The role of non-state actors in promoting environmental risk reduction in the Upper Manafwa catchment, Eastern Uganda

Abstract

The slopes of Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda are increasingly grappling with various environmental risks resulting from landslides, floods, severe runoff and heavy rains. These hazards have rendered its inhabitants highly susceptible to environmental risks. There is, however, a paucity of information on the role of non-state actors in environmental risk reduction in tropical regions. This study evaluates the contributions of non-state actors’ involvement and effectiveness of strategies used in promoting environmental risk reduction in the upper Manafwa catchment. The study assessed the factors that enable non-state actors to promote environmental risk reduction and analysed the strategies used by non-state actors to enhance environmental risk reduction. The study also evaluated the challenges faced by non-state actors in promoting risk reduction. The study followed a descriptive survey of a cross-sectional design to collect data from a sample size of 370 respondents using questionnaires, key informants using KII interviews and 16 FGDs using focus group discussion guides. Binary logistic regression, principal, component analysis, multi linear regression, chi-square and content analysis was used to analyse data. The findings revealed that the dominant non-state actors involved in environmental risk reduction in the Mt Elgon region include; Give directly with 20.3%, Red Cross -Uganda at 20.0%, Trees for the future 18.7% and MTEG 16.2%. The most effective strategies used by these actors include provision of early warning systems (P-value=0.000) and relocation of people (P-value=0.001). Results from binary logistic regression tested at 95% confidence interval (p-value<0.05) indicated factors affecting non-state actors are, existing institutional and legal frameworks, provision of tree seedling, incentives, awareness creation were the significant factors. Significant relationships (P≤0.05) were, however, observed for the challenges faced by non-state actors. The limited funds and lack of community trust were the most significant challenges affecting activities of Non-State Actors. Study results indicated that the role used by non-state actors explain 6.1% variation in risk reduction in the upper Manafwa catchment. The study, therefore, concludes that non-state actors have played a significant role in environmental risk reduction. It is then recommended that local community strategies should be effectively implemented. Communities need more sensitization programs to be equipped with skills to mobilize themselves to form local environmental risk reduction committees. Keywords: Non-State-Actors, Environmental-risks-reduction, upper Manafwa