Challenges of Sustainable Livelihood among Former Internally Displaced Persons in Lira District: A Case Study of Adwari Sub-County

Abstract

BUZU GILBERT (2007-MO93-10087) Challenges of Sustainable Livelihood among Former Internally Displaced Persons in Lira District: A Case Study of Adwari Sub-County The study was aimed at assessing the challenges of sustainable livelihood among former Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adwari sub-county, Lira district as well as proposing solutions to such challenges. The study further identified livelihood strategies employed by the former IDPs as well as establishing how different categories of former IDPs cope with livelihood challenges. The study was a sample survey where questionnaires, in-depth interviews with randomly selected households, observation and documentary analysis were used as methods of data collection. The findings of the study revealed sustainable livelihood as being affected by a range of factors that include: low investment in agriculture, limited market for farmers produce, limited access to health and safe water, low investment in education, limited access to financial credit facilities, poor infrastructure, environmental degradation and the karamajong threat. It was also noted that as long as the people continue to face these livelihood challenges, the realisation of sustainable livelihood will remain a dream. It was revealed that whereas government and the non-governmental organisations have designed a number of interventions to address livelihood problems in the area of study, the interventions were never adequate in terms of coverage and appropriateness. It was further established that the outcomes of the interventions were equally grossly affected by the attitude of the beneficiaries. The study proposes a number of recommendations if sustainable livelihood is to be achieved by the former IDPs. The proposed solutions include: encouraging participation of the beneficiaries in livelihood interventions; focusing on improving agriculture and market for agriculture produce; addressing the livelihoods of the vulnerable such as youth, widows, orphans; making financial credit facilities available and affordable to the farmers and traders; improving social services such health, water and education; focusing on interventions that meet long term needs of the former IDPs; addressing environmental degradation as well as strengthening the auxiliary force along the Lira-Karamoja boarder to reduce on the threat of the Karamajong. Keywords: Sustainable livelihood, Internal displaced persons, Lira district