Uganda is currently dealing with some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian and development challenges. The country hosts more than 1 million refugees, mostly fleeing conflicts in neighbouring South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is also undergoing rapid urbanization, and has one of the fastest growing populations in the world.

The Northern Region is of particular concern. It is still recovering from decades of conflict and is home to the largest refugee settlement in Africa, whilst relying on a primarily rain-fed agricultural system, which no longer meets the needs of its population.

Women and girls, both Ugandan and refugees, are particularly affected by the impacts of conflicts, displacement and urbanization. They often only have very limited or no access to social and economic capital, face various barriers to access dignified and sustainable livelihood opportunities and are at high risk of engaging in harmful coping mechanisms. In this context, many women and girls experience new forms of gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation.

The Women and Youth Resilience Project (WAYREP) supports women and girls as well as young men in refugee, host and urban communities to realize their rights through socio-economic strengthening, resilience building and reduction of Gender Based Violence (GBV). It contributes to SDG 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” with a focus on ending all forms of discrimination and violence against all women and girls.

Expected Results and Key Activities

ER 1: Enhanced safe, sustainable and dignified livelihoods/ income, in particular for women and female youth

Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) and specific Youth Savings and Loans Associations (YSLAs) will be the main platform to support women, girls and young men at risk in accessing livelihood and income opportunities and for building their social and economic capital through coaching, mentoring and other capacity building activities.

ER 2: Reduction of the acceptance and tolerance for gender based violence (GBV) in target areas

Activists and Role Model Men and Boys (RMMB) will be trained to challenge harmful gender norms and reduce GBV in their communities. Mass sensitization campaigns will address GBV and promote positive masculinity and women and girls‘ rights to dignified livelihoods and a life free from violence.

ER 3: Enhanced psychosocial support of survivors of gender based violence (GBV), abuse and exploitation 

Service providers and community-based psychosocial support structures will be supported to improve services for GBV survivors

ER 4: Increased accountability of the Government of Uganda on the implementation of relevant international, regional and national level frameworks for the protection of women and girls’ socio-economic rights and a life free from violence

Advocacy work will focus on local, national and international initiatives to promote the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda as well as women and girls’ participation and protection, in refugee contexts for instance. Social accountability tools will be used to strengthen women and girls’ rights to socioeconomic empowerment and to a life free from violence.

Target Group

WAYREP will target about 33,500 women and adolescent girls (focus age: 15-30 years) who are at high risk of exploitation and abuse, including survivors of GBV. Most of them are affected by the impacts of conflicts, displacement and urbanization and have limited or no access to social and economic capital. About 11,100 disempowered young men and boys (ages 15-30) will also be addressed if they are at high risk of engaging in harmful coping mechanisms and in need of psychosocial and socio-economic support. Refugee and host communities in and around Rhino settlement as well as peri-urban and urban communities in Arua and Gulu are targeted as well.