Climate Action for Improved & Sustainable Livelihoods (CAISL)

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About the Project

The Primary Purpose

Combating climate change and building community resilience through sustainable energy solutions are the primary purposes of this project. To achieve these, extensive training and demonstration of concrete examples of sustainable energy solutions will be carried out. There will also be a focus on educating and training the local community in targeted local advocacy with the long-term goal of achieving national advocacy for climate change and sustainable energy solutions.

CAISL is focusing on the Nebbi District (ND) in Northern Uganda to make it a JEEP model district in climate mitigation measures and to built community resilience, accessibility to eco-friendly solutions and advocacy skills. The intervention has a particular focus on the participation of young people and women.

To achieve the goals, Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) from the previous intervention (EASE & CA) will collaborate with JEEP in hands-on training. TOTs from JEEP and UCSD will be trained at organizational level in the Nebbi District and their goal will be to build effective advocacy organizations using evidence-based argumentation and strengthening positive dialogue. The purpose is to secure support and commitment from local politicians.

In the project there will be various activities, including awareness raising, establishment of mobile energy hubs and training of members of community-based organizations (CBOs) in cooking, solar energy and tree planting.

All activities will be carried out within the Nebbi District to ensure a targeted and focused effort to make it a sustainable and climate change resilient community.

Challenges To Be Tackled

1. Climate change: Climate change has made agricultural activities in the Nebbi District difficult. Implementation of mitigation measures is needed to ensure that farmers can continue their production despite climate variations.

2. Land Degradation: Nebbi District suffers from severe land degradation affecting agricultural production and ecosystem health. Measures must be taken to combat and restore the soil to ensure sustainable and productive agricultural practices.

3. Deforestation: The forest cover in the area has become scarce due to uncontrolled deforestation. This has negative consequences for both the environment and the local population, who need wood for the construction of local houses. Initiatives for sustainable forest management and tree replanting must be implemented.

4. Energy supply: Firewood and other energy sources are essential for cooking in the area, and the need is growing due to population growth. At the moment, however, there is widespread use of open fires and fires with 3 stones for cooking, which has negative consequences for both health and the environment. There is a need to promote the use of sustainable and alternative energy sources for cooking, to reduce environmental damage and improve the quality of life for the local population.

Illiteracy is widespread due to past political instability that has prevented children from going to school.

Efforts must be made to educate about lifestyle changes and involve the growing group of unemployed youth to actively participate and use their potential together with women. Women often participate in literacy programs, which increases their interest in new ideas about improved lifestyles.

ND women are generally interested in earning money and starting small businesses in conjunction with their farm/garden work. They want to help ensure a secure existence for their families who always need financial support for food, clothing, schooling and healthcare. However, they lack the skills and resources to realize their ambitions.

In order to educate about lifestyle changes and raise awareness of the importance of sustainable development, it is necessary to use a wide range of means and strategies. Educational programs, workshops and information campaigns can play a central role in raising awareness of environmental challenges and promoting alternatives to traditional fuel sources.

The intervention will introduce effective advocacy methods that will promote the implementation of Uganda’s Environment and Climate Act as well as ensure the incorporation of sustainable energy solutions into local development plans via financial support.

As an umbrella organization, UCSD will also strive to advance this advocacy effort at the national level for the benefit of rural populations who currently suffer from a lack of access to affordable, healthy and sustainable solutions.

How Will the Project Contribute to Strengthening Civil Society and Civil Organisations?

1. Education and Capacity Building: JEEP and UCSD will work with the educated beneficiaries, private sector organizations, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Department of Renewable Energy under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to provide sustainable energy access with application and utilization of renewable energy sources in civil society (homes and schools) i.e. solar energy, energy-saving stoves and fireless basket stoves. This will increase civil society’s knowledge and capabilities in sustainable energy and strengthen their opportunities to influence and implement similar projects in the future.

2. Community involvement: By introducing and promoting sustainable energy solutions such as solar energy and energy-saving stoves in homes and schools, the intervention will create awareness and interest in the local community. This will increase civil society’s commitment and involvement in environmental and climate issues and strengthen their ability to influence political decisions and demand action from the authorities.

