To encourage Internally Displaced Persons in Northern Uganda to start small-scale business ventures to increase their income generating options, the World Food Program has introduced a new program called Food for Asset.
Under the Food for Asset program, IDPs will engage in community development projects like digging up new roads and constructing fish ponds in exchange for much sought after food items.
The head of the WFP office in Lira, Gilbert Buzu, explains that the IDPs will be allowed to identify their major food needs and will discuss amongst themselves how much labor to offer food. He says it is hoped that about 60 fish ponds and roads to major destinations, will be constructed through the effort.
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The Northern Uganda Social Action Fund will stock the ponds once the construction is complete.
Buzu says his agency is collaborating with UN refugee agency to provide work tools for the Food for Asset program. Food items given in exchange for the labor include maize meal, beans, peas and cooking oil.
