Uluguru Pilot Water & Agriculture Demonstration

Funded by the Global Youth Climate Action Fund (GYCAF)

Kilimo Smart Initiative (KSI) is proud to announce this 2026 Microgrant project, dedicated to building climate resilience in the Uluguru Foothills.

Project At A Glance

• 📍 Location: Uluguru Foothills, Morogoro, Tanzania
• 🤝 Funder: Global Youth Climate Action Fund (GYCAF)
• 📅 Grant Period: December 2025 – June 2026
• 🚀 Current Status: Active (Phase 2: Infrastructure Development)
• 👥 Direct Beneficiaries: 3,000 Residents & 60 Smallholder Farmers

About The Partnership

This project was made possible through the GYCAF 2026 Microgrants Campaign. On December 18, 2025, Kilimo Smart Initiative (KSI) was selected as a grantee to implement a youth-led solution to the climate crisis in Tanzania.

With GYCAF’s financial support, we are tackling the “double burden” facing our community: the lack of safe drinking water and the failure of rain-fed agriculture due to climate change. This partnership empowers local youth to take charge of their own climate adaptation.

The Challenge

In our community, 75% of residents rely on unprotected water sources, leading to high rates of waterborne illness. Simultaneously, erratic rainfall patterns are causing chronic crop failure for smallholder farmers. Without intervention, families remain trapped in a cycle of poverty and food insecurity.

Our Solution

Thanks to the seed funding from GYCAF, we are implementing an integrated “Water-Food-Livelihood” model:

1. Water Infrastructure: We are constructing a protected spring catchment and rainwater harvesting system to provide safe water for 3,000 residents.
2. Climate-Smart Agriculture: We are establishing a 0.25-hectare drip irrigation demonstration plot to teach farmers how to grow more food with less water.
3. Youth Leadership: We have mobilized 15 Local Action Groups (LAGs)—young men and women from the community who are being trained to manage these systems permanently.

Progress Report (Updated: January 29, 2026)

We are currently in Week 6 of implementation. Since receiving the grant funds in December, we have achieved:

• ✅ Mobilization: 15 Youth Leaders (Local Action Groups) have been recruited, achieving over 50% female representation.
• ✅ Beneficiary Selection: 60 smallholder farmers have been registered for the upcoming climate-smart training.
• ✅ Baseline Data: Household surveys have been completed to measure current water and crop metrics.
• 🏗️ Infrastructure: We are currently utilizing GYCAF funds to procure materials for the water tank and irrigation system construction, scheduled to begin in February.

A Message of Gratitude

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Global Youth Climate Action Fund for believing in grassroots, youth-led solutions. This grant is not just funding infrastructure; it is funding the future resilience of the Uluguru community.