Livelihood Dynamics in Northern Karamoja

A Participatory Baseline Study for the Growth Health and Governance Program

By John Burns, Gezu Bekele, and Darlington Akabwai
August 2013
This report documents the findings of a livelihoods assessment carried out as part of the USAID funded Growth, Health and Governance program being implemented by Mercy Corps and partners in the Karamoja sub-region of Northeastern Uganda. The assessment is one component of a broader research and learning agenda involving a set of livelihoods, impact and gender studies. The research is being led by the Feinstein International Center with the overall objective of informing the design and implementation of program interventions and assessing impact.
The study was conducted during the first quarter of 2013 in seven markets and thirty-one villages in Abim, Kaabong and Kotido districts. Focus groups were carried out in all villages using semi-structured interviews complemented by participatory exercises including community mapping, timelines and ranking and scoring exercises. The study also included a number of visits to market centers as well as key informant interviews.
The study set out to identify the major opportunities and constraints to production and marketing in the study area and to investigate what productive resources are currently available and how these are being utilized. The assessment also set out to investigate recent events and longer-term trends with the objective of understanding how these might have an impact on production and livelihoods. The study also looked at the current utilization of different products and services from the perspective of program participants. This was done to assess the availability, accessibility and quality of existing services both to inform programming and to establish a service delivery baseline against which to measure impact against. The study also set out to investigate perceptions of poverty and inequality and to quantify the proportion of study participants belonging to different wealth categories. This was primarily done to enable changes in relative wealth to be captured as a proxy for project impact during future assessments.

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Uganda Food Security Alert - September 4, 2013

A second consecutive year of poor crop production expected in parts of Karamoja
For the second consecutive year, poor rainfall distribution and prolonged dry spells early in the production cycle have resulted in planting delays and crop damage throughout the Karamoja region. FEWS NET anticipates that the 2013 main harvest could be 30-50 percent lower than average, providing only temporary relief in areas where food security is already Stressed (IPC Phase 2). The combined impact of poor production, below average incomes, prolonged market dependence, and depleted assets is likely to result in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) by February in northern and central Karamoja.
The 2012-2013 consumption year in Karamoja began with below-average harvests in August/September 2012. As a result, poor households had significantly less food stocks and less seasonal income than normal from on-farm and casual labor than normal, leading to an early start to the lean season (Jan/Feb instead of Mar/Apr). Poor households are currently in the eighth month of what is typically a five month lean period. Despite ongoing food aid distributions, households have been heavily market dependant for 6 months, straining already low purchasing power despite lower than usual staple food prices. Due to the combined effects of a below-average main harvest in 2012, a delayed green harvest in 2013, poor purchasing power from low seasonal on-farm wages, and depletion of livestock assets over the last year, Stress (IPC Phase 2) is currently prevalent throughout the region.
Heavy, erratic rains at the start of the 2013/2014 agricultural season (March/April) waterlogged newly planted seedlings across the region. These heavy rains were then followed by a 30-45 day dry spell in May-July (Figure 1) which stunted the development of surviving crops (sorghum, maize, beans), particularly in Kotido, Kaabong, Napak, and Moroto Districts. Replanting took place in July and August, but was limited by a lack of confidence among household producers regarding rainfall during the remainder of the season. Currently, the status of planted crops areas is highly variable, with southern Karamoja expecting a near-average harvest, while in the remaining districts, production depends on better-than-average performance of the rainy season through October. Rainfall has been sufficient to allow for normal pasture regeneration.
In the most likely scenario, forecasts suggest that Karamoja will receive average rainfall through October. This will be insufficient for full crop development, particularly in the four districts listed above, given the poor start of season and below average replanting rates. Main and green harvests will be below average and up to two months late (October instead of August), providing only short-term relief to poor households. Poor households who own livestock have already sold animals to increase purchasing power, but these strategies are limited due to small herd sizes and constrained market access. Although food security will improve slightly in the post-harvest period, most poor households are likely to remain Stressed (IPC Phase 2) through December. A small proportion (<20 3="" crisis="" during="" households="" may="" of="" p="" period.="" phase="" reach="" this=""> In January/February 2014 the lean season is expected to begin early for the second consecutive year as households revert to early market dependence and food security outcomes deteriorate. Crisis (IPC 3) is expected to be more widespread, and humanitarian assistance needs are likely to increase to nearly half a million people by February 2014. Well-targeted and well-timed food and livelihoods assistance should be considered to mitigate the impact of two consecutive years of poor seasonal performance and below average staple food production on poor households.

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Karamoja Integrated Disarmament and Development Programme

KIDDP (Karamoja Integrated Disarmament and Development Programme) is a medium term development framework specifically tailored to address the unique context and development challenges in Karamoja region. The overall goal of the KIDDP is "to contribute to human security and promote conditions for recovery and development in Karamoja". KIDDP takes cognizance of the National Development Plan and the Peace, Recovery and Development Programme (PRDP).

The KIDDP harmonizes the various development interventions by Government, bilateral and multilateral development partners, international and national NGOs and CBOs. It therefore represents an attempt by the Government of Uganda to integrate gun collection (Disarmament) with development interventions; conflict management and peace building. Hence, using development to achieve peace.  

Programme Goal:
Contribute to human security and promote conditions for recovery and development in Karamoja, by deliberately working towards sustainable peace, stability and development.  

Programme Purpose:
Develop and implement a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable disarmament programme that enhances peace building and development in Karamoja.  

The genesis of the KIDDP:
The government of Uganda undertook a disarmament exercise in 2001-2002 in order to address the problems of illegal arms in Karamoja. However, the programme was suspended due to operational problems. In September 2004, H.E the President relaunched the disarmament exercise and a large number of guns were recovered. After the initial successes, the need for a sustainable programme became a major concern both for government and other stake holders that led to the design of the KIDDP in 2005.

Legal and policy framework:
The KIDDP has been developed in accordance with the objectives of PEAP pillar 3. i.e. Security, conflict resolution and disaster management. The programme also builds on the proposals contained in the National Strategic Plan for Karamoja, discussion paper No.8 on Post Conflict Reconstruction by MpFPED. The KIDDP elaborates the Karamoja component in the PRDP and was formally approved by Cabinet and Parliament in October 2007.

Design of KIDDP:
The first draft of the KIDDP was commissioned for review by OPM in June 2005 in which conceptual linkages between small arms, human security and development were highlighted. Between 2005 and 2007, OPM conducted a series of consultative and review workshops and meetings to generate consensus among different stakeholders. The main collaborating partners that contributed to the final KIDDP document were Ministry of Defense, Sector Ministries (Works, Water, Education, Health, Gender, Environment), Karamoja Donor Technical Group, Karamoja Parliamentary Group, District Local Governments, CSOs and Karamoja communities etc.

Implementation of KIDDP:
Following the launch of KIDDP by the Rt Hon. Prime Minister in April 2008, OPM in collaboration with Line Ministries and Development Partners mobilized a substantive amount of resources to support the implementation of the below-mentioned programme components. 

Programme Components:

1. Provide and Ensure Adequate Security for the People of Karamoja
2. Establish Law and Order in Karamoja
3. Support the Provision and Delivery of Basic Social Services to the People of Karamoja
4. Support the Development of Alternative Means of Livelihood for the People of Karamoja
5. Undertake Stakeholder Mobilisation, Sensitisation and Education in Karamoja
6. Enhance the Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation of KIDDP Interventions
7. Crosscutting Issues