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This report, commissioned by the UNDP and implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), assesses climate risks to crop production—specifically maize, beans, and coffee—in Uganda's Rakai and Kapchorwa districts. It identifies that while Uganda has seen economic growth, its heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture makes it highly vulnerable to increasing droughts, floods, and rising temperatures. The study combines local consultations, crop modelling, and literature reviews to recommend a holistic risk management approach involving conservation agriculture, improved irrigation, stress-resistant crop varieties, and strengthened national governance and coordination.

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.