CICOA operates in line with the Sustainable Development Goals
We have implemented projects around Uganda’s Southwestern, Central, and Albertine Graben regions aimed at eradicating poverty, promoting government transparency and involvement, improving basic social accountability and governance, and advocating for sustainable natural resource utilization. We work with communities, local and international partners, the government, and the private sector in all the work we do.
Climate and Environmental Justice Program
CICOA's Climate and Environmental Justice program addresses the unequal distribution of the climate crisis and advocates for equitable solutions. We collaborate globally to tackle climate change and empower vulnerable communities. Through policy reforms, education, and monitoring, we aim to protect the rights of underprivileged groups. Our implementation strategy includes advocating for environmentally friendly policies, promoting sustainable development, conserving biodiversity, managing waste, and improving public health. We also focus on defending the environment and involving citizens as stakeholders.
Human Rights and Social Justice Program
The Human Rights and Social Justice Program in Uganda aims to promote and protect human rights through policy and legal reforms, education, capacity building, and monitoring human rights violations. The program focuses on addressing challenges related to civil and political rights, economic and social rights, and environmental rights. Interventions include promoting human rights to food, education, and land for refinery-affected people, advocating for gender-sensitive policies in the energy sector, providing legal aid and advocacy for vulnerable groups, empowering communities through civic education and participation, providing humanitarian aid and emergency response, advocating for transparency and accountability to prevent corruption, promoting gender equality and women's empowerment, advocating for democracy and human rights, and addressing climate change through equitable and sustainable solutions.
Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program
Our program aims to address the lack of basic WASH facilities in Ugandan communities, hindering the country's progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6. According to a 2019 report, 66% of the population lack basic sanitary facilities and 30% lack safe water. We work directly with communities to understand their needs and priorities, and then design and implement appropriate interventions.
Our program focuses on capacity building, training community members to ensure the sustainability of our initiatives. One crucial aspect of our approach is client-led total sanitation (CLTS), which empowers communities to achieve open defecation-free (ODF) status.
We promote behavior change and provide support for infrastructure development, including the construction of latrines and hand-washing facilities. In addition, we emphasize hygiene education to promote the adoption of proper practices such as hand-washing and safe water storage. By addressing these challenges, we aim to improve access to clean water and sanitation for Ugandan communities
Refugee Emergency response Program
The UNHCR reports that Uganda hosts 1.4 million refugees from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Somalia. Our Refugee Emergency Response aims to improve access to services, increase economic opportunities, promote co-existence and integration, and enhance local community capacity. Through vocational training, sustainable agriculture, market linkages, savings groups, community dialogue, and more, we empower refugees to contribute to their communities, reduce tensions, and improve livelihoods for all. Our interventions also include education, health support, basic infrastructure, environmental conservation, and access to clean energy.
Food Security and Livelihoods Program
The Food Security and Livelihoods program focuses on addressing food insecurity and poor land use management. It aims to promote sustainable farming practices by providing farmers with affordable and effective farming technologies, indigenous seeds, improved soil fertility, and irrigation systems. The program also emphasizes climate-smart and cost-effective agro-ecological farming methods.
Key interventions of the program include training communities on sustainable farming practices, value addition, post-harvest management, market linkages, and income generation. It also works towards improving land tenure systems, promoting access to credit facilities, and strengthening farming communities. Gender equity and equality are prioritized through the use of Gender Action Learning systems (GALS) methodology and other proven strategies.
Additionally, the program focuses on economic empowerment for vulnerable households and refugees.
Just Energy transition Program
Introducing our Just Energy Transition Program, which aims to promote and support the adoption of clean energy in rural communities. Through strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement, we prioritize the needs of the community to increase access to renewable energy technologies.
The program includes various interventions such as creating awareness and building capacity on renewable energy use, advocating for government and stakeholders to develop a clean energy strategy, and promoting lower electricity tariffs. We also strive to educate the community through meetings, workshops, and awareness campaigns to encourage the adoption of clean energy technologies.
With a focus on community-driven strategies and practices, our Just Energy Transition Program is dedicated to facilitating a sustainable and clean energy transition for rural communities.
Key interventions of the program include training communities on sustainable farming practices, value addition, post-harvest management, market linkages, and income generation. It also works towards improving land tenure systems, promoting access to credit facilities, and strengthening farming communities. Gender equity and equality are prioritized through the use of Gender Action Learning systems (GALS) methodology and other proven strategies.
Additionally, the program focuses on economic empowerment for vulnerable households and refugees.
