Press Release: Uganda Cash Consortium secures € 7.2 Million grant to expand cash assistance for Refugees in Uganda

The Uganda Cash Consortium (UCC), led by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in partnership with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), has been awarded an additional amount of EUR 7,2 million in humanitarian funding from the European Union.

This vital funding will significantly strengthen the UCC's ability to provide life-saving cash assistance to socio-economically vulnerable individuals to meet their basic needs and reduce sector-specific risks.

Over 45,500 people will be supported with multi-purpose cash, within settlements located in the Southwest (Kyaka II, Kyangwali, Rwamwanja, Nakivale, Oruchinga), Mid-West (Kiryandongo), West Nile (Imvepi, Rhino Camp, Bidi Bidi, Lobule, Palorinya) and North (Adjumani, Palabek) regions of Uganda, with a particular focus on locations receiving new arrivals.

The UCC will provide six transfers to selected refugee households addressing immediate basic needs referenced on the Uganda Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) - version 2023.

The consortium will provide cash for Education in Emergencies (EiE) until Term 1 2026, focusing on children out of school or at risk of school dropout.

The cash assistance will reach at least 44,500 Ugandan and refugee children and adolescents and aims to facilitate continued education, increase school enrolment and reduce dropout rates.

“The EU is pleased to continue supporting the refugee response in Uganda with cash,” said Bruno Rotival, who oversees EU humanitarian programmes in Uganda.

“The humanitarian needs continue to increase and cash has proven the most efficient way of addressing them, while at the same time ensuring that refugees effectively can prioritise their most pressing needs. The cash assistance has also ensured very high enrolment and retention of children in school.”

Identifying recipients for multi-purpose cash assistance and cash for EiE will rely on referrals made through a revised UCC Vulnerability Scoring Model (UVSM), and collaboration with strategic sectorial partners, including protection partners, WFP, and UNHCR.

To facilitate financial transactions, UCC will use digital transfer mechanisms, such as mobile money and agency banking.