RefIPro

Uganda has one of the largest refugee populations in the world hosting approximately 1.5 million refugees. It is increasingly clear that humanitarian aid will not be able to continue to support such large refugee populations for extended periods of time.

There is therefore an urgent need to find more sustainable ways for refugees to feed themselves and to generate income. Moreover, levels of malnutrition are already high among both the refugee and local host community populations in Uganda.

Malnutrition is a complex issue with many causes. In the refugee context in Uganda, a main cause is lack of access to nutritious food. 

This is a result of refugees not having access to sufficient land to feed themselves and very limited access to income generating opportunities. 

Young children living in refugee settlements are at high risk of chronic and acute undernourishment.

RefIPro project will be divided into two research studies: the formative study and the intervention study.

The formative study is a pilot study aiming to gather background data that will guide and strengthen the implementation of the intervention study.

This will include anthropometric  measurements and dietary intake assessments, development of a nutritious and highly acceptable mealworm enhanced school meal, as well as assessment of the barriers and drivers of mealworm consumption in schools in and around Kyaka 2 refugee settlement.

The intervention study aims to evaluate the impacts of a mealworm-based school meal on nutrition and health status of 6–9-year-old children.

This will involve a school feeding trial in primary schools in and around Kyaka 2 refugee settlement. The outcome measures of interest are anthropometric measurements, body composition measurements using stable isotopes, dietary intake assessments, Iron status, Vitamin A status, Gut health assessment using Environmental Enteric Dysfunction markers ( Citrulline, Myeloperoxidase, Neopterin, Alpha-1-anti-trypsin).

Refipro Project is a collaboration between project partners in Denmark and Uganda.

Denmark

Impact Designs: A non-profit organization with the aim to contribute to the development of sustainable business models with and for refugees in low- and middle-income countries. https://www.impactdesigns.dk/ 

Uganda

Bobo Eco Farm: A demonstration farm that develops innovative solutions to support small holder farmers to increase production efficiency and incomes without compromising environmental sustainability. https://www.boboecofarm.org.ug/ 

Child and Family Foundation Uganda (CFU): A Christian- based not -for-profit non-governmental organization aiming to improve access use and availability to healthcare, nutrition and food security, relevant education and livelihoods to children, youth, women and people with disability in rural and urban poor populations. https://cfufoundation.org/about.php 

Makerere University: A thought leader for knowledge generation for societal transformation and development.  The University is committed to providing transformative and innovative teaching, learning, research, and services responsive to dynamic national and global needs. https://www.mak.ac.ug/ 

Mothers Against Malnutrition and Hunger (MAMAH): A civil society organisation whcihc aims to improve food and nutrition security for the most vulnerable groups and communicates as well as fight gender-based poverty. https://www.mamah.org.ug/ 

International

International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE):  A pan-African, non-governmental and non-profit Centre of Excellence for research, development and capacity building headquartered in Nairobi, with thriving partnerships with many universities and research organizations in Africa, Europe and North America. http://www.icipe.org/