Towards Food Security and Livelihoods of Low-income Women in central Uganda: Policy Implications based on action research Ransom Lekunze (PhD); Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen Makerere University Community Health and Information Network (CHAIN) Presentation at the International Conference on Governance and Service Delivery in Developing economies, Kampala 24-28 Aug 2015

Uganda is Gifted by Nature Background Why Uganda? 1. Uganda is Gifted by Nature “Pearl of Africa” - lies astride the equator with fertile soils and a food production potential sufficient to feed its own people and serve as a food basket for East Africa Has half the arable land in East Africa, Abundant rainfall for most parts of the country, Several big lakes, and many big good rivers. Two planting seasons over much of the country.

Uganda´s Rich Food Potential

Uganda´s food potential Vs food insecurity A paradox Difficult to reconcile the rich soils and abundant food potential with the rampant poverty on the streets of Kampala etc. Uganda was ranked 42nd out of 81 countries in 2011 with a Global Hunger Index (GHI) score of 16.7 Insufficient Agricultural Productivity 80% of Ugandans dependent on Agriculture for a livelihood 85% live in rural areas Agricultural yields are significantly below potential, Postharvest losses are high - about 40%

Some factors behind food insecurity in Uganda Evidence based on Literature Review

1. Geopolitical and historical Political instability in Uganda in the past slowed down development and led to particular concerns of food security. Military coups, armed insurgencies, rebel group activities, involvement in conflicts in neighboring DRC, South Sudan, Rwanda and Somalia have weakened its agricultural potential and disrupted its farm-to-market infrastructure, making food scarce and expensive for the ordinary citizen to afford (UNHCR, 2012). As a consequence, there is resulting inequality in access to food within the country as wealthy individuals can afford the high prices, while food becomes unattainable for the poor, especially refugees within and across to bordering countries (Breisinger et al., 2015; UNHCR, 2012).

2. Climate Change Climate Change (CC) is causing damaging effects to Natural Weather Patterns Most Ugandans (80%) depend on agriculture for their livelihood Uganda’s agriculture depends on Natural Weather Patterns Current food systems which rely mostly on annual crops like beans, potatoes, and maize are failing due to the ever changing and unreliable weather patterns Some adverse CC effects: Increasing of unreliable weather patterns Prolonged droughts Frequent floods Warmer & scorching temperatures More pest attacks Damaged soil fertility More failing crop yields

3. Poverty – a thread to food security 83 percent of young Ugandan are unemployed (WB, 2007). Coping strategy: Most young men have tended to low-paid informal activity like “boda boda” (motorbike) riding Young girls tend on the exploitative activity of prostitution, or get lured into early marriages The consequence of this is the risk of increasing the current estimates of 7.2% of the population living with HIV/AIDS in the country. HIV/AIDS is a major cause and consequence of food security in Uganda (Fox, 2012; Avert, 2013).

“Boda-Boda” (commercial bike riding) activity as a result of poverty.

4. Poverty exacerbates malnutrition problems Micronutrient malnutrition in Uganda is widely prevalent Specifically deficiencies in: Vitamin A Iodine Iron Zinc 2. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) affects 20% of women and children 3. Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) affects 73% of preschool children and 49% of women of childbearing age. 4. Micronutrient deficiency hampering poverty reduction efforts targeted by the ending Millennium Development Goals esp. Nos. 1-7

Rapid Population Growth – more complication Very high fertility rate of 6.1% , Very high birth rate of 3.4% Big young population: 50% = children below 15 years 78% = below 30 years. Increased pressure on scarce available resources Given their large family sizes and the high proportion of income spent on food by low-income urban households, the purchasing power of many has reduced, thereby cutting on their frequency of meal intake to one instead of the traditional three meals per day

Poverty is gendered and gender- power relations are unequal Poverty is gendered as gendered power relations distribute wealth and resources inequitably between men and women within households and communities. Generally, women´s roles on issues related to access to and control over income, property and other resources are undermined mainly by dominance of their men, differences in social structures, norms and the cultural establishment (FANTA- 2, 2010). Worst still, women in low-income urban and peri-urban households are even likely to be the most vulnerable to the increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods and droughts (IIED, 2013)

The Interlinkages – Poorly understood by Policy options Food Insecurity Climate Change Geopolitical and historical Gender relations Access to land Poverty

Aim of research To investigate the relationships between climate change, agricultural practices and women´s access to and control over resources for their food security in Kampala and neighboring areas of Wakiso and Mukono. To design and implement interventions using participatory approaches to promote food security.

