Abstract:

Severe deforestation and poor farming practices exacerbate soil and water degradation in the fragile highland ecosystems of Mt. Elgon, Uganda, ultimately leading to severe poverty and water-borne diseases. Limited success in addressing this challenge is related to the plot-level scale at which interventions are implemented. This project aims to integrate the multi-stakeholder Innovation Platform (IP) approach,
market-based mechanisms and legislative instruments to foster collective action in developing and implementing agro-ecological options at watershed level. The goal is to achieve improved access to sustainable food, energy and allied environmental benefits. Three micro-catchments in Manfwa and Namisindwa districts will be used to mobilize stakeholder participation for collective action. Agro-ecological land and water management interventions such as soil erosion control, riverbank stabilization and water source protection will be implemented. The use of incentives, disincentives and other economic and regulatory instruments to foster sustainability of the interventions will be explored. This project will generate empirical evidence of the potential of complementing agro-ecological interventions on sustainability of socio-economic benefits.