Circular bio-economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in East Africa

Faced with water scarcity, food insecurity, and energy poverty, refugee and host communities in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia are adopting circular bio-economy practices to build local resilience. Integrated interventions such as home gardens irrigated with greywater, composting, agroforestry, and bri...

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Main Authors: Adam-Bradford, A., Mendum, R., Njenga, M., Woldetsadik, D., Acanakwo, E. F., Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/122008
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author Adam-Bradford, A.
Mendum, R.
Njenga, M.
Woldetsadik, D.
Acanakwo, E. F.
Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
author_browse Acanakwo, E. F.
Adam-Bradford, A.
Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
Mendum, R.
Njenga, M.
Woldetsadik, D.
author_facet Adam-Bradford, A.
Mendum, R.
Njenga, M.
Woldetsadik, D.
Acanakwo, E. F.
Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
author_sort Adam-Bradford, A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Faced with water scarcity, food insecurity, and energy poverty, refugee and host communities in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia are adopting circular bio-economy practices to build local resilience. Integrated interventions such as home gardens irrigated with greywater, composting, agroforestry, and briquette production enable households to recover water, nutrients, and biomass while reducing dependency on external aid. In Kalobeyei Settlement, greywater runoff from water points is now diverted to irrigate vegetable plots, increasing dry-season food production and allowing women to sell surplus greens like amaranth and jute mallow. Profits are often reinvested in household needs, such as schoolbooks and staple food items. In Uganda’s Rhino and Imvepi settlements, briquettes made from cooking waste and crop residues have reduced firewood demand and indoor smoke exposure. Locally built mud-brick stoves require just three firewood sticks to cook beans down from previous bundles offering major time and labor savings for women. Over 1,600 households have been trained, with women making up 85% of trainees in Kenya. Peer-to-peer learning has extended uptake beyond project targets. However, water shortages, lack of seeds, and delayed training undermined early agroforestry efforts, especially in Uganda. Despite these gaps, the model shows promise. By closing resource loops at the household level, these regenerative practices strengthen food and energy systems while empowering women and promoting social cohesion in crisis-affected landscapes.
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spelling CGSpace1220082025-11-07T08:04:47Z Circular bio-economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in East Africa Adam-Bradford, A. Mendum, R. Njenga, M. Woldetsadik, D. Acanakwo, E. F. Gebrezgabher, Solomie A. circular economy bioeconomy innovation refugees human settlements communities resilience home gardens agroforestry cooking energy nexus approaches briquettes fuelwood resource recovery reuse water availability wastewater irrigation gender women learning training stakeholders households Faced with water scarcity, food insecurity, and energy poverty, refugee and host communities in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia are adopting circular bio-economy practices to build local resilience. Integrated interventions such as home gardens irrigated with greywater, composting, agroforestry, and briquette production enable households to recover water, nutrients, and biomass while reducing dependency on external aid. In Kalobeyei Settlement, greywater runoff from water points is now diverted to irrigate vegetable plots, increasing dry-season food production and allowing women to sell surplus greens like amaranth and jute mallow. Profits are often reinvested in household needs, such as schoolbooks and staple food items. In Uganda’s Rhino and Imvepi settlements, briquettes made from cooking waste and crop residues have reduced firewood demand and indoor smoke exposure. Locally built mud-brick stoves require just three firewood sticks to cook beans down from previous bundles offering major time and labor savings for women. Over 1,600 households have been trained, with women making up 85% of trainees in Kenya. Peer-to-peer learning has extended uptake beyond project targets. However, water shortages, lack of seeds, and delayed training undermined early agroforestry efforts, especially in Uganda. Despite these gaps, the model shows promise. By closing resource loops at the household level, these regenerative practices strengthen food and energy systems while empowering women and promoting social cohesion in crisis-affected landscapes. 2022-10-03 2022-10-04T10:29:22Z 2022-10-04T10:29:22Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/122008 en Open Access application/pdf Adam-Bradford, A.; Mendum, R.; Njenga, M.; Woldetsadik, D.; Acanakwo, E. F.; Gebrezgabher, Solomie. 2022. Circular bio-economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in East Africa. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 12p. (Resource Recovery and Reuse (RRR) in Refugee Settlements in Africa: Project Brief Series 3)
spellingShingle circular economy
bioeconomy
innovation
refugees
human settlements
communities
resilience
home gardens
agroforestry
cooking
energy
nexus approaches
briquettes
fuelwood
resource recovery
reuse
water availability
wastewater irrigation
gender
women
learning
training
stakeholders
households
Adam-Bradford, A.
Mendum, R.
Njenga, M.
Woldetsadik, D.
Acanakwo, E. F.
Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
Circular bio-economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in East Africa
title Circular bio-economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in East Africa
title_full Circular bio-economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in East Africa
title_fullStr Circular bio-economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in East Africa
title_full_unstemmed Circular bio-economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in East Africa
title_short Circular bio-economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in East Africa
title_sort circular bio economy innovations for resilient refugee and host communities in east africa
topic circular economy
bioeconomy
innovation
refugees
human settlements
communities
resilience
home gardens
agroforestry
cooking
energy
nexus approaches
briquettes
fuelwood
resource recovery
reuse
water availability
wastewater irrigation
gender
women
learning
training
stakeholders
households
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/122008
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