The Karamoja ABC Scaling Facility is a UNDP initiative aimed at enhancing resilience in the Uganda-Kenya border region. It focuses on economic diversification, peacebuilding, and infrastructure improvement to combat poverty and conflict among agropastoralist communities. By fostering local solutions and community involvement, it shifts the narrative around fragile border regions from vulnerability to economic potential and stability.
Karamoja, East Africa – The regions along the Uganda-Kenya border have historically faced challenges due to climate shocks, economic marginalization, and instability. The agropastoralist communities in the Karamoja Cluster heavily depend on livestock herding and seasonal migration. However, repeated droughts, depletion of resources, and cattle raids have exacerbated poverty and conflict cycles within these communities.
The Karamoja ABC Scaling Facility, launched under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Africa Borderlands Centre (ABC), aims to improve resilience in this vulnerable area. This initiative is community-driven and focuses on economic diversification, governance enhancement, and climate resilience to foster sustainable development and peace.
Zeynu Ummer, Director of UNDP’s Resilience Hub for Africa, emphasizes the initiative’s unique approach: “Traditional development programs often operate within national boundaries, but challenges in borderlands are inherently cross-border.” The facility adopts an integrated area-based model to align interventions in Kenya and Uganda, making solutions more applicable to local conditions.
Strengthening Economic Resilience is a primary focus of the Karamoja ABC Scaling Facility. By addressing the links between poverty and conflict, the initiative promotes alternative livelihoods. This includes supporting climate-smart agriculture for 300 farmers to ensure food security through the adoption of drought-resistant crops. Additionally, 42 beekeepers are being trained for sustainable honey production, while hay production cooperatives are established to maintain livestock feed availability year-round.
The facility also invests in Market Expansion, enhancing economic activities by upgrading infrastructure such as marketplaces and transport routes, thus enabling 85 traders to broaden their business operations and facilitate cross-border trade.
While economic factors are critical, the initiative recognizes that peacebuilding is essential for long-term stability. It integrates local peace mechanisms with governance efforts to address conflict dynamics among communities. The revitalization of the Ateker Cross-Border Chiefs’ Forum serves to foster dialogue and conflict resolution strategies between leaders from both countries. Furthermore, over 150 youth have received training to become conflict monitors and peace ambassadors.
In terms of infrastructure and investment, the ABC Scaling Facility is driving improvements in trade mobility, which has been stifled by inadequate infrastructure. The initiative includes installing solar-powered boreholes to alleviate water scarcity, thereby reducing competition for resources. In addition, upgraded trading posts and improved road networks are being planned to support formalized trade and ensure smoother economic exchanges.
As the Africa Borderlands Centre commences its second phase (ABC II), the ongoing efforts of the Karamoja Scaling Facility lay the groundwork for resilience strategies across Africa’s border regions. Expansion to other borderlands—including the Sahel and Horn of Africa—is being pursued, along with engaging the private sector through the Karamoja SDG Investor Map. Technology-driven data solutions are also being integrated to enhance decision-making and program monitoring.
Dr. Ummer notes that “The Karamoja Scaling Facility has demonstrated that resilience is not just about surviving adversity—it’s about transforming challenges into opportunities.” There is a commitment to advancing policies that support resilience and sustainable development, ensuring that interventions in borderlands are prioritized in development agendas.
The Karamoja ABC Scaling Facility epitomizes the potential for borderlands in Africa to evolve from areas of fragility to centers of economic growth and stability, setting a precedent for future initiatives aimed at transforming these often-overlooked regions.
The Karamoja ABC Scaling Facility represents a significant shift in addressing the vulnerabilities of border communities in East Africa. By integrating economic, peacebuilding, and infrastructure initiatives, it fosters resilience, reduces conflict, and promotes sustainable development. As the facility emphasizes community-led efforts, it sets a transformative model for future social and economic interventions in fragile areas, proving that targeted investments can yield substantial benefits for marginalized communities.
Original Source: www.undp.org
