World Refugee Day” – (1) Signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with UN WOMEN, (2) Women’s Football Event Held in Refugee Settlement! – Solidarity with Refugees –

In Uganda, JICA is promoting initiatives that contribute to the peaceful coexistence of refugees and host communities, the improvement of quality of life and livelihoods, and the promotion of women’s empowerment. In commemoration of World Refugee Day (20 June), we introduce two initiatives that symbolize solidarity between JICA and refugees.

JICA has been mainstreaming support for refugee settlements and host communities into its development cooperation portfolio in Uganda. In coordination with international organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UN WOMEN, JICA is undertaking initiatives to improve refugee livelihoods through agriculture, promote gender inclusion, and support peacebuilding efforts.

Notably, in August 2024, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s scheme for cooperation with international organizations (grant aid), “Project for Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Refugee Settlements and Host Communities” was adopted, with UN WOMEN as the implementing agency. This project works in collaboration with JICA’s technical cooperation project, “Promotion of Sustainable Rice Farming Development Project (Eco-PRiDe)”, and supports livelihood improvements for women and youth in refugee settlements and host communities through the following rice cultivation initiatives:

1. Training 600 farmers from refugee settlements and host communities in improved rice cultivation techniques
2. Introduction of time-saving agricultural tools and technologies
3. Increasing rice production and promoting its sales
4. Improving the rice value chain and promoting sustainability through infrastructure development (e.g., construction of grain storage facilities, drying yards, and compost sheds)

These initiatives especially foster capacity building and access to resources for women and young people - groups considered particularly vulnerable - and ultimately encourage their participation in local economic activities. This, in turn, leads to greater stability and socio-economic growth in both the refugee settlements and host communities.

On 10 June 2025, JICA Uganda Office signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with UN WOMEN to ensure smoother implementation of the project and maximize its development impact. Going forward, JICA will continue to pursue co-creation with a diverse range of partners and innovative ideas. so that it can support Uganda in building a harmonious society in which people living in refugee settlements and host communities can live with dignity and hope.

To commemorate “World Refugee Day” (20 June), the JICA Uganda Office held a women’s football event on 14 June, 2025, at the Palorinya Refugee Settlement, bringing together participants from both the refugee and host communities. This event was organized in cooperation with Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Soltilo Bright Stars (Soltilo) of the Uganda Premier League.

Since 2022, JICA Uganda Office has held a total of 15 football events in refugee settlements, reaching about 1,000 women from refugee and host communities (mainly ages 16 to 19). This was the first time an event was held in the Palorinya Refugee Settlement, which is home to approximately 140,000 refugees (as of June 2025), mostly from South Sudan.

This year’s World Refugee Day theme is “Solidarity with Refugees.” With the number of refugees increasing and their stays becoming prolonged, peaceful coexistence requires close collaboration among refugees, host communities, and partner organizations. In line with this theme, the event aimed to strengthen community solidarity through sports, promote women’s empowerment, and broaden possibilities for the future.

On the day of the event, 45 young women from the refugee and host communities (mainly ages 16 to 19) participated. In the morning, a football clinic led by Soltilo was held, and the girls chased the ball and worked up a sweat together with their newly made friends. It was impressive to see how their initially nervous expressions gradually turned into smiles.

In the afternoon, a friendly football match took place, showcasing several inspiring scenes: participants fiercely chased the ball with determined, serious faces; teammates exchanged high-fives and shared beaming smiles in celebration of goals; and when a team lost, players consoled each other with pats on the shoulder. Through these interactions, we caught a glimpse of the strengthened solidarity between the refugee and host community players. Many spectators from the local community also gathered to watch, and the entire venue was enveloped in a strong sense of unity.

At the closing ceremony, 15 players were selected by Soltilo and were each presented with a uniform donated by “CHIFURE AS ELFEN SAITAMA”, a club in the Japan Women’s Empowerment Professional Football League (WE LEAGUE). These selected players will go on to participate as the Palorinya Refugee Settlement representative in the women’s football tournament “TICAD CUP,” which is scheduled to be co-hosted by JICA Uganda and others in September 2025.

One of the participating players shared her experience, saying:
“Football has helped protect me from things that can affect my future, say, early pregnancy. I believe if I concentrate well, I can make something out of my talent, if I train hard.”
This powerful testimony highlights how sports can provide not only recreation but also a protective and empowering influence for young women.

JICA Uganda Office will continue to actively work with various partners, both domestic and international, to promote peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities and to further advance women’s empowerment in the days ahead.