Amuru District Onboarded onto LoCAL Climate Financing Project

Amuru District Local Government has officially been onboarded onto the Local Climate Adaptive Living (LoCAL) Financing Project, marking a significant milestone in the district’s efforts to strengthen resilience against climate change.

Amuru is among 10 districts selected to benefit from the latest phase of the project, which continues to expand its reach across Uganda. The LoCAL initiative was first piloted in 2021 in four districts and later scaled up to an additional 14. Amuru now joins the third phase of implementation, reflecting growing national commitment to climate adaptation at the local government level.

The project is funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government. Its core objective is to support local governments in integrating climate change adaptation into their planning, budgeting, and service delivery systems.

Under the programme, Amuru District will benefit from the Performance-Based Climate Resilience Grant (PBCRG). This grant mechanism provides funding for climate change interventions based on performance, similar in structure to the District Discretionary Equalization Grant (DDEG), but with a specific focus on climate resilience.

Through the PBCRG, the district will finance interventions in key priority areas, particularly those that promote nature-based solutions to climate challenges. These interventions are expected to address pressing environmental concerns while improving livelihoods and sustainability for local communities.

According to climate risk assessments, Amuru District’s main hazard is drought, characterized by prolonged dry spells. The district has been assigned a vulnerability and exposure level of 5, indicating a high level of risk. This underscores the urgency of implementing targeted adaptation measures to safeguard communities, natural resources, and local economic activities.

The LoCAL project will also support climate-proofing of new investments and innovations within the district. This ensures that infrastructure and development initiatives are designed to withstand climate-related shocks and stresses, thereby enhancing long-term resilience.

Amuru District leadership has welcomed the initiative, noting that it will strengthen local capacity to respond to climate challenges while promoting sustainable development. The project is expected to empower communities, improve environmental management, and build a more climate-resilient future for the district.

As implementation begins, stakeholders are encouraged to actively participate in planning and monitoring processes to ensure that the benefits of the project are realized across all sub-counties.

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