The United Kingdom has announced a £2 million partnership with AVSI Foundation to support refugees and host communities in Uganda.
The funding will scale up the successful SMILES project, which focuses on fostering economic self-reliance through livelihoods, vocational training, and access to agricultural inputs.
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The initiative aligns with Uganda’s Global Refugee Forum pledge to promote resilience and self-reliance for refugees while supporting host communities. This partnership represents the first collaboration between the UK government and AVSI Foundation, an organisation with a proven track record in humanitarian and development work.
The project aims to empower refugees by providing essential skills and resources to select refugee households, improving their economic stability and self-reliance. It will also work with the private sector to create jobs and support markets for products made by refugees and host communities.
British High Commissioner H.E. Lisa Chesney MBE said the UK is committed to empowering refugees and host communities in Uganda. “By investing in skills and resilience, we’re helping families move towards self-reliance,” she said. “We commend Uganda’s leadership in providing a secure home for refugees and supporting sustainable approaches.”
Innocent Cwinyai, Programme Manager at AVSI Foundation, noted that the project comes at a critical time when refugees are exiting general food assistance. “It’s timely to accelerate self-reliance and resilience while reducing dependence on hand-outs,” he said.
The UK’s funding reaffirms its dedication to humanitarian principles and empowering communities to build sustainable futures. Uganda hosts over 1.5 million refugees, mostly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
