Earthworks (or reconstructive earth surgery) are often a vital component of land restoration and regenerative agriculture production.
In July 2025, African Women Rising and Resilience Design Consulting hosted an Earthworks for Resilience training in Northern Uganda, near Palabek Refugee Settlement. 40 participants joined from 18 different agencies, representing programs from four different countries.
During the six-day course, we built a large contour earthen dam high in the landscape of a 500 acre farm for refugees. The dam includes an extended water catchment system and level-sill spillway. This vital water point will serve as a dry season irrigation system for 500 South Sudanese refugee families, each on a one-acre Resilience Design, biodiverse agricultural production system that includes alley cropping and food forestry.
Building on Demonstrated Success
The contour dam constructed during the Earthworks for Resilience training is the second such dam around Lok Neno. The first was built in 2023 and holds a substantial amount of water–serving as a key source of irrigation.
Recently, Lok Neno experienced one of the heaviest overnight rainfall events ever recorded in the area–over 70mm. Remarkably, the Resilience Design practices implemented across the landscape proved their effectiveness. Instead of causing destructive flooding or erosion, the rainfall was well absorbed and redirected by the bioswales and strategically placed original dam. These earthworks significantly reduced surface runoff and controlled water flow, preventing flooding in the lower sections of the land.
While others were running for cover, at Lok Neno we were out dancing with rain gauges saying, “Bring it on—we've got swales to feed and dam to fill!”
This event demonstrated how RD not only buffers against climate extremes but also enhances water security, soil health, and overall landscape stability. It’s a powerful example of how thoughtful design can turn a potential disaster into a resource!
We can’t wait to see how the newly constructed dam serves the community in the coming years.
We are planning on hosting another Earthworks for Resilience course similar to this one in 2026. Stay tuned!!
In the meantime, we will host a two-week Resilience Design Trainer-of-Trainers certification course at Lok Neno in October 2025. Learn more and register!