1. Introduction

Uganda hosts more than 1.7 million refugees, with Nakivale Refugee Settlement accommodating approximately 170,000 refugees from multiple countries. In recent years, humanitarian funding constraints have led to reduced or reprioritized assistance across many refugee response programs.

These changes have resulted in shifts in livelihood programming, including reduced coverage, shortened support cycles, and increased targeting based on vulnerability assessments.

Through Uplift Her Hub engagements with young women and teenage mothers in Nakivale (2024–2025), we explored how these changes are affecting economic survival, especially for women and girls.

This publication is based on qualitative insights from approximately 25 community participants, including teenage mothers, young women in livelihood groups, and households classified under different vulnerability levels.

2. Vulnerability-Based Targeting in Refugee Assistance

Humanitarian programming in Uganda generally applies a vulnerability-based targeting approach, which groups refugee households into categories to prioritize limited resources. In practice, these categories commonly include:

2.1 Extremely Vulnerable Individuals (EVIs)

• Elderly persons without support
• Persons with disabilities
• Single mothers with no stable income

2.2 Moderately Vulnerable Households

• Households with partial income sources
• Families engaged in small livelihood activities
• Households receiving intermittent assistance

2.3 More Self-Reliant Households

• Households with relatively stable income sources
• Individuals engaged in small businesses or farming activities

While this system aims to prioritize the most at-risk groups, participants reported that classification does not always reflect lived realities, especially for teenage mothers and young women transitioning between categories.

3. Impact of Humanitarian Aid Reductions

3.1 Reduced Access to Livelihood Support

Participants reported a noticeable decline in consistent livelihood support, including fewer training cycles, reduced material assistance, and limited follow-up after program completion.

3.2 Increased Economic Pressure on Women and Girls

With reduced assistance, many households—particularly those led by young women—have experienced increased pressure to generate income independently, often without adequate skills or capital.

3.3 Disproportionate Impact on Teenage Mothers

Teenage mothers are among the most affected due to:

• Limited mobility caused by childcare responsibilities
• Reduced inclusion in group-based programs
• Higher likelihood of falling between vulnerability categories

4. Coping Mechanisms Observed

Through community engagement, Uplift Her Hub identified several coping strategies used by women and girls:

• Small-scale informal trading (food items, charcoal, local produce)
• Participation in rotating savings groups (VSLA systems)
• Informal labor such as washing clothes or casual farm work
• Dependence on extended family or community support networks

However, these coping mechanisms are largely unstable and do not provide long-term economic security.

5. Key Insight from Field Engagement

Across discussions with participants, a consistent concern emerged: reductions in humanitarian support have not been matched with strengthened pathways to economic independence.

Many participants described feeling “stuck between categories”—not receiving sufficient assistance to remain supported, yet not having the resources to become fully self-reliant.

6. Key Reflection

The shift toward reduced humanitarian funding and more targeted assistance has unintentionally created gaps in protection for vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls.

Without stronger transition mechanisms, many individuals risk falling into cycles of instability where neither aid nor sustainable income is sufficient.

7. Conclusion

Humanitarian aid reductions highlight the urgent need to rethink how livelihood and protection programs are designed. There is a growing need for systems that not only prioritize vulnerability but also ensure long-term pathways to economic inclusion.

Uplift Her Hub continues to document these experiences and explore community-led approaches that strengthen resilience among displaced young women and teenage mothers in Nakivale Refugee Settlement.