Project title

Acronym

B-SaFFeR

Full Title

Building Socio-ecological resilience of communities to Flash Flooding in the Rwenzori Mountains (B-SaFFeR)

About the B-SaFFeR Project (A Brief)

B-SaFFeR aims to enhance capacities through joint research, addressing a relevant developmental issue: the impact of flash floods on the rural population in the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda. Despite existing local knowledge to reduce risk, there is a lack of capacity to monitor floods, enhance community response mechanisms, and design and implement sustainable risk reduction strategies. In cooperation with district authorities, B-SaFFeR will enhance academic capacities to build socio-ecological resilience against flash floods in Rwenzori communities.

A low-cost sensor network will monitor rainfall and river discharge in two river catchments (Nyamwamba and Nyamugasani), complemented by a spatial hydrological model, to develop a proof of concept for a flood warning system. Existing grassroots risk-sharing socio-economic solidarity schemes (i.e., VSLAs) will be documented, and their impact on household resilience will be demonstrated.

Key stakeholders will co-lead the project, which includes training and direct support for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) actions in pilot villages, as well as an environmental radio program to ensure the sustainable impact of B-SaFFeR on the resilience of local communities. 

Nature of participation

THRAIF is part of the consortium of 4 partners from the Uganda side of the B-SaFFeR project. THRAIF’s core role is community engagement and direct implementation of B-SaFFeR findings regarding socio-ecological resilience to floods in community groups.

Coordinator at THRAIF

Gloria KABUGHO | gloriak@thrive.ac.ug

Overall coordinator (Uganda)

Dr. Bosco Bwambale

Other partners

  1. Uganda Martyrs University (Uganda, coordinating institution)
  2. Mountains of the Moon University (Uganda)
  3. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium)
  4. KU Leuven (Belgium)
  5. Join for Water (JfW)
  6.  

Funding source (Funder)

VLIR UOS (Flemish Interuniversity Council)

VLIR Category: TEAM Project

Timeline

5 years (2024-2029)