Action-oriented research Five-year participatory action research (PAR): research + interventions Participation Change with the people The cyclical process of PAR More catchy title Put in a square to show where we are in the cyclical process

Methodology of Research An ongoing five year participatory action research project undertaken jointly by Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen Denmark; Makerere University; and the Community Health and Information Network (CHAIN). Two Phases: A systematic literature review aligning research studies on the inter- linkages between low income women’s food security and livelihoods, agricultural practices, vulnerability to climate change and access to land in Kampala and surrounding areas. We reviewed journal articles, proceedings of scientific conferences, government policy documents and reports. A field visit to Uganda between February and March 2015, during which primary data was collected in three subcounties and four parishes: – Kyebando and Komamboga in Kampala, Nangabo in Wakiso and Katosi in Mukono. In total the primary data instruments involved 3 community meetings, 108 household surveys, 8 focus group discussions (FGDs), 20 in-depth interviews, 10 Key informant interviews, and observations conducted jointly by two MUC researchers, 14 field research assistants and interns from MUC Denmark

Community Meetings and FGI in Nangabo

Project Partners Steering Committee CHAIN  Advisory Board (to advise, mentor and oversee the project)   Metropolitan University College Primary responsible for administration of the study, data collection and analysis in WP1 and WP2, report writing, publication & dissemination, seeking external funding University of Makerere Responsible for assisting in secondary and primary data collection and analysis (WP1 & WP2), report writing, publication & dissemination CHAIN Responsible for assisting in establishing community contacts, initial and final community meetings, recruiting participants, primary data collection, transcribing, translation (WP2)

Research Team plus student interns

Preliminary Findings The agricultural and livelihood choices urban and peri-urban women make are subject to the constraints they face and the policy alternatives available for them. As such, four main issues emerged of relevance to policy considerations for food security amongst vulnerable women in Uganda. These include: Re-establishment of the traditional notion of a “Household Stability” in Uganda A stronger empowerment of women, decreasing burdens on women’s time as well as improving women’s access to and control over resources Revaluation of the role of “Land” for food security in Uganda Strengthening the institutional framework and support systems for food security in Uganda.

Food Security concerns in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso (In numbers out of 108 and percentages). District Kampala Mukono Wakiso Nr. % Worry for not enough food 41 38 27 25 20 18,5 No preferred food due to lack of resource 45 41,7 29 26,9 Limited food due to lack of resource 21 19,4 Eat fewer meals in a day 35 32,4 24 22,2 17 15,7 Go to bed hungry 8 7,4 10 9,3 No food to eat due to lack of resource 16 14,8 7 6,5 No food to eat whole day due to not enough food 11 10,2 3 2,8 2 1,9

1. Re-establishment of the traditional notion of a “Household Stability” in Uganda Policy consideration for food security must begin by restoring the traditional notion of household stability which is necessary for economic growth in Uganda - reverting to a traditional household model that uses traditional problem solving mechanisms. Such a model may include: Community based educational programs that target men and boys not only to redefine the concepts of masculinity based on domination and control but also change their attitudes towards better family livelihood that is violence free. Joint educational programs for both men and women Such approaches can be challenging as it requires unlocking the men in their thinking and perception of women in the household

2. A stronger empowerment of women Given the role of women in agriculture and household upkeep, policy considerations in connection with food security should consider: The economic, political and social empowerment of women and their transformative potential in food security. 2. Decreasing the burden on women’s time as well as improving women’s access to and control over resources

3. Revaluation of the role of “Land” for food security in Uganda Given that land plays an important role in the livelihoods of the majority of people across Uganda, food security and poverty reduction cannot be achieved unless policy options address issues of valuation of land, and households’ capacity to use land productively and in a sustainable manner.

4. Strengthening the institutional framework and support systems for food security in Uganda To cope not only with the existing challenges of food insecurity and poverty but also the additional challenges that are sure to come, policymakers in Uganda, as well as development actors, must recognize the need to bolster the systems and institutions that are responsible and accountable for this.

Conclusion Policy options for food security in Uganda must take into consideration the interlinkages Factors that influence people’s food security in Uganda go well beyond the simply access, affordability and use of food and agriculture to include drinking water and sanitation, the role of women, the quality of caregiving, and others. Suggesting certain policy implications of Food Security for Uganda is one thing, getting them accepted and achieving them is another. Until policy makers are willing and committed to mainstreaming these suggestions into the development agenda, they are not likely to yield any results.