USAID ICAN | ANNUAL REPORT: OCTOBER 1, 2021 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

The project operates in 15 districts across the country, with a focus on increasing economic opportunities, improving nutrition, and strengthening community and local governance. The project's economic opportunities component focuses on increasing income for poor households through agricultural production and market access. This is achieved through farmer training programs, provision of agricultural inputs, and market linkage facilitation. The nutrition component of the project targets women and children, with a focus on improving their dietary diversity and reducing malnutrition. The project has implemented nutrition education and training programs for women, as well as provided support for the establishment of community-based nutrition gardens. The project has also worked with local health facilities to improve the quality of nutrition services provided to women and children. The project's community and local governance component focuses on strengthening the capacity of local governments and communities to plan and implement development projects. This is achieved through training and capacity-building programs for local government officials, as well as support for the establishment of community-led development committees. The project has also worked with local stakeholders to develop and implement community development plans. The project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, with notable achievements including a 27% increase in household income among project participants compared to the control group. Additionally, the project has strengthened community and local governance, with improved capacity of local governments and communities to plan and implement development projects. The project has also implemented a number of cross-cutting activities, including basic education and environmental compliance. The project has worked with local schools to improve the quality of education provided to children, particularly in areas related to agriculture and nutrition. The project has also implemented environmental compliance measures, including the establishment of community-based conservation groups and the promotion of sustainable agriculture practices. The project has faced several challenges, including limited access to markets and equipment costs. However, the project has implemented a number of strategies to address these challenges, including the establishment of community-based market linkages and the provision of training and capacity-building programs for farmers. The project has also worked with local stakeholders to develop and implement community development plans, which have helped to address some of the challenges faced by the project. Overall, the ICAN project has made significant progress in improving the livelihoods of poor households in Uganda, particularly women and children. The project's focus on sustainable agriculture and nutrition practices has helped to improve food security and increase income for project participants. The project's community and local governance component has also strengthened the capacity of local governments and communities to plan and implement development projects.