Harvesting Health: Integrating Nutrition and Sustainable Farming in Mt. Elgon

Accelerating Resilient Food Systems in Africa (RVO)

Inception Week: August 12-16, 2024

Last week, our new initiative, Harvesting Health: Integrating Nutrition and Sustainable Farming in Mt. Elgon, officially kicked off in Kapchorwa, Uganda. This exciting project, supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) under their Accelerating Resilience Food Systems in Africa (ARFSA) program, marks the beginning of a transformative three-year journey. Selected from 150 applicants, our project aims to bolster the nutritional status and food security of communities in Kapchorwa and Kween districts.

Building on the solid foundation laid by our consortium partners—Food for the Hungry (FH) and the Kapchorwa Civil Society Organization Alliance (KACSOA)—this project draws on extensive local expertise. AidEnvironment, a key player in the region for the past four years, has been pioneering the Green Future Farming project (funded by the IKEA Foundation). This initiative focused on circular agriculture to restore degraded lands, enhance water availability, and boost vegetation cover. Additionally, it offered investment opportunities for young farmers, improving their coffee crops and access to sustainable markets through regenerative agriculture, value chain development, and landscape management.

FH brings a deep-rooted presence in Kapchorwa and Kween, working closely with women’s care groups and local schools. These care groups, composed of women who meet to discuss nutrition and community challenges, use a cascading model to spread information. Each trained woman shares her knowledge with others, creating a network of informed individuals. FH also supports school programs on nutrition, entrepreneurship, and literacy.

KACSOA, a network of NGOs, community-based, and faith-based organizations across Kapchorwa, Kween, and Bukwo, focuses on advocacy in education, health, agriculture, environmental management, climate change, and human rights. As part of our consortium, KACSOA will drive advocacy and policy implementation to foster a supportive environment for the project.

From August 12 to 16, the consortium gathered for a dynamic Inception Week, filled with strategic meetings and site visits:

• Monday, August 12: The week began with an engaging session at the AidEnvironment office, where consortium members presented their organizations and their roles in the Harvesting Health project. Breakout sessions followed to discuss coordination points and action plans, culminating in a group discussion of the day’s outcomes.
• Tuesday, August 13: Project managers met with local government officials from Kapchorwa and Kween to introduce the project. Meanwhile, team members finalized the initial action plan. The day also included visits to Moyok Primary School and other local schools, as well as a care group, to observe FH’s work with school gardens and the cascading impact of their care groups.
• Wednesday, August 14: The day began with a reflection session at AidEnvironment’s office, reviewing the progress of the first two days. Later, consortium members visited a farmer group in West Division to see AidEnvironment’s regenerative agriculture efforts, including biofertilizer training, biodigesters, and the establishment of nurseries with indigenous, fruit trees and crops.
• Thursday, August 15: We celebrated the official launch of the project at AidEnvironment’s office, with government officials and stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Education, Agriculture, and local districts in attendance.
• Friday, August 16: The week concluded at the KACSOA office, where members learned about the organization’s advocacy role and shared reflections on an inspiring and productive week.

With the combined expertise and dedication of our consortium, we are thrilled to officially launch the Harvesting Health project. Our collective energy and commitment will drive this initiative to make a significant impact on the lives of the people in Mt. Elgon.