COVOID, with support from AWO International, is empowering refugees and host communities to improve household nutrition by establishing Backyard Gardens (BYG) for vegetable production. Through practical capacity-building trainings led by project staff, the Health and Nutrition Network, and local government extension workers, families learn how to grow nutritious vegetables in small, manageable spaces around their homes. Backyard gardens, typically occupying only about 500 square feet, offer a cost-effective solution for communities with limited land. In Nakivale Refugee Settlement—home to more than 200,000 refugees, many arriving from the DRC—land scarcity is a major challenge, with each household allocated only a 30-by-30-meter plot for both shelter and small-scale gardening. This limited space makes commercial farming impossible, increasing vulnerability to malnutrition. By equipping households with BYG skills, COVOID is helping refugees and host communities maximize the little land available, strengthen food security, and improve their overall nutrition and well-being.
Small Spaces, Big Nutrition: The Impact of Backyard Gardens
- It saves time and land because the gardens are located around the home, making them easy to manage.
- With simple planning and low-maintenance organic methods, families can maintain productive gardens effortlessly.
- Communities with limited access to land improve household nutrition through backyard gardening.
- Sack gardens, mound gardens, and mandala gardens help maximize small spaces for food production and even small-scale income.
- These methods improve food availability, support full nutritional value, and help fight malnutrition.
- Government and development partners are encouraged to support communities, including refugees, by equipping them with BYG skills.
- This support ensures year-round access to vegetables and contributes to improved nutrition and reduced malnutrition in households.
