The scarred aftermath of a 2012 mudslide on the foothills of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda serves as a stark reminder of the rising threat faced by villages in the shadow of this once-dormant volcano. Home to hundreds of thousands of people, the red earth slopes have provided sustenance for farmers cultivating coffee and vegetables. However, climate change has intensified annual rains, rendering deforested areas susceptible to deadly mudslides.
Uganda's government, recognizing the danger, has attempted to relocate residents, albeit with limited success. Now, GiveDirectly, an American non-profit known for its research-driven approach, is testing an unconventional solution – providing residents with a substantial, no-strings-attached cash grant. This approach, backed by the Ugandan government, addresses a puzzling contradiction: while many residents have been hesitant to accept government resettlement offers, a recent survey by GiveDirectly reveals a genuine desire to leave the perilous slopes of Mount Elgon.
Among those impacted is Wasika Mubarak, a young father who vividly recalls the horror of the 2018 mudslide. As a torrent of water, carrying massive boulders, swept down the mountain, Mubarak and his family narrowly escaped. In the chaos, his youngest son, then 5 years old, was injured, and their home was destroyed. Despite government offers, the only affordable option for Mubarak's family was equally hazardous.
This novel resettlement approach by GiveDirectly seeks to address the complex dynamics of relocation, acknowledging the reluctance of residents while unveiling an underlying desperation to escape the imminent dangers posed by Mount Elgon. As the project unfolds, it illuminates the intricate interplay between climate change, government initiatives, and the resilience of communities navigating the looming threat of natural disasters.**
For Wasika Mubarak, the aftermath of the 2018 mudslide brought not just physical scars but lingering fear. With their home destroyed, the family's only affordable relocation option proved to be just as perilous. Nestled on the mountain with visible ground cracks, the new residence became a constant source of anxiety, a place where the looming threat of another landslide haunted their daily lives.
Previous government initiatives, like the plan developed after the 2010 mudslide, aimed to relocate affected communities to alternative areas with larger agricultural plots. However, these top-down solutions encountered significant challenges. Many residents returned to Mount Elgon, citing factors such as slow construction of promised housing, drought-induced harvest cuts, and the unfamiliarity of the new locations, including different languages and traditions.
GiveDirectly's global research director, Miriam Laker-Oketta, highlights the key issue underlying these challenges – a lack of agency for the affected communities. The top-down approach failed to consider the residents' perspectives and desires. To address this gap, GiveDirectly is testing an alternative: providing cash grants with no strings attached. This approach, proven effective in alleviating extreme poverty globally, now aims to empower Mount Elgon residents to make decisions aligned with their needs and aspirations.
The process began with a survey asking residents how much money they would need to relocate to a new setup of their choice. The approximate figure, $1,800, emerged as a potential catalyst for transformative change. GiveDirectly's innovative approach seeks to not only provide financial assistance but also restore agency and decision-making power to the affected communities, paving the way for a more sustainable and community-driven response to the climate change-induced threats faced by Mount Elgon's residents.**
GiveDirectly's groundbreaking initiative on Mount Elgon reached a pivotal stage as approximately 4,000 households received no-strings grants, each amounting to $1,800. The outcomes of this endeavor, expected early next year, hold potential implications for impoverished communities worldwide facing predictable climate disasters. Charles Kenny, a senior analyst with the Center for Global Development, notes the broader applicability of this approach, extending beyond mudslide-prone zones to encompass areas vulnerable to flooding, drought, and cyclones.
Kenny emphasizes the urgency of addressing the immediate impacts of climate change in the world's poorest countries. While conventional climate aid often focuses on long-term strategies to mitigate climate change, the Mount Elgon project shifts the narrative by providing direct financial assistance to those experiencing the consequences today. No-strings cash aid, proven effective in various studies, allows individuals to respond in ways that align with their immediate needs and priorities.
Early insights from the Mount Elgon study reveal diverse individual priorities. Wasika Mubarak utilized the grant to purchase land outside the perilous area, along with materials to construct a safer home. Jane Florence Kalenda, a widowed mother of four, invested in land and construction materials, balancing her expenses by allocating part of the grant to her children's school fees. The no-strings grants are not merely financial assistance; they serve as catalysts for empowerment, enabling individuals to make decisions that resonate with their unique circumstances and aspirations.
As the project progresses, it unveils the transformative potential of community-driven solutions to climate-induced challenges, offering a beacon of hope for vulnerable populations grappling with the immediate impacts of environmental crises.**
For Jane Florence Kalenda, the $1,800 no-strings cash grant from GiveDirectly marks a significant step toward securing a safer future for herself and her family. Despite acknowledging the ongoing need for approximately $530 to complete her new house, Kalenda is determined to overcome this hurdle. Her resourcefulness shines through as she plans to cultivate onions from seeds purchased with the grant, aiming to raise the required funds in the coming months.
Miriam Laker-Oketta, Global Research Director at GiveDirectly, emphasizes the importance of respecting individuals' choices in the relocation process. While the nonprofit anticipates immediate moves off Mount Elgon, the diverse paths chosen by recipients, like Kalenda's, underscore the complexity of decision-making. Laker-Oketta underscores the humanity at the core of this initiative, emphasizing that recipients are not mere subjects of an experiment but individuals with unique priorities and aspirations.
As the project unfolds, it exemplifies the nuanced and multifaceted nature of community-driven solutions to climate-induced challenges. Beyond the financial assistance, the initiative empowers individuals to shape their own destinies and make decisions based on what they deem essential. In the end, the Mount Elgon project stands as a testament to the resilience, agency, and dignity of those navigating the intricate journey toward a safer and more secure future.**
In conclusion, the Mount Elgon project by GiveDirectly represents a groundbreaking endeavor to address the immediate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. The distribution of no-strings cash grants, totaling $1,800 per household, has become a beacon of hope for individuals seeking safer alternatives in the face of predictable climate disasters. The project, expected to yield results early next year, carries implications that extend beyond Mount Elgon to regions worldwide grappling with environmental challenges.
The diverse responses from grant recipients, such as Jane Florence Kalenda's resourceful approach to fund her new home, highlight the multifaceted nature of individual choices in the relocation process. Miriam Laker-Oketta underscores the importance of respecting these decisions, emphasizing the project's commitment to acknowledging the agency and humanity of those directly affected.
As the Mount Elgon initiative unfolds, it embodies the transformative potential of community-driven solutions, offering a departure from top-down approaches. The nuanced and empowering nature of this project exemplifies a shift toward individualized, dignity-centric solutions to climate-induced challenges. In doing so, it charts new paths toward a safer and more secure future for those living in the shadows of predictable climate disasters.**