PALM Corps, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, and Muni University partner on a new project | AMUTI

Project Overview

The influx of refugees in the West Nile region of Uganda has resulted in pressure on natural resources, creating tensions in refugee-host communities. Since the communities’ livelihoods are natural resource-based, there is an urgent need to transition toward equitable and sustainable utilization and development. The governance and management of land, soil, water, and energy sources are of particular importance to achieve this. Accordingly, AMUTI aims at “Strengthening the transformative capacity of Higher Education Institutions for equitable and resilient governance of natural resources in refugee-host community settings in West Nile, Uganda”. Conceptually, the project is framed as a “holding environment”, in which higher education institutions and refugee-host communities jointly increase their capacities and explore new, more equitable, and resilient ways of governance and management of natural resources. This will enable deeper insights into structural causes of inequality, and the social roles and norms ascribed to women and men, challenging and transforming these gendered roles and norms. AMUTI will increase the partner institutions’ capacity in teaching, community engagement, and research, and facilitate co-learning processes with communities on the governance of natural resources and the sustainable use of soil, water, and energy sources.

Project Focus Areas

The project is framed as a “holding environment”, in which higher education institutions and refugee-host communities jointly increase their capacities and explore new, more equitable, and resilient ways of governance and management of natural resources. Therefore, this project will focus on the following;

  • Curriculum development and capacity building
  • Learning opportunities for students
  • Gender-transformative and intersectional approaches in natural resource governance in refugee-host communities
  • Energy access for marginalized groups and sustainable use of renewable energy
  • Sustainable management of soil and water in refugee-host communities

Innovative Approach

AMUTI is adopting a gender-transformative, intersectional, and inclusive lens in all project-related and educational activities. Innovative co-learning formats bridge the divide between academia and local community actors, who will be involved in co-developing research methods. Educational activities and co-learning will be integrated with all work packages.

The Gender Action Learning (GALs) methodology will be deployed to address prohibitive gender norms that disadvantage and marginalize women in access to land and other productive resources to ensure food and nutrition security for all household members.

Project Coordinator: Clement Okia

Coordinating Institution: Muni University

Partner Institutions: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria (Stefanie Lemke) and PALM Corps, Uganda (Anyanzo Thomas Abbey)

Partner Country: Uganda

Project Duration: 1 March 2023 – 28 February 2027 (48 months)

About the Author

Darwin Amute

Darwin Amute is a visual communicator with a passion for creating engaging content through graphics, blogging, and web design. With 7 years of experience in the industry, Darwin has honed his skills in creating visually appealing and effective content that captivates audiences.

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