Nourishing the future in Uganda
The Sweden-funded NutriCash initiative is meeting the food and nutrition needs of thousands of vulnerable families in Uganda.
By Badre Bahaji
Kadimala, a 35-year-old Ugandan mother of four, marveled at the stark contrast in her youngest child’s health, Precious, compared to her older children. Unlike them, who often battled illness, she thrived, rarely falling sick.
“Seeing the difference good nutrition makes in a child’s life is truly a blessing,” she says.
Kadimala is supported by the Sweden-funded NutriCash initiative, a partnership between the Government of Uganda, the World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF, which is meeting the food and nutrition needs of 13,000 refugee and host community women and their families in the West Nile region of Uganda.
The women receive financial support through cash transfers and nutritional education which helps ensure their children receive a healthy start in life — from conception through their early years — setting the stage for a brighter future for all.
“I learned about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months, balanced diets, and hygiene. My baby is healthy”, says Kadimala.
Kadimala received monthly cash transfers to buy nutritious foods for Precious. Pregnant and breastfeeding women receive a monthly cash transfer equivalent to US$14 during the first 1,000 days to help them meet their nutrition needs and that of their children. An additional US$4 is allocated to savings for future investment in income-generating activities.
As the world celebrates World Breastfeeding Week from August 1st, we also reflect on the importance of breastfeeding from the first hour of a baby’s life. Among its many benefits, breastfeeding prevents malnutrition, decreases the risk of childhood diseases, and supports healthy brain development.
Gloria, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who lives in Lobule refugee settlement also received support through the NutriCash initiative.
“When I got pregnant, I had limited knowledge about nutrition until community care group members visited and counselled me on how to stay healthy and manage breastfeeding when the baby arrives.
I exclusively breastfed my youngest child, Isaac, during the first six months. He is now two years old and continues to grow healthy.”
She and her Ugandan husband also received training and start-up capital such as quality seeds to invest in a vegetable garden which now supplements their income.
“We sell the vegetables when we need money and we enjoy a diet rich in fruits and greens,” says Gloria.
According to the 2022 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey, a quarter of children in Uganda are stunted (impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition) — a sign of chronic malnutrition. The damage caused by stunting is irreversible.
Malnutrition is also a concern in the refugee settlements where a third of children are stunted and a quarter of them suffer from anaemia.
Uganda hosts over 1.6 million refugees, mainly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WFP supports 1.3 million of them with emergency food assistance and long-term livelihood opportunities.
Plans are currently underway for a second phase (2025–2029) of the NutriCash initiative which will be expanded to new regions and aims to support 60,000 people.
