Uganda is home to 1.6 million refugees and asylum-seekers – Africa’s largest such population. It is also the third most nutritionally vulnerable region in East Africa, with an acute malnutrition rate of 20.2% and significantly high anemia rates. Children under five are particularly vulnerable. Acute food insecurity is also a pressing concern, impacting 5.4 million people.

WDFA provides lifesaving interventions to strengthen nutrition, food security, livelihoods, and water, sanitation, and hygiene in several refugee-hosting districts. We improve nutritional health by treating moderate and severe acute malnutrition and by promoting breastfeeding and proper child-feeding practices. We also train health staff and parents to detect and prevent malnutrition. In 2023, we provided 58 health facilities with nutrition staff, essential medicines, and supplies to identify and treat malnutrition.

Our teams work with communities to increase self-reliance and resilience, adopt modern farming practices, and improve food production through innovative, climate-smart approaches. We also help people build farming and other income-generating skills and strengthen markets and value chains for high-value crops.

WDFA establishes village savings and loan programs and solar irrigation systems to support thousands of families. We also promote innovative handwashing solutions, construct latrines, and provide sanitation and hygiene kits. Our advocacy team contributes to key policies to reduce hunger and vulnerability for refugees and Ugandans.