CRiSTAL helps farmers adapt to drought on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Uganda

This case study describes how the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) applied the CRiSTAL framework in Sanzara, Uganda, to help farmers adapt to climate variability. The process identified severe water stress and seasonal variability as key challenges. In response, the community, with technical support from district officials and IUCN, began implementing a water gravity flow scheme from the River Sippi in April 2012 to mitigate the effects of drought and support livelihoods.

• In April 2011, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), funded by the United Nations Development Programme, used the Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis (CVCA) Handbook and the CRiSTAL framework to study the impacts of climate variability and change on crop production in Sanzara, located in the Kapchorwa District of Eastern Uganda.
• Sanzara's geography makes it susceptible to diverse climate risks: its proximity to Mount Elgon leads to floods and landslides, while its location within the 'cattle corridor'—a semi-arid region with high temperatures and low annual rainfall—results in regular droughts and chronic food insecurity due to a reliance on rain-fed agriculture and poor soil fertility.
• The application of the CRiSTAL framework identified water stress as a primary challenge for the community, noting that despite the presence of the River Sippi, the area suffers from long dry spells and high seasonal variability.
• The CRiSTAL process led the community to propose a water gravity flow scheme for irrigation using water from the River Sippi to adapt to prolonged dry spells. Implementation began in two of the three villages in April 2012, with technical expertise provided by IUCN and district officials, and labor provided by the communities. The project was expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

APA

Karami-Dekens, J., & Kutegeka, S. (n.d.). CRiSTAL helps farmers adapt to drought on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Uganda. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cristal_stories_uganda.pdf

Chicago

Karami-Dekens, Julie, and Sophie Kutegeka. CRiSTAL helps farmers adapt to drought on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Uganda. International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cristal_stories_uganda.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Karami-Dekens |first1=Julie |last2=Kutegeka |first2=Sophie |title=CRiSTAL helps farmers adapt to drought on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Uganda |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cristal_stories_uganda.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{karamidekensndcristal, author = {Karami-Dekens, Julie and Kutegeka, Sophie}, title = {{CRiSTAL helps farmers adapt to drought on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Uganda}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cristal_stories_uganda.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }