The Kura Kura: Regenerative Agriculture for Refugees Initiative intends to bring the PermaGarden methodology for household food production to all households in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. Pioneered in the Palabek Refugee Settlement in northern Uganda by African Women Rising, PermaGardens have contributed to improving the nutrition and economic well-being of refugees in Palabek and holds promise to do the same for the refugees of Nakivale. Based on the proven principles of Resilience Design which incorporates Site Design, Water Harvesting, Soil Regeneration and Biodiversity into a sustainable approach to producing food on the small household plots available to refugees.
The Kura!!!Kura!!! Garden has a Nakivale-specific design that optimizes resources and external influences for improved efficiency, production, resilience and regeneration. The Kura!!!Kura!!! Garden is situated and designed such that it maximizes energy efficiency and resource use and optimizes natural and man-made external influences (such as sun, wind, slope, and roads). The analysis of the resources should consider ways to maximize the beneficial influences (for example, water flowing into a compound).and minimize negative ones (such as hot afternoon sun), as well as opportunities to integrate waste streams for productive use.
The Kura!!!Kura!!! Garden has multiple strategies to slow, spread, sink and manage rainwater and other water resources.. At a minimum, the site uses interventions that prevent runoff and erosion from heavy rain, and interventions that capture, store and manage rainwater, wastewater and water from boreholes, streams or ponds for improved crop production. A well-designed and managed water harvesting strategy will ensure plants and animals have multiple ways to access water throughout the year.
The Kura!!! Kura!!! Garden creates a healthy soil food web that supports sustained production and regenerative growth. It uses multiple strategies to improve soil health. These strategies include deep soil preparation, the use of natural fertilizers, and protection from negative external influences such as intense sun, wind and rain. Healthy soils will increase production and support the growth of higher nutrient crops that are more resilient to pests, diseases and climatic stresses.
The Kura!!!Kura!!! Garden has plants, trees and animals that work together in ways that support the overall health and production of the growing environment. It incorporates a diversity of plants, trees and animals and mimics healthy and resilient living systems nearby to support regenerative growth and to provide multiple nutrition and income-generation opportunities year-round. It integrates perennial plants, such as trees, shrubs, herbs, ground covers and vines, including support species that enhance nutrient availability, protect soil resources, encourage pollination and deter pests.
Traditional Kitchen Gardens
Kura!!! Kura!!! Gardens
Kura!!!Kura!!! Leader
Paulinho Muzaliwa is the visionary founder of Unidos Social Innovation Center, begun in 2018 to advance sustainability, empowerment, and community-led development in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. Paulinho is a certified permaculture teacher (Permaculture Education Institute), an accredited Warm Data host (Bateson International Institute), an Ambassador in the SEEDS regenerative financial ecosystem, and a business and leadership facilitator dedicated to transforming refugee settlements into regenerative, resilient communities.
Resilience Design for Refugees Originators
Tom and Warren have over 30 years of experience in regenerative agriculture, community development and humanitarian aid. They have worked extensively across the globe, primarily focusing on food security and regenerative agriculture. They are the co-developers of the Resilience Design Approach and founding partners of Resilience Design Consulting, a global consulting consortium. Together they trained the leaders of Kura Kura in the methods and learnings from the successful Palabek PermaGarden program in Northern Uganda established and run by African Women Rising.