Uganda’s PARKS Project: Poverty Alleviation and Conservation – The Borgen Project

Report on the Poverty Alleviation and Removal of Kibale Snares (PARKS) Project

An Integrated Model for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Uganda

1.0 Introduction

This report details the Poverty Alleviation and Removal of Kibale Snares (PARKS) project, an initiative by the non-governmental organization Village Enterprise in Uganda’s Kibale National Park (NP). The project presents a successful, integrated model that simultaneously addresses critical socio-economic and environmental challenges. By intertwining poverty reduction with conservation efforts, the PARKS project provides a tangible framework for achieving multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

2.0 Situational Analysis: Kibale National Park

2.1 Socio-Economic Context and Contribution to SDG 1

The western region of Uganda, where Kibale NP is located, faces significant economic disparities despite having a poverty rate of 11.4%, which is below the national average. The challenges are particularly acute in rural areas, directly impacting the achievement of SDG 1 (No Poverty).

• The region exhibits high inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.33 for the general population and 0.39 for children.
• Extreme poverty in communities surrounding the park forces a dependency on natural resources for survival, creating a direct conflict between human livelihood and environmental preservation.

2.2 Environmental Context and Relevance to SDG 15

Kibale National Park is a critical biodiversity hotspot, making its preservation essential for SDG 15 (Life on Land). The park’s resources are under threat from human activities driven by economic necessity.

• The park is home to 13 primate species, including one of the world’s largest chimpanzee populations.
• It hosts over 120 mammal species and 370 bird varieties.
• Illegal activities such as bushmeat harvesting and timber logging pose a significant threat to endangered wildlife and the overall ecosystem.

3.0 The PARKS Project: A Strategy for Sustainable Development

3.1 Core Objectives and SDG Alignment

Initiated in 2021 and supported by the Arcus Foundation and the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, the PARKS initiative is built on the understanding that environmental conservation (SDG 15) and poverty alleviation (SDG 1) are inextricably linked. The project’s dual objectives are:

1. To reduce extreme poverty for communities living within the national park.
2. To protect the park’s biodiversity, with a specific focus on its endangered chimpanzee population.

3.2 Implementation and Activities

The project’s methodology moves away from punitive measures and toward empowerment, directly contributing to several SDGs. Key strategies include:

• Entrepreneurial Training: Local residents receive training to establish sustainable micro-enterprises, providing alternative livelihoods that reduce pressure on the park’s natural resources. This directly supports SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Startup Funding and Mentorship: Village Enterprise provides seed capital and ongoing guidance to new entrepreneurs, ensuring business viability.
• Business Savings Groups: The formation of these groups fosters financial resilience and community-based support systems, reinforcing the goals of SDG 1.
• Conservation Champions: Selected entrepreneurs receive additional training to become local advocates for sustainable business practices, promoting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) within their communities.

4.0 Project Outcomes and Impact Assessment

4.1 Economic Empowerment and Social Progress (SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 5)

The PARKS project has yielded significant positive results, demonstrating measurable progress toward key social and economic SDGs.

• Over 5,500 entrepreneurs have received training.
• A significant focus on gender equality (SDG 5) is evident, with over 65% of the trained entrepreneurs being women.
• 1,838 sustainable micro-businesses have been established, including retail, tailoring, beekeeping, agroforestry, and the production of energy-efficient stoves.
• The initiative has positively impacted the lives of more than 20,000 people.
• Improved household incomes have enabled families to afford school fees and enhance nutrition, contributing to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

4.2 Conservation and Environmental Impact (SDG 15, SDG 12)

The project’s conservation outcomes highlight its success in protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable resource management.

• A marked reduction in illegal human activity has been observed within Kibale NP.
• 90 “Conservation Champions” have been trained to disseminate sustainable practices.
• Anti-poaching patrols funded by the project have resulted in the removal of 445 illegal snares as of April 2025, with over 800 snares removed by the project overall. This directly advances the targets of SDG 15 (Life on Land).

5.0 Conclusion: A Replicable Model for Global Goals

The PARKS project serves as an exemplary model of how to effectively integrate poverty alleviation and environmental conservation. By empowering local communities with sustainable economic opportunities, the initiative directly addresses the root causes of human-wildlife conflict. Its success in Uganda offers a scalable and replicable framework for other regions facing similar challenges, demonstrating a practical pathway to achieving a range of Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 5, SDG 12, and SDG 15, simultaneously.

Analysis of the PARKS Project and Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article explicitly states that the PARKS project is a “poverty alleviation” scheme aimed at improving the lives of those in “extreme poverty” in the rural areas around Kibale National Park.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article mentions that the new businesses created through the project have helped families “improve nutrition,” directly connecting the project’s outcomes to this goal.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality – The article notes that the scheme “indirectly… addresses goal 5 (Gender Equality) through its focus on empowering women,” highlighting that over 65% of the entrepreneurs trained are women.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – This goal is explicitly mentioned. The project promotes “sustainable business practices” and the use of “energy-efficient stoves,” shifting the local economy away from the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The article explicitly names this goal. The project’s core purpose is environmental conservation, specifically the “protection of Kibale NP’s endangered chimpanzee population” by reducing illegal activities like poaching and logging.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. The project directly tackles this by creating micro-businesses to lift people out of extreme poverty in Uganda’s western region.
   • Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources. The project achieves this by providing “startup funding,” “entrepreneurial training,” and mentorship to local residents, including a majority of women.

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article supports this by stating that the project helps families “improve nutrition.”
   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. The creation of “small-scale agricultural projects” and “beekeeping” businesses as part of the initiative directly contributes to this target.

3. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The project promotes women’s economic participation by ensuring that “more than 65% of” the trained entrepreneurs are women.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The project moves the community away from “illegal harvesting of bushmeat and timber” towards “sustainable micro-enterprises” and the use of “energy-efficient stoves.”

5. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The project’s goal is the “protection of Kibale NP’s endangered chimpanzee population.”
   • Target 15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products. The project directly addresses this by reducing local dependence on poaching and funding anti-poaching patrols that remove illegal snares.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Number of entrepreneurs trained: 5,500
   • Number of sustainable micro-businesses created: 1,838
   • Number of people positively impacted: over 20,000

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Qualitative improvement in family nutrition (implied).
   • Establishment of “small-scale agricultural projects” and “beekeeping” businesses.

3. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Percentage of female entrepreneurs trained: over 65%

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Number of “Conservation Champions” trained to advise on sustainable practices: 90
   • Adoption of innovative solutions like “energy-efficient stoves.”

5. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Reduction in illegal human activity within the park (observed).
   • Number of illegal snares removed by PARKS-funded patrols: 445
   • Total number of snares removed under the project as a whole: over 800

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: borgenproject.org