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Our Mission: To provide data-driven information, education, communication and empowerment programs, and technology-aided humanitarian assistance for marginalized communities.

Past projects

ENHANCING PRODUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE FOR WOMEN SMALLHOLDER FARMERS THROUGH ACCESS TO SOLAR ENERGY IN UGANDA

Project Location:    Rwenzori, Karamoja and West Nile

Context: Women in Uganda represent the poorest and least educated of their neighborhoods, and lack information on climate-related solutions. They off-grid communities, depending on agriculture– for livelihood. They face aridity and poor harvests. They practice horticulture, whose yields are perishable and can only be marketed fresh due to absence of value addition technology. 

Key Project Achievements:

  • 12 women farmers trained in using solar energy for food security and post-harvest handling.
  • 12 community members trained as solar energy technicians, ensuring the systems ownership and sustainability.
  • 6 water basins constructed as permanent sources of water.
  • 6 solar-powered irrigation systems installed.
  • 6 home solar systems installed for lighting and powering refrigerators.

ADVANCING WOMEN’S ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION IN UGANDA

Project Location:    Busoga, Rwenzori and West Nile

Context: Fewer women participate in Uganda’s elections due to their social status, the weak women’s movement and a weak political culture amongst citizens which is biased against women leadership. Data from the Electoral Commission indicates that the ratio of women who contested for political positions in 2016 was 1 woman: 5 men. A 2016 post-election survey titled ‘Gender and Women’s Participation in the 2016 Elections in Uganda’ conducted by Centre for Strategic Communications and Outreaches  (CESCO) also discovered many incidences where quota positions ring-fenced for women, either only attracted single (unopposed) candidates or were uncontested.

Key Project Achievements:

  • 150 women CSO leaders trained in advocacy strategies for women in elections
  • 150 journalists skilled in gender-sensitive coverage of the electoral process.
  • 150 women candidates trained in governance-related skills.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT MITIGATION FOR WOMEN REFUGEES IN UGANDA

Project Location:    Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Kiryandongo refugee settlement and Bidibidi Refugee Settlement

Key Project Achievements:

  • 20 women refugee-led community groups trained in climate adaptation land use.
  • 30 refugee-led environmental human rights defenders and host village councils trained in environmental GBV early warning systems, networking and gendered skills for engaging in environmental GBV negotiations.
  • 3 local ENV-GBV mitigation initiatives funded.

EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT

Project Location:    Kampala, Jinja, Fort Portal and Arua 

Key Project Achievements:

  • 80 youths aged 18-30 skilled in effective communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making.
  • One dedicated website developed to provide space for young people to voice their concerns, ideas, and suggestions.

ADVOCATING FOR PRESS FREEDOM, SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT MEDIA OUTLETS, AND STRENGTHENING JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY

Project Location:    Kampala, Jinja and Gulu   

Key Project Achievements:

  • 3 conferences concluded to raise awareness about press freedom, among journalists, civil society organizations, policymakers, and the general public.
  • Established collaborations with 4 human rights groups, and media watchdogs to amplify the voice for press freedom globally.
  • 4 independent media outlets awarded grants to invest in their journalists’ safety and digital technology.
  • 45 journalists trained in safety skills, digital media tools, content management systems, and data journalism techniques.
  • An online platform that serves as a centralized hub for resources, best practices, and networking opportunities for journalists embedded in our website.

Mitigating Climate-Induced SRHR Abuses against Women Refugees in Uganda

Project Location:   Bidibidi and Kiryandongo Refuge Settlements

A 2021 GUIDE study found 75% of women refugees in Uganda lack information and skills on climate change-SRHR linkages. Sexual conflict and abuse arising out of competition for the scarce natural resources: Climate change has led to depletion of forest and water resources in most refugee settlements in Uganda. Water scarcity forces women refugees to seek water in rivers deep
in the jungles, which increases the risk of sexual violence. GUIDE studies indicate that women and girls are overwhelmingly exposed to rape and forced marriages, due to their gender roles as water collectors. Depletion of resources means women walk up to 8kms
every-day to collect firewood. Out of the 10-11 cases of sexual violence reported in Kiryandongo every month, 2-3 occur during firewood collection. Most SGBV cases are not
reported.

Key Project Achievements:

  • Strengthened institutional capabilities of GUIDE in climate change-SRHR program management in humanitarian context, with all program staff demonstrating above 80% skills improvement in results-based climate change-SRHR program evaluation and integrated information management systems.
  • Increased awareness among refugee communities on climate change-SRHR linkages, evidenced by increased SRHR incident reporting. Average monthly climate-induced SRHR incident reporting rose from 3 in 2021 to 10 in 2023.
  • Refugee-led groups and village councils improved gendered monitoring of climate change-SRHR. 40% of partners implemented impactful grassroots activities by 2023. Manjoora Women’s Group in Bidi-bidi set up a hotline for SRHR issues. South Sudanese Refugee Women’s Association in Kiryandongo conducted dialogues addressing SRHR abuses, resulting in reprimands, dissolved marriages, medical referrals for rape victims, and legal education on SRHR. Providers offer STI testing and counseling.