3. Partnerships and networks: The intervention will also involve collaboration with various stakeholders, including the beneficiaries of the action, private companies, CSOs and government agencies. This will help build stronger partnerships and networks within civil society, which will strengthen their ability to collaborate, share knowledge and resources, and overall strengthen their influence and effectiveness in influencing policies and programs.

Overall, the action will contribute to strengthening civil society by increasing their knowledge, capacity and commitment within sustainable energy, establishing partnerships and networks and ensuring their active role in influencing decision-making processes and implementing political initiatives.

In this intervention, different actors are involved in advocacy, awareness raising and training. This includes environmentalists, community-based organizations (CBOs), and local political, cultural and religious leaders. Their participation and commitment are crucial to achieving the desired changes in the intervention area.

Through various activities, the intervention will help to strengthen civil society and increase the visibility and popularity of JEEP and UCSD among the local population as well as district and ministry level officials. This will create favorable conditions for cooperation and support for the implementation of environmental and climate initiatives, as well as further future interventions.

Activities will include capacity building where environmental advocates and CBOs will receive training and resources to conduct effective advocacy. In addition, awareness-raising campaigns involving local political, cultural and religious leaders will be held, as their influence and credibility are essential to reach the community and raise awareness of environmental and climate issues.

This broad involvement of various actors will contribute creating a solid and sustainable platform for change and implementation of environmental and climate initiatives. It will also strengthen collaboration and partnerships between JEEP, UCSD and other stakeholders, which will ultimately benefit the intervention area and affected communities.

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Gallery

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News about the Project

• Nordic Folkecenter Visits JEEP Folkecenter in Uganda
  By Gitte Davidsen and Lene Høgh

  

  Nordic Folkecenter’s volunteer Lene Høgh and Sustainability Manager Gitte Davidsen were in November 2023 on a monitoring visit to Uganda in connection with our CISU-supported project Climate Action for Improved & Sustainable Livelihoods (CAISL).

  CAISL is a collaboration between Nordic Folkecenter for Sustainable Energy, JEEP Folkecenter (Joint Energy and Environment Projects) and Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development (UCSD). 

  Uganda is a country in East Africa with a population of 45.85 million.

  Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy has had a collaboration with JEEP Folkecenter since 2005 

  JEEP Folkecenter is located on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda’s capital. 

  After arriving in Uganda, we traveled to Nebbi district, which is located in northwestern Uganda. 

  We visited the CAISL project’s office in Nebbi, saw the new motorbikes that are used to solve the tasks in the district and met the project’s Field workers Carol and Patricia.

  Local Advocacy towards public leaders

  We visited the Deputy CAO (Chief Administrative Officer), which is the government’s representative in the district and in the Nebbi Sub-county we visited the SAS (Senior Assistant Secretary = CAO at that level). Everyone was very positive about the CAISL project.

  We also visited the Atego Sub-county and the Atego SEED Secondary School, which has now received the first LED installation with lights in two classrooms. They are excited about their light, which in the evening can be seen throughout the area. The school’s chairman of the board and the headmaster took the opportunity to ask about the possibility of charging mobile phones as well and of getting light from the school to the teachers’ residences and to the students’ dormitories. There are many snakes in the area and it is difficult to move around the school when it is dark.

  We also visited the school that received an institutional stove from the EASE&CA project, to remind them that it should also be available to other schools that need similar stoves.

  Advocacy training for managers

  We participated in a full day training on advocacy in the town of Nebbi, together with 20 – 25 heads of organizations and cultural leaders. Richard and David from UCSD had prepared good teaching material and went through presentations on laws and rights. Then, we participated in a workshop where there were presentations and role plays. The participants were very engaged and had a great desire to take action quickly. In addition, the Chief Administrative Officer and the government’s representative came and gave a presentation. The primary problems identified were cutting down trees for charcoal, bush burning and climate change, for example in the form of the changed pattern of the rainy season, which prevented them from sowing new crops and thus also not being able to harvest again.

  Advocacy training of TOTs

  Furthermore, training was held for TOTs (Trainers-of-trainers) who will go out and teach; it was also Richard and David from UCSD who oversaw this training, to which 60 – 70 people participated. Everything was interpreted and exemplified in the form of stories. There was great astonishment that environmental laws existed and that it was reasonable to demand compliance with the them. There was great and lively participation in group works and in presentations, in the form of role plays. We were interviewed by a local radio and then we set up an “Energy Hub” at a market. An Energy Hub is a stand with informative material on energy and sustainability, which is installed next to a market, so that more people can be reached.

