Projects

The JENGA JAMAA Program translates community needs into practical solutions that strengthen resilience, livelihoods, and social cohesion across refugee settlements and host communities in Uganda. Based on the baseline needs assessment conducted across Kampala, Rhino Camp, Kyaka II, Kyangwali, Kiryandongo, and Nakivale, YAREN, through implementing RLOs, and other NGO as well as other existing Partners in such location is willing to collaborate to scale the following priority program areas between 2026 and 2028.

Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Skills Development

As the crises around the world have become something affecting the world community, there is a strong interest in skills development, particularly entrepreneurship, leadership, and digital skills for refugees and people in remote areas, because the current support is not meeting their fundamental needs, which shows how far the future of aid seems to be in danger. However, barriers such as transport costs, lack of training equipment, and limited access to information prevent many refugees from accessing learning opportunities.

Water Access and WASH Infrastructure Development

In the current world, households report unreliable access to water, largely due to seasonal shortages and frequent breakdowns of water systems.

Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion

Program Focus

This program equips refugees and host community members with practical skills to start and grow sustainable livelihoods.

Key interventions include:

1. Entrepreneurship training and business development

2. Leadership and community development training

3. Personal Initiative Training (PIT) for entrepreneurs

4. ICT and digital skills training

5. Vocational skills development (tailoring, carpentry, mechanics, beauty services, and much more on innovation )

6. Digital entrepreneurship and online freelancing

Target Groups                                                                              Looking at the community needs, there is still a group that, if this gap affects much, the whole community will be in trouble for both the refugee and the host community.

1. Youth entrepreneurs

2. Refugee startup founders

3. Women-led small businesses

4. Teenage mothers and vulnerable youth

Expected Impact:                                                                      We stand to contribute to the awaited impact on humanity aimed at seeing: 

1. Increased income-generating activities

2. Growth of refugee-led enterprises

3. Stronger leadership and community participation

4. Reduced dependency on humanitarian assistance

In the current world, households report unreliable access to water, largely due to seasonal shortages and frequent breakdowns of water systems.

YAREN will strengthen water access through sustainable and community-managed solutions.

Key interventions include:

1. Solar-powered water systems

2. Borehole, toilets rehabilitation and maintenance

3. Community water kiosks

4. Sanitation and hygiene infrastructure

5. Community-led water management committees

6. Hygiene education and WASH awareness programs

1. Reliable and sustainable water access

2. Reduced waterborne diseases

3. Community ownership of water systems

4. Improved sanitation and hygiene practices

Women Empowerment and Protection

Women and teenage mothers face additional barriers including safety concerns, financial constraints, and cultural restrictions that limit participation in economic programs. Targeted support is essential to ensure equitable access to opportunities.

YAREN will implement gender-responsive programs that empower women economically and socially.

Key activities to be included:

1. Women's entrepreneurship training

2. Village savings and loan associations (VSLAs)

3. Skills development for teenage mothers

4. Leadership development for women

5. GBV prevention, mental health, and protection programs

6. Safe participation mechanisms for women

1. Increased women-led businesses

2. Reduced gender-based economic inequality

3. Greater participation of women in community leadership

Expected Impact

Community tensions exist around land access, natural resources, and ethnic divisions between refugee and host communities. Strengthening social cohesion is essential for sustainable development.

This program promotes peaceful coexistence and collaborative development.

Key interventions include:

1. Community dialogue and mediation initiatives

2. Peacebuilding training for youth and community leaders

3. Resource-sharing and conflict resolution workshops

4. Refugee-host community collaboration initiatives

Program Focus

1. Reduced community tensions

2. Strengthened social cohesion

3. Peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities

Expected Impact

Infrastructure, Innovation and Digital Connectivity

Infrastructure assessments show that electricity and internet access remain limited across many settlements, restricting access to digital opportunities and business growth. Community innovation hubs can play a key role in expanding economic opportunities.

This program supports the development of community innovation and training spaces.

Program Focus

Key interventions include:

• Community business and innovation hubs
• Digital training centers
• Internet connectivity and digital access
• Youth innovation labs
• Entrepreneurship incubation spaces

Exptected Impact

• Improved digital access and innovation capacity
• Growth of technology-enabled entrepreneurship
• Strengthened economic ecosystems in refugee communities

Business Development and Financial Inclusion

Based on our community learnings, most respondents operating small businesses reported significant barriers, including limited startup capital, limited access to loans, and informal business operations. Strengthening financial access is critical for economic resilience.

YAREN will support entrepreneurs to formalize and grow their businesses.

Program Focus

• Business registration and formalization support
• Financial literacy and entrepreneurship coaching/ mentorship
• Savings groups and community finance initiatives
• Mobile money business training
• Microfinance partnerships
• Startup capital and revolving funds

Key interventions include:

• Increased access to finance
• Growth of small and medium enterprises
• Improved financial inclusion for refugees
• Stronger local economic ecosystems

Agriculture and Food Security

There is a gap in which households reported an insufficient food supply, and many families rely heavily on purchased food rather than local production. Agriculture presents a major opportunity to strengthen food security and income generation.

Program Focus

The program supports climate-smart agriculture and agribusiness development.

Key interventions include:

• Community farming initiatives
• Youth farming incubators
• Livestock projects (piggery, poultry, goats)
• Climate-smart agriculture training
• Food processing and value chain development
• Cooperative agriculture groups

Exptected Impact

Exptected Impact

Exptected Impact

1. Increased household food production

2. Reduced food insecurity

3. Stronger local agricultural markets

4. Sustainable livelihood opportunities through agribusiness

These programs will be anchored in YAREN’s long-term vision of establishing a Refugee Innovation Village and Community Hub, a space where refugees and host communities can access training, entrepreneurship support, mentorship, and community services in one integrated ecosystem

The Innovation Village will function as:

• A training and capacity-building center
• A business incubation and innovation hub
• A safe community gathering space
• A platform for partnerships and collaboration