Sweden and Uganda are collaborating to improve the industry in the West Nile
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Today, the Prime Minister’s Office launched NutriCash – a project that will see children under the age of two, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in the West Nile region, northwestern Uganda, receive UGX 48,000 ($ 14) each month to meet their nutritional needs. NutriCash is part of the Child Sensitive Social Protection Program funded by Sweden.
The UN World Food Program and the UN Children’s Fund will implement NutriCash in collaboration with OPM, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Labor Market and Social Development, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Local Government. NutriCash also falls under the OPM-led Development Response to Displacement Impact Program, through which districts that receive a large number of refugees receive support to facilitate resources and social services.
West Nile, where NutriCash will be implemented in eight districts, is home to half of the 1.5 million refugees in Uganda. Rapid population growth, combined with the covid-19 pandemic, is straining the already limited resources for both refugees and host communities.
Nearly three out of ten children in the West Nile are devastated. In addition, half of all children and more than a quarter of women are anemic, according to the 2021 Food and Nutrition Assessment. Malnutrition can irreversibly damage children’s health, ability to learn and future income ability. Almost half of the deaths among children under the age of five are due to malnutrition. Although malnutrition can affect anyone, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women are particularly vulnerable because they have special dietary needs.
In addition, in patriarchal societies such as Uganda, they often end up at the bottom of the social hierarchy – affecting what and when they eat and limiting access to resources they can use to improve their diet. The NutriCash project targets these vulnerable groups while strengthening the state’s social protection and health systems to ensure that their nutrition is not jeopardized, even in the event of shock.
Adam Kahsai-Rudebeck, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy in Kampala, described NutriCash as a long-term investment in protecting women and children, and a show of solidarity with the most vulnerable during a time when they need it most.
“COVID-19 affected us all, but the poor and vulnerable are hardest hit. Many people have been denied their basic right to food and we can not just watch. Sweden has for many years stood in solidarity with the people of Uganda through our development cooperation. We are especially proud to fund NutriCash as it is a unique project that has the potential to strengthen social protection and change attitudes and behaviors for better nutrition for both refugee and host communities in the West Nile. ”
The project is based on previous covid-19 emergency cash support that Sweden gave to over 120,000 households in the West Nile to make it possible for the most vulnerable families to survive the pandemic.
“Children, pregnant and breastfeeding women have special nutritional needs. When resources are limited, they are most affected by malnutrition. We must prioritize the needs of women and children to ensure that there is a strong foundation for future generations, “said Abdirahman Meygag, WFP Representative in Uganda. “WFP is honored to work with the Government of Uganda to ensure that we achieve our goal of zero hunger. We are determined to work with the government to implement this holistic project that goes beyond providing cash assistance for financial literacy training, address the root causes of malnutrition and implement a more inclusive nutrition policy. “
In addition to donating money, NutriCash will also involve intensive campaigns to enable families to adopt habits that improve their lifestyle, health and diet.
“UNICEF recognizes the multifaceted nature of malnutrition. It is important that we not only treat women and children, but also provide them with information on what foods to eat, while ensuring that local markets can meet these dietary needs. Ending malnutrition will require all top-down stakeholders – not just women and children suffering from malnutrition, but also market vendors, for example, “said Dr M. Munir A. Safieldin, UNICEF Representative in Uganda.” NutriCash is an example of a sustainable and an inclusive solution to malnutrition, and it will go a long way to changing the lives of women and children in the West Nile. “
While the Ugandan government and partners have invested heavily in social protection and nutrition, the projects are mostly focused on providing immediate nutritional support. Nutricash will go further to strengthen government social protection and integrate nutrition into national health systems. The government is already reviewing social protection policy to ensure that it includes diet as a key aspect.
“Nutrition-specific approaches alone are not enough to address the complex causes of malnutrition. The government values this strategic partnership with Sweden, WFP and UNICEF because it not only addresses malnutrition but also strengthens government systems,” said Hon. Hillary Onek, Minister for Development Aid , disaster preparedness and refugees. “As a government, we are determined to transform our social protection and address nutrition through the right policies and approaches that work for all.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UNICEF Uganda.