  Visit to the Ministry

  Ruth, Sylivia, Zeus, Lene and Gitte visited Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner (Director) and Ministry of Water and Environment, where we talked about recognition of JEEP and potential projects between JEEP and the Ministry.

  Visit to Makerere University Business School, Department of Energy Science & Technology

  We had a conversation about both current and potential future collaborationswith Dr. Mukisa Nicholas, Dr. Paul Nduhuura and Dr. Ruth Atuhaire, PhD (Head of Department and Associate Professor at Makerere University Business School, Department of Energy Science & Technology). JEEP and Makerere Business School have a cooperation agreement and they would like to send students for practical training at JEEP. JEEP needs workshop facilities.

  In the Kampala area, we visited the Grace High School, where the beginning of the “Beyond Tree Planting” initiative took place in connection with JEEP’s TESS (Transition to Sustainable Solutions). We also visited the house of Ben Ssekemate (JEEP’s board chairman), where we saw the first installed biogas of JEEP’s. CAISL’s first 3 month report was reviewed with Prossie who is the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer at JEEP.

  At JEEP, Lene and Gitte taught the UN’s 17 global goals and their content, their significance in relation to sustainability and their relationship to the project. Furthermore, overall project understanding and funding were taught.

  The Accountability Dialogue Tool was reviewed with Sylivia.

  We also agreed with Florian, an Artefact volunteer at JEEP, that he will be in charge of a new series of cooking tests (and related documentation) to be carried out with the Sun Generator. These tests will be carried out both during the rainy and the dry season and they will be documented in a report. He will also help Prossie and others to develop new systems for recording data in connection with projects. 

  Renewable Energy Conference 2023 & EXPO

  Lene participated together with JEEP to the Renewable Energy Conference 2023 & Expo, which took place on 16 – 18 November. . JEEP’s stand was next to the one of the Green Ambassadors Club, which also housed YLEC (youth from the EAP project). JEEP had an active and colorful department with many visitors, where the replica of the LED school lighting was hung and exhibited. The employees learned to stand up and be outgoing, and not just to sit and wait for passers-by to show interest.

  On the 1st day, Ruth (JEEP) was in a 5-person panel titled “Clean cooking industry trends in Africa: past, present and the future outlook and perspectives”. During the discussion, she called for realistic interventions that match with the energy needs of the majority of the Ugandan citizens. “What is needed is to disseminate local solutions that are relevant, affordable, accessible and environmentally sound to manage Uganda’s current and future energy demand“, she said.

  On the 2nd day, Richard (UCSD) led a panel titled ”Civil society and Shaping the Energy Transition Discourse: Legacy and Prospects” with interesting questions that guided the panel discussion. The goal was to look ahead as a CSO and define which messages should be addressed to the Government of Uganda, Development Actors, and the Private Sector.

  During the 3rd day, Sarah, who has been active in JEEP for all her adult life, was in a panel where experiences were discussed. Her presentation took place in Lugandan language.

  The primary purpose of the CAISL project

  See also the project’s web page: https://www.folkecenter.net/caisl/ 

  Combating climate change and building community resilience through sustainable energy solutions is the main purpose of the CAISL project. To achieve this, extensive training and demonstrations of concrete examples of sustainable energy solutions are carried out.

  There is a focus on educating and training the local community in targeted local advocacy, with the long-term goal of achieving national advocacy for climate change and sustainable energy solutions.

  CAISL is focusing on the Nebbi District (ND), located in Northern Uganda, and it aims at making it a JEEP model district in climate mitigation measures. The project also focuses on building community resilience, accessibility to eco-friendly solutions and advocacy skills. The intervention has a particular focus on the participation of young people and women.

  To achieve these goals, Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) from the previous intervention (EASE & CA) will collaborate with JEEP in hands-on training.

  TOTs from JEEP and UCSD will be trained at organizational level in the Nebbi District. Their goal will be to build effective advocacy organizations using evidence-based argumentation and strengthening positive dialogue. The purpose is to secure support and commitment from local politicians.

  In the project; there will be various activities, including awareness raising, establishment of mobile Energy hubs and training of members of community-based organizations (CBOs) in cooking, solar energy and tree planting.