What We Do

Regenerative Ecosystem Development (RED) Program

The RED Biochar of Nakivale Project

The RED Biochar of Nakivale Project, technically spearheaded by Health of the Soil International, embodies a paradigm-shifting strategy that converges climate resilience, restorative/regenerative agriculture, and waste management/valorization in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement. By leveraging the multifaceted benefits of biochar, this visionary project catalyzes a synergistic triad of outcomes: amplified soil fertility, augmented agricultural productivity, and substantial carbon sequestration, ultimately enhancing food security, improving livelihoods, and promoting environmental sustainability for the refugees and host communities in Nakivale.

The project will increase carbon sequestration by working the produced biochar into different matrixes and in this way create a long-term carbon storage with a persistence of up to 1000 years as according to the Global Artisan C-Sink Standard. Without the project, no C-sink would be created since corn cobs, sugarcane bagasse, G-nut shells, maize stalks, sorghum residues, rice residues, millet residues, and legumes family residues does not constitute a long-term carbon reservoir.

In the initial 5 years of the project, we expect carbon sequestration of approximately 18,750 CO2eq in total or 3750 CO2eq/year.

The project RED Biochar of Nakivale comprises Artisan Biochar Producers for biochar production from corn cobs, sugarcane bagasse, G-nuts shells, maize stalks, sorghum residues, rice residues, millet residues, and legumes family residues. Biochar is a hyper versatile material with an increasing number of applications in agriculture, environmental engineering, and basic industry.

The monitoring and tracking of this project will be carried out by Health of the Soil International. In the RED Biochar of Nakivale Project the digital MRV technology named PlantVillage+ developed by The Pennsylvania State University, USA will be used. This will monitor, report and verify biochar production and carbon sequestration.

Woodlot Project

The influx of refugees from neighboring countries continues to put pressure on the already worn-out settlement. To a large extent, refugees have contributed to the degradation of the environment in Nakivale. Living conditions within the settlements are often characterized by limited resources resulting in heavy reliance on the environment. Refugee movements tend to produce uncontrolled modifications for example trees are being cut down to create space for shelter, farmland and wood fuel at the rate at which the environment cannot replenish.

The project acknowledges that the degradation of existing forests, woodlands and wetlands/riverbanks caused by refugees and host communities jeopardizes their ability to support and sustain ecological functioning and community well-being. Through assisting in the restoration of degraded forests, woodlands, wetlands, and other vulnerable ecosystems, the initiative is projected to improve the flow of ecosystem services and products and increase the resilience of refugee hosting communities and refugees to climate change.

Additionally, the project strengthens the collective responsibility of various stakeholders, including the Office of the Prime Minister Department of Refugees (OPM/DOR) and the Isingiro local government and non-state actors (including private sector players and civil society organizations within and outside Nakivale) for the sustainable management and protection of the natural resources.

The project also assists households through community-based groups (Village Savings and Loans Association-VSLAs) with knowledge and skills to practice sustainable land management practices like agroforestry, climate smart agriculture, and establishment of woodlots for long-term energy needs, bee keeping and increase land productivity, and vegetation cover.

Project Objectives

• Restore degraded and underutilized hills and other fragile ecosystems impacted by human activities in Nakivale Refugee settlement
• Support land owners in host communities to establish agroforestry enterprises and adapt Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices
• Build capacity of local communities for effective uptake of climate change mitigation and environmental conservation measures

Nakivale Experiential Learning and Innovation Center (NELIC)

The Nakivale Experiential Learning and Innovation Center (NELIC) was designed in collaboration with Dr. Mara Huber, founding director of the UB Experiential Learning Network. NELIC promotes and supports engagement around Climate Action with a focus on Environmental Conservation, Agroforestry and Community Technology. It also supports youth groups in Nakivale Refugee Settlement while serving as a model for other rural and low-resource environments where youth are eager to make change while developing their own skills and competencies and earning revenue to support themselves and families.

Strategic Goals

• Share community technologies related to Climate Action to inspire Nakivale youth to innovate while developing high-value skills, competencies and experiences
• Support Experiential Learning with PEARL projects and badges, modeled after the UB Experiential Learning Network system by Dr. Huber
• Cultivate and direct resources through competitions, grants, and creation of seed funding to support youth groups ready to implement projects under the direction of mentors
• Build value around PEARL badges through creating new opportunities and resources for youth who complete projects and implement innovations
• Study the model towards strengthening and sharing for broader impact

AYISD works with Dr. Huber to translate PEARL into a process that can be supported by AYISD and utilized to assist youth in exploring technologies of interest and working through the steps necessary to prepare for implementation. PEARL badges support dynamic assessment and result in data that can be shared with external funders to generate additional resources and support. Targeted grants can incentivize engagement around specific Eco restoration and climate action innovations, cultivating a foundation for further growth.

NELIC is the first translation of the ELN model (PEARL badges) outside of a formal education system. It provides an important case study for other community-based organizations within refugee settlements and working with low-resource or vulnerable communities throughout East Africa and beyond.

Amsha Community Project

The Amsha Community Project aims at establishing a vibrant green space within Nakivale and the neighborhood, promoting sustainable practices and fostering community engagement. This initiative addresses food insecurity, enhances local biodiversity, and provides a hub for educational and recreational activities for the multiple ethnicities within Nakivale.

The communal gardens featured raised beds, composting areas, a communal gathering space, facilities for educational workshops and support with agro-inputs to 500 refugee households and 100 Ugandan Nationals - especially teenage mothers, widows and single-parent-headed families - in 24 of the most vulnerable communities across Nakivale who were interested in gardening, sustainability, and community-building.

Objectives

• Encourage active participation through gardening, workshops, and events that strengthen social bonds
• Provide opportunities for learning about organic gardening, composting, and environmental stewardship
• Grow fresh produce that supplements local diets and supports healthier eating habits
• Promote water conservation, organic practices, and biodiversity within a rural setting