The Effects of Unhcr- Nsamizi Project on the Livelihoods of Refugees in Nakivale Settlement, Isingiro District

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the effects of UNHCR-Nsamizi project on the livelihoods of refugees in Nakivale settlement camp, Isingiro district. The study sought to answer the following research questions; What livelihood activities has UNHCR-Nsamizi project promoted for refugees in Nakivale settlement camp, In which ways have the livelihood activities affected the livelihood of the refugees in Nakivale settlement camp, What challenges has UNHCR-Nsamizi project faced in implementing the livelihood activities for the refugees in Nakivale settlement camp, and what is the recommendations for the challenges being faced by UNHCR-Nsamizi project in the implementation of the livelihood activities in Nakivale settlement camp.

In answering the above research questions, the researcher used a qualitative approach and a descriptive study design. A sample of 50 respondents was the targeted number of people to be interviewed by the researcher however 46 participated in the interviews. These included Key informants (one government official, three project officials and four local community leaders)selected using purposive and lottery sampling techniques respectively and thirty eight refugees who were selected using accidental sampling technique. Data from key informants was collected using interviews while FGDs were used to collect data from the refugees in the camp.

The findings of the study show that UNHCR-Nsamizi project has promoted different livelihood activities in the camp such as food crop production, setting up schools, training refugees vocational skills, tree planting and community outreach activities like sensitizing the refugees about different health issues. These activities have improved on the livelihoods of the refugees in Nakivale settlement, that is, increase in food security, improved sanitation and hygiene and income generation.

However there are challenges towards the implementation of the UNHCR-Nsamizi livelihood activities in the camp such as poor coordination and cooperation, ignorance and high dependency syndrome. The researcher recommended different ways how to overcome these challenges such as community sensitization and participation and civic education. Therefore to increase the implementation of UNHCR-Nsamizi project livelihood activities in Nakivale camp, these challenges need to be worked on thus improving the livelihoods of the refugees.

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