Uganda Country Profile

UGANDA

selfhelpafrica.org

2018

2018

Emmanuel Ngororano and Community Knowledge Worker Peace Ndongyereye, Kisoro, Uganda.

S

elf Help Africa works with and through local

We aim to be a catalyst, developing collaborative approaches

community-based organisations, government

to meet specific local needs through effective, integrated and

agencies, international NGOs, private sector partners

sustainable solutions.

and emerging social enterprises in Uganda.

In this way initiatives can continue without our support and These diverse partners all have huge potential in addressing

have the potential to grow. Our programmes clearly link

the country’s hunger and poverty. We believe that the

with the national agricultural strategies produced under the

most effective role that we can play is in facilitating

Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

partnerships that will bring them together to serve the needs

Development Strategy and Investment Plan.

of underdeveloped rural communities.

malawi

UGANDA SUDAN

zambia

burkinafaso

02. Agriculture and Market Support for North West Uganda

Gulu ghana

kenya

01. MANZO Youth Empowerment Project (MAYEP)

togo

Lira

KENYA

Lake Albert

DR CONGO

UGANDA Kampala

Lake Victoria 03. Local Seed Business Outscaling

04. Striking a Balance

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02

03

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01

U

MANZO Youth European Union Empowerment Project (MAYEP)

€975,415

Agriculture and Market Support for North West Uganda

€148,060

World Food Programme, Irish Aid

Implementing Partner

Programme Area

2019

Agency For Accelerated Rural Development (AFARD), Human Network International (HNI)

Maracha, Nebbi, and Zombo districts, Northwestern Uganda

2017

TruTrade

Masindi, Kiryandongo and Adjumani districts

Wageningen Uganda

Eastern and Soutwestern Uganda

Kabale and Rubanda local governments, African International Christian Ministry (AICM), National Union of Disabled Persons Uganda (NUDIPU)

Kabale and Rubanda, Southwestern Uganda

Time Frame 2016

2018

Local Seed Business ISSD, Irish Aid Outscaling

€110,406

Striking a balance: The Haramead Trust, Developing a green The European economy around Lake Commission Bunyonyi Basin

€619,092

2017 2018

2018 2020

UGANDA PROGRAMMES

01

Total Budget

Donor

Programme

MANZO YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT (MAYEP)

ganda is the world’s most youthful country, with 5.8

The project aims to integrate multiple actors to support

million youth aged 15 to 24. At the same time youth

economic development of targeted youth including

unemployment is the highest in Africa. Agriculture is

traditional leadership and district government offices.

not a viable option for most young people as production still

Moreover, the project is establishing fora in each

remains at subsistence level in most places.

district to integrate youth in local development planning processes to assure responsiveness to youth-specific

Therefore, this project aims to support youth empowerment

needs. Young people are also encouraged to advocate

and economic development in the West Nile region, Northern

for inclusion of their needs and priorities in local

Uganda.

development planning.

The MAYEP project sets out interlinked activities that will create opportunities for employment for 3,000 youth in agricultural value chains. This is facilitated through training and supports that respond to youth capacity needs and priorities, as well as demand for products. Agricultural skills necessary at each stage of the value chain will be developed to make agriculture a viable livelihood for young people.

Total direct beneficiaries: 3,000 youth under 27 (including 1,500 women)

The youth are receiving training on business plan development, group management and leadership, and financial literacy. Information is also being provided on microfinance and social inclusion.

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Justine Tumwesigye, Binyungu.

AGRICULTURE AND MARKET SUPPORT FOR NORTH WEST UGANDA

02

A

gricultural productivity in Uganda is currently well below potential, and many of the crops that are produced directly for market are often lost before

they can be sold due to poor storage facilities.

03

LOCAL SEED BUSINESS OUTSCALING

T

he uptake and utilisation of quality seed by smallholder farmers in Uganda is still very low with over 85% depending on seed saved from previous seasons. The

farmers have developed the habit of recycling seed progenies until there is complete loss of vigour before replacement.

With this in mind, the market support project aims to improve farmers’ livelihoods by reducing postharvest

This project aims to increase quality seed uptake by

losses, and promoting bulking and collective marketing

smallholder farmers through increased awareness and

of agricultural produce. Self Help Africa in Uganda,

strategic linkages with key seed stakeholders. The ISSD+

in cooperation with WFP and Local Government, is

project targets farmer groups that are entrepreneurial, and

implementing the Agricultural Market Support (AMS) project

have experience in growing the crops for which they want to

in Masindi, Kiryandongo and Adjumani districts.

produce seed in 30 Local Seed Businesses (LSBs).

