Area
Environmental
Summary (description and reason to be)
The one-day training aims to empower vulnerable young people in rural areas of Uganda with essential knowledge and skills concerning food security and nutrition. Recognizing the critical link between food security and malnutrition, the training addresses the pressing issue of declining agricultural engagement among the youth. Through comprehensive sessions, participants will gain insights into sustainable farming practices, crop diversification, and innovative agricultural techniques tailored to our local context. The program will emphasise the importance of preserving Uganda’s agriculture and inspire the youth to engage in farming, thereby enhancing food production and accessibility. Moreover, the training will provide valuable nutrition education, focusing on the significance of balanced diets and the impact of malnutrition on vulnerable groups, such as children and pregnant women. By equipping these young individuals with practical knowledge and fostering a sense of responsibility towards their communities, the training will reverse the trend of agricultural abandonment. Ultimately, this training strives to create a generation of informed, motivated, and skilled youth capable of revitalising Uganda’s agricultural sector, ensuring food security, and combating malnutrition in the rural communities.
Target: Vulnerable Group (VG) and/or type of community
• Malnourished children shall provide training to their caregivers on proper nutrition and food security measures to improve their overall health;
• Pregnant women and nursing mothers as these women need specific nutrients for their health and the health of their babies;
• Orphaned or vulnerable children who have lost their parents or are living in vulnerable conditions often lack proper nutrition;
• People with compromised immune systems, especially those living with HIV/AIDS, need special attention regarding nutrition;
• Families with limited financial resources often struggle to afford nutritious food. Provide them with knowledge on affordable yet nutritious food options.
Application setting: context
Food insecurity in Uganda has become a pressing issue, primarily driven by the alarming trend of young people abandoning the agricultural sector. Uganda’s economy has always been based on agriculture, which gives its citizens jobs and food. The contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP increased from 23.1% in the FY 2018-2019 to 24.0% in the FY 2019-2020, or 0.9 percentage points (NPA , 2020) . However, as urbanisation increases and alternatives outside of agriculture become more alluring, younger generations are turning away from farming. Youth production in subsistence agriculture accounts for 31% of the total. Even in rural areas, the proportion is larger for girls (36%) than males (25%) (UBOS, 2021) This shift has severe consequences, especially in terms of malnutrition. As young individuals move away from agriculture, there is a decline in food production and accessibility. This reduction in the agricultural workforce leads to diminished crop yields and limited availability of fresh, nutritious produce. Consequently, communities face a scarcity of essential food items, resulting in malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. By implementing this comprehensive one-day training, youth in rural Uganda will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition in their communities.
Objectives
To increase awareness among participants about the significance of proper nutrition and food security in promoting overall health and well-being.
To equip participants with knowledge and skills related to sustainable farming techniques, agricultural diversity, and the importance of local food production.
To foster a sense of community ownership and collaboration to address food security challenges collectively.
Requirements
Flipchart papers, markers, pens, camera and notebooks.
Performance procedures
The same performance procedures will be indicated in case study 1 will be adopted.
Activities
Activity 1: Food Security Fundamentals
Definition and Indicators of Food Security:
“Food security refers to the consistent access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life. The indicators of food security include availability (stable food supply), access (affordability and distribution), utilisation (adequate nutrition and safe food), and stability (resilience to shocks) of food resources”
• Interactive Brainstorming Session: Participants will collaborate on a common document, noting down their understanding of food security. (The facilitator will guide the discussion and document the key points on a flip chart).
Uganda Food Security Challenges and Solutions:
“Uganda faces food security challenges due to climate change, land degradation, and limited access to resources. Solutions include promoting sustainable agriculture, improving irrigation systems, enhancing farmers’ skills and supporting smallholder farmers to bolster food security and ensuring a stable and sufficient food supply”.
• Group Discussions: Participants will work in small groups, creating dashboards detailing specific challenges and potential solutions related to food security in Uganda. (Each group will present their findings on flip charts).
Sustainable Agriculture Practices:
“In Uganda, sustainable agriculture practices include crop rotation, agroforestry, organic farming methods and practice mulching to retain soil moisture, and employ natural pest control techniques”.
• Hands-on Learning: participants shall visit a local farm. (Then take photos and document sustainable agriculture practices they observed. Later, they will create a shared digital presentation summarising their findings).
Activity 2: Nutrition Resources and Healthy Diets
Importance of Nutrition in Community Health:
“Nutrition prevents malnutrition, boosting immune systems, and enhances overall well-being and reduce susceptibility to diseases”
• Interactive Presentation: Create a presentation collaboratively, with each group responsible for a specific section. (They will use a common document to collect important points, and then groups present their findings to the whole class).
Community Gardens and Nutritional Awareness Programs:
• Planning Session: In small groups, participants create a community garden plan. They will list necessary resources, responsibilities, and potential challenges. (Each group presents their plan on a flip chart).
Activity 3: Interactive Group Activities
Group Discussions: Addressing Food Security Challenges Locally:
• Meeting: Participants will conduct a meeting, discussing challenges and solutions collaboratively on a common document in real-time. They use dashboards to visualise data and present it to the team.
Results
• Enhanced Understanding of Food Security as participants will have a comprehensive understanding of food security fundamentals, including its definition, indicators, and the challenges faced by Uganda;
• Improved Nutrition Knowledge as Participants will learn about healthy diets and understand the significance of incorporating various nutrients into daily meals;
• Community Engagement and Empowerment, through activities like field visits and interactive discussions, participants will be empowered to engage with their communities effectively;
• Participants’ problem-solving abilities will be improved by group talks that address the local food security issues.
Strengths
• Comprehensive knowledge because a wide range of topics, from understanding food security indicators to sustainable agriculture methods, are covered in the training;
• Local relevance since the training is focused on addressing Uganda’s food security issues and solutions;
• Interactive learning encourages active participation and participatory learning by incorporating interactive activities like field trips and group discussions;
• Field trips to nearby farms offer hands-on learning and because learners see how sustainable agriculture and nutrition is used in actual settings.
Weaknesses
The training activities, especially field visits and group discussions, need effective time management.
Difficulties or constrains for its implementation
Limited access to resources like capital for the vulnerable young people to put into practice the skills learnt.
CRITERIA actors or stakeholder are using to assess it as a “good practice”
• Relevance of the training content and activities to the needs and challenges faced by vulnerable youth in rural Uganda;
• The program’s success can be measured by the tangible skills acquired by the participants;
• The program adheres to ethical standards, respects local cultures, and promotes ethical business practices among the youth is essential.
Year and length (duration)
6 hours.
Comments (additional info, remarks)
• The inclusion of interactive group activities, such as field visits and discussions, enhances practical learning;
• The training effectively combines theoretical knowledge with practical experiences, empowering participants to tackle food security challenges locally.
References (Bibliography, URLs, suggested readings)
(2020). Third National Development Plan (NDPIII) 2020/21 – 2024/25. Kampala, Uganda:
NATIONAL PLANNING AUTORITY.
(2021). Annual Labour Force Survey. Kampala: Uganda National Bureau of Statistics.
Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
(2021). National Labour Force Survey 2021. Kampala: Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).
