboration between NGOs and private sector actors can strengthen livelihoods, improve household well-being, and support more sustainable self-reliance.

The case studies complement our learning report, "Lessons from the Private Sector Engagement Case Studies," which brings together the cross-cutting lessons and recommendations emerging across all five partnerships.

📖 Read the learning report: https://ulearn-uganda.org/lessons-from-the-private-sector-engagement-case-studies/

📚 Explore all case studies in the U-Learn Resource Centre: https://ulearn-uganda.org/u-learn-resource-centre/


Swisscontact Save the Children International Response Innovation Lab - RIL Embassy of Denmark in Uganda Danish Refugee Council World Bank Africa

04/08/2026

The latest U-Learn newsletter is now available.

In this issue:

- Access case studies and a learning brief on meaningful private sector engagement in Uganda's refugee response.
- Download a report on long-term cash support as a means to strengthen refugee self-reliance.
- Read more about our learning review on access to land and land tenure for refugees and host communities.
- Watch the video recap from the workshop on countering land degradation.
- Apply to one of the vacancies/consultant roles now open at U-RIL/U-Learn.

Read the newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/ulearn-uganda/a-year-in-review-snapshot-of-2025-for-u-learn-14189391

You can also explore more publications and resources on the U-Learn Learning Hub: https://ulearn-uganda.org.

Subcribe to our mailinglist to receive future newsletter editions: https://eepurl.com/hkgCb5



Save the Children International
Response Innovation Lab - RIL
Embassy of Denmark in Uganda
UNHCR Uganda