KAMPALA, November 11, 2026 — The Austrian Government has committed €3.5 million [approximately Shs 14.96 billion] to expand access to safe and climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene [WASH] services in Uganda’s West Nile Sub-region.
The grant, channelled through the Austrian Development Agency [ADA] to UNICEF Uganda, will benefit more than 72,000 people in the refugee-hosting districts of Yumbe and Madi-Okollo.
The three-year initiative, titled Strengthening the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus through WASH and Climate Action in West Nile, will run from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2029.
UNICEF will contribute an additional €390,000, bringing the total project budget to €3.89 million. The programme will directly target more than 72,000 beneficiaries, including approximately 14,925 primary and secondary school learners.
Under the project, two climate-resilient community water systems will be constructed to supply 8,000 people, while water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure will be upgraded at five health centres serving approximately 50,000 patients.
The initiative will also extend hygiene promotion and behaviour change campaigns to more than 1.3 million members of host communities and 400,000 refugees.
Implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Environment and district local governments, the programme will support solar-powered water schemes, biogas systems, managed aquifer recharge, catchment restoration, tree planting and the development of local by-laws to protect water sources.
Dr Katja Yvonne Kerschbaumer, Head of the Austrian Embassy and Development Cooperation in Uganda, said access to safe water and sanitation was a fundamental human right.
“Through this collaboration, Austria will ensure that these rights are met by investing in climate-resilient water and sanitation systems in both refugee and host communities in West Nile,” she said.
Kerschbaumer added that access to clean water would improve children’s health, school attendance and opportunities to reach their full potential.
UNICEF Representative in Uganda Dr Robin Nandy said the partnership would strengthen water systems in schools, health centres and communities while supporting local institutions to sustain the services.
“By reaching both refugee and host communities, this programme will also help strengthen social cohesion and give every child a better chance to thrive,” Nandy said.
Yumbe and Madi-Okollo districts, which host the Bidibidi and Rhino Camp refugee settlements, face increasing water shortages due to prolonged dry spells, declining groundwater levels and pressure on existing infrastructure.
The initiative is aligned with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan [NDP IV], the National Climate Change Policy and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework.
It seeks to move beyond emergency humanitarian assistance towards long-term, government-led climate adaptation and sustainable WASH services for vulnerable refugee and host communities.
https://thecooperator.news/west-nile-farmers-receive-training-on-modern-rice-production/
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