CATLER-Uganda addresses climate vulnerabilities in Eastern Uganda, where rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, landslides, and droughts threaten over 8 million people dependent on rain-fed agriculture. Despite minimal emissions, the region faces severe food and water insecurity, deforestation, and poverty. The project enhances resilience through three integrated components: deploying climate-smart technologies including solar-powered irrigation, drought-resistant seeds, and water harvesting; advancing forest landscape restoration and renewable energy to reduce GHG emissions and catalyse nature-based enterprises; and strengthening financial mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and institutional capacity for sustained adoption. Targeting ten districts, CATLER leverages public-private partnerships, capacity building, and innovative financing to build adaptive capacity, improve food and water security, and advance Uganda's NDC commitments for low-carbon, climate-resilient development.
Project overview
Project status
Development stage
Concept
Additional project information
- Lead agency
- Ministry of Water and Environment
Expected impact
Economic & development benefits
- CATLER-Uganda delivers transformative economic and development benefits to over 8 million residents across 10 vulnerable districts in Eastern Uganda
- By deploying 120 solar-powered community irrigation units covering 12,000 hectares and installing 720 rainwater harvesting tanks, the project secures water, boosts agricultural yields, and enhances food security and incomes for smallholder farmers
- Economically, it catalyses green growth by supporting 500 forest-based enterprises, creating sustainable livelihoods and green jobs, especially for women and youth
- It restores 50,000 hectares of degraded forests and deploys 3 MW of rooftop solar PV, cutting GHG emissions and energy costs for schools and hospitals
- Developmentally, it builds long-term resilience by training extension workers, establishing district information hubs, and improving market access
Climate & resilience benefits
- CATLER-Uganda delivers immediate and systemic climate resilience across Eastern Uganda
- Short-term, it rapidly deploys 120 solar-powered irrigation units (12,000 ha), 720 rainwater harvesting tanks, and climate-adapted seeds, securing immediate food and water security against erratic rainfall while building urgent capacity among farmers, women, and youth
- Long-term, it ensures enduring resilience by restoring 50,000 hectares of degraded forests, mitigating landslide and flood risks, and deploying 3 MW of solar PV to decarbonize local institutions
- Crucially, it institutionalizes adaptation through a national renewable energy revolving fund, updated technology standards, and robust multi-sectoral coordination
- By catalyzing 500 nature-based enterprises, CATLER transforms vulnerable populations into resilient, low-carbon economic actors, guaranteeing sustained adaptive capacity, reduced GHG emissions, and lasting protection of livelihoods and ecosystems against future climate shocks
Contact
Contact team
For more information about this project, please contact the Commonwealth Investment Platform team.