The Project “A Tractor to Enhance the Peace Consolidation Process through Socioeconomic Reintegration of Demobilized Youth Combatants in North Karamoja, Uganda” responds to the pressing need of alternative livelihoods for demobilized youth combatants in post-conflict Karamoja. As insecurity levels sensibly decreased since June 2023, many of the youths recently disarmed and demobilized are searching for alternatives to the “livelihood of the gun”. Should alternatives not be provided, the peace consolidation might be jeopardized. The intervention will allow for the purchase of one tractor, one plough and maintenance material to enable JPD-K to support the demobilized youths to engage in sizeable agricultural activities which will ensure their sustenance, the one of their families and will also promote income generation by enhancing their production capacity. By doing so, the Project facilitates the Department two core causes of insecurity: poverty and lack of livelihoods. Indeed, thanks to the purchase of the tractor JPD-K will be able to:
- Support 17 groups of demobilized youth combatants (total of 510 individuals) by ploughing 15 acres of land per each group for a total of 255 acres of land.
- Grant the demobilized youth with sustenance and income generation for themselves and their families (total of additional 3,570 individuals).
- Further promote demobilization efforts by showing non-demobilized youth that alternatives to the “livelihood of the gun” is possible.
The forecasted beneficiaries are based on a 1 year projection. The result and impact of the Project, however, is much larger. Indeed, the use of this tractor will span across the years supporting the demobilized youth as well as the Department in its broader peacebuilding operations and its other sectors of focus.
