The Child Focused Community Transformation (CFCT) programme is a five-year initiative (2024–2028) implemented in Luuka District, Eastern Uganda, with support from Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI) and implemented by International Development Institute (IDI) Uganda. The programme aims to improve child well-being by strengthening household socio-economic resilience and improving access to education, health and nutrition, livelihoods, and disaster preparedness services.
Where we work
CFCT interventions in Luuka are implemented in Bukanga Sub-county, covering five target parishes: Budondo, Buwologoma, Nabubya, Kiroba, and Busalamu. These communities were selected due to persistent child-focused vulnerabilities, including high school dropout rates (especially among girls), poverty, early pregnancies and marriages, child labour, gender-based violence, and climate-related risks.
Our programme focuses
The programme is anchored on four thematic areas:
- Livelihoods
- Education
- Health and Nutrition
- Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
These are strengthened by cross-cutting themes including Gender & Child Protection, Environment, and Biblical Worldview, ensuring holistic, values-driven, and child-centred community transformation.
Our approach
Luuka CFCT is grounded in a community-led cascade model, where trained parents, teachers, community leaders, volunteers, and church leaders transfer knowledge and skills to households and peers. Faith-based engagement plays a central role in reinforcing values of responsibility, dignity, and care, ensuring that transformation is locally owned and sustainable.
CFCT’s theory of change envisions holistic transformation by strengthening families, churches, and local institutions to create safe, nurturing, and protective environments where children can thrive.
By walking alongside communities, Luuka CFCT seeks lasting change—so that every child in Luuka can grow up healthy, educated, protected, and full of hope.
By 2028, the programme aims to achieve:
- Improved adoption of climate-smart agriculture and strengthened household livelihoods
- Increased school enrolment, retention, and learning outcomes
- Improved maternal, child health, and nutrition outcomes
- Strengthened community preparedness and response to disasters and shocks
Why Luuka
Luuka District is largely rural, with subsistence agriculture as the main livelihood source. However, households face low agricultural productivity, widespread food insecurity, limited access to quality education and healthcare, weak infrastructure, and low disaster preparedness. Children are particularly affected by school overcrowding, high dropout rates, child labour, early pregnancies, and inadequate protection systems.
Despite these challenges, Luuka has strong opportunities, including active churches, strong community networks, growing savings groups (VSLAs), and a young population, which CFCT builds upon to drive sustainable and inclusive development.
Education: Supporting Learning and Retention
Education is a core pillar of the Luuka CFCT Programme. The programme supports children to access safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments through the provision of scholastic materials, teacher capacity building in psychosocial support and pedagogy, academic seminars, career guidance, and school feeding programmes to improve attendance and retention. CFCT also supports school infrastructure development, including classroom construction and learning materials, while strengthening parent and school management engagement.
Health: Caring for Mothers and Children
Health interventions in Luuka CFCT focus on maternal and child health, nutrition, and community-based prevention. Activities include community sensitisation, health referrals, and targeted medical support for vulnerable children, complemented by improved hygiene practices and nutrition awareness to reduce preventable illnesses and improve child well-being.
Livelihoods: Strengthening Household Resilience
To address poverty and food insecurity, Luuka CFCT supports households through climate-smart agriculture training, seed distribution, post-harvest management, and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) formation and strengthening. These interventions enhance household income, food security, and financial resilience, enabling families to better care for and protect their children.
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Building Resilient Communities
DRR is integrated across all programme sectors. Luuka CFCT strengthens community preparedness, early warning awareness, and resilience planning, while promoting climate-resilient livelihoods and infrastructure to help households anticipate, withstand, and recover from shocks.
Spirituality: Nurturing Faith and Holistic Transformation
Spirituality is embedded as a foundation for holistic development in Luuka CFCT. The programme equips church leaders and Sunday school teachers with skills for child protection, holistic ministry, and faith-based engagement through trainings, Bible camps, and regular church support visits, enabling churches to nurture values, resilience, and hope among children and families.