Annual Report: Karamoja Resilience Support Unit II (KRSU II)

The program aims to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of development assistance in the Karamoja region by emphasizing the use of existing and new evidence to guide policy and programming. The program has three objectives: Objective 1, Turn Evidence into Action, involves generating and disseminating new evidence, as well as reviewing existing Karamoja research to inform the Government of Uganda (GOU), donors, partners, USAID, and other stakeholders. Objective 2, Promote and Foster Collective Action, supports coordination of GOU, development actors, and humanitarian partners, including promotion of Karamoja networks and identification of potential areas for collective action. Objective 3, Improve GOU Coordination to Implement Development Plans, broadens support to the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs (MfKA) to better coordinate with district and sub-county leadership to operationalize the Karamoja Integrated Development Plan III (KIDP). During the reporting period from October 2022 to September 2023, KRSU II completed several activities. A real-time review of the 2022 humanitarian crisis and responses in Karamoja was completed, and findings were presented to the Karamoja Development Partners Group (KDPG) and disseminated to stakeholders. A study on indigenous early warning systems in Karamoja was published and disseminated to stakeholders through learning sessions organized by the KDPG and other partners. KRSU II also completed a study on grazing and water resources management in Karamoja, with the report disseminated to stakeholders through learning sessions organized by USAID, the KDPG, and other regional actors. A regional stakeholder consultative workshop on "Decreasing Barriers and Improving Inclusions for Girls Education in Karamoja" was organized, attended by over 60 participants, including the Embassy of Ireland, select Members of Parliament, and representatives from the Ministry of Education. The KRSU II program works closely with the GOU to strengthen their capacity for coordination and enhance their ability to assume coordination roles. The program aims to transfer this role to the GOU as appropriate, ensuring that development assistance in the Karamoja region is effective and efficient. A summary table with progress against workplan deliverables is presented in Annex 1. The KRSU II program continues to emphasize the use of existing and new evidence to guide policy and programming in Karamoja, working closely with the GOU and other stakeholders to achieve its objectives. The Karamoja Development Partners Group (KDPG) plays a crucial role in promoting coordination and collective action among GOU, development actors, and humanitarian partners. The KDPG supports the operational, secretarial, and logistical needs of the group, facilitating joint strategies, approaches, and practices among its members. The Ministry of Karamoja Affairs (MfKA) is a key partner in the KRSU II program, receiving support to better coordinate with district and sub-county leadership to operationalize the Karamoja Integrated Development Plan III (KIDP). The MfKA works closely with the KRSU II program to enhance their capacity to assume coordination roles and transfer this role to them as appropriate. The KRSU II program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including generating and disseminating new evidence, promoting coordination and collective action, and improving GOU coordination to implement development plans. The program continues to work closely with the GOU and other stakeholders to ensure that development assistance in the Karamoja region is effective and efficient.