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Ecological Christian Organisation Head offices

ECO integrating bee hives in the woodlands to enhance pollination and conservation while improving farmers’ welfare.

Executive Director ECO Uganda

ECO promoting Taungya farming system to maximise production on farmlands in Bileafe S/C Terego district

ECO, partners and Yumbe district local government commemorating the World Environment Day at Abiriamajo P/S in Odravu S/C, in Yumbe district on 14th June 2023.

Ecological Christian Organisation (ECO) is an indigenous, Non-Governmental Organization registered in Uganda as S.5914/5509 and working towards realization of sustained livelihoods for marginalized, under-served and vulnerable groups in Uganda. Since its inception in 2005, ECO has implemented a varied portfolio of projects in the greater Karamoja region, West Nile and the L. Victoria basin.

ECO’s mandate spans the entire country which, despite its abundant and quality natural resources, has a high proportion of food-insecure people living below the poverty line and contributing significantly to environmental degradation. There are, however, considerable opportunities and possibilities for economic growth and attainment of national development goals and global sustainable development goals, particularly those relating to poverty, hunger and environmental sustainability.

ECO envisions an improved quality of life and sustainable livelihoods for the underserved and vulnerable groups in Uganda, through improved and sustainability-managed natural resources.

ECO’s mission is to engage and empower under-served communities and vulnerable groups to realize and protect their rights and dignity in a context of sustained ecosystems and inclusive governance.

Over the years, ECO has implemented projects and programs aimed at promoting natural resource governance, climate change resilience and adaptation, and ecosystems management and restoration. ECO is also at the Centre of piloting and promoting integrated approaches to national resources management like Population Health and Environment (PHE) interventions, Integrated Water Resources Management among others. ECO ensures collective local action for sustainable natural resources management in order to improve livelihoods of underserved and marginalized communities.

ECO subscribes to a number of national, regional and international networks including the Climate Action Network – Uganda and International (CAN-U & I), Environment and Natural Resources Civil Society Organizations Network (ENRCSO Network), Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), Population Health and Environment (PHE network) and International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Vision

Underserved and vulnerable groups in Uganda acheive quality of life and sustainable livelihoods, through improved and sustainably managed natural resources.

Mission

To engage and empower under served communities and vulnerable groups in Uganda to realise and protect their rights and diginity in a context of sustained ecosystems and inclusive governance.

Goal

To harness the great potential and efforts of local communities to take the lead in planning, implementing and evaluating effective and sustainable development programmes.

Objectives

To promote gender parity in the sustainable management of natural resources in Uganda.

To promote good governance in the management of natural and public resources through transparency and accountability mechanisms in Uganda.

To strengthen community based disaster risk management structures and their resilience to the impacts of climate change.

To promote policy research on topical themes relating to sustainable management of natural resources and climate change.

Projects Update

Thematic Areas

Climate Resilience

Focusing on integrated and diversified livelihoods resilient to climate and other natural hazards, including adoption of climate-smart farming practices, bioenergy options, ecosystem management and restoration to mitigate climate impacts.

ENR Sustainable Livelihoods

Focusing on conservation of natural ecosystems, restoration of degraded areas and sustaining forests for future generations; sustainable fisheries, mining and farming practices, contributing to livelihoods. Aligned to this will be capacity building of local communities to participate in decision making at local level and demand accountability from duty bearers, and influencing policy for protection of user rights, and co-management of natural resources.

Population, Health and Environment (PHE) integration

To address the complex connections that exist between population dynamics, human health, and environmental conservation by simultaneously improving access to health services while also helping communities manage their natural resources in ways that improve their health and livelihoods and conserve the critical ecosystems that they depend upon.

Renewable Energy and Social Enterprises

Focusing on investment in community based social enterprises in natural resources and renewable energy, achieving trio purpose – contributing to improved livelihoods of the target communities, enhancing environmental protection, and generating resources to fund ECO’s long term community engagement activities. Influencing policies and capacity for 100% renewable energy (RE).