SHA is utilising innovative mobile phone-based technology

As part of this project, SHA identified 40 existing farmer

to deliver quality seed content messages to farmers. With

groups, each with an average of 25 members, in each

this, farmers will be able to access all crucial information

target district, including 60% female farmers. A total of 120

about good quality seed. Messages are be translated into

farmer groups are being supported to produce, bulk, and

regional local languages, and the SMS platform is entirely

market 1,000MT of high quality produce over the project

free of charge.

period. This is made possible by: strengthening the capacity of farmer organisations, increasing access to quality inputs,

The project also invests time in getting to know groups,

improving post-harvest handling, and increasing market

conducting diagnostic surveys with groups and jointly

participation for smallholders.

making action plans to address the weakest aspects through mentoring and coaching. It offers continuous coaching on

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This will be achieved by leveraging WFP’s local food

key aspects of technical seed production and marketing

purchase and network of other bulk buyers, as well as

based on the LSB capacity building plan. LSBs are linked to

market infrastructures built and strengthened over the years

other strategic partners such as research organisations for

under the AMS programme.

access to foundation seed, markets, credit and extension.

Total direct beneficiaries: 3,000 (at least 50% women)

Total direct beneficiaries: 30 local seed businesses

04

STRIKING A BALANCE

L

ake Bunyonyi is a high-value natural resource for

For the first time, Self Help Africa will also be piloting a

the predominantly rural populations of Kabale and

disability-inclusive programme approach. Local disabled

Rubanda district Local Authorities (LAs), which

persons organisations will act as mentors, and guide us in

govern the lake and its wider catchment. The lake is also

the implementation of sustainable livelihood interventions

an area of outstanding natural beauty and biodiversity,

for people living with disabilities in an effort to promote

with significant potential to generate tourism revenue for

integration of all marginalised people within the local

the communities living around it. Poverty and mounting

community, and to allow for greater income generation.

population pressures have caused significant degradation of natural resources in the lake basin, resulting in declining

A number of natural resource-dependent enterprises already

water availability and soil fertility, and posing a long-

exist within the Lake Bunyonyi basin, in sectors such as

term threat to the income and food security of rural poor

agriculture, hospitality, handicrafts, and petty trade. Many

households.

of these businesses lack an understanding of the impact of their operations on the environment, as well as the skills and

This project aims to improve the institutional framework

capital needed to effectively market tourist services, grow

for sustainable management of the Lake Bunyonyi basin,

their enterprises and invest in adopting environmentally-

through capacity building of LAs. It has been designed to

sustainable practices.

promote inclusive, sustainable development led by LAs in

Businesses will benefit from opportunities for knowledge-

the Lake Bunyonyi catchment in South-Western Uganda.

sharing, and influencing the development of policies and

Overall, the project will contribute to the inclusive and low-

bylaws governing the use of lake resources through the

carbon economic transformation of communities in the Lake

establishment of a ‘green business forum’. The action will

Bunyonyi basin, generating sustainable economic growth,

promote branding and marketing of Lake Bunyonyi as an

increased employment, reduced poverty, improved nutrition,

eco-tourism destination, as well as allow petty traders and

and the sustainable management of their environment.

agri-enterprises to gain business skills and improved access to financial services and markets for their products.

We will establish 12 Village Natural Resource Management Committees (VNRMCs) as community representatives, and their role will be to transfer knowledge relating to the sustainable use of the natural resources in the Lake Bunyonyi basin to members of their wider communities.

Members are drawn from a range of social groups, ensuring that the voices of those who depend on natural resources – including traditionally marginalised groups such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, and Batwa communities – are heard in the process of developing an integrated management plan for the Lake. These 12 VNRMCs will benefit from targeted capacity building on sustainable natural resource management practices.

Ronald Kahima, Kikyenkye, Ibanda.

• 1,000 individual members of rural

communities will benefit • 60% of beneficiaries will be from marginalised groups including women, youth and Batwa communities • 12 village natural resource management committees will be established • 18,000 households in the region are expected to benefit from sales of sustainable energy products

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UGANDA P.O. Box 34429, Plot 44 Ministers’ Village, Ntinda, Kampala Tel: +256 414 286305 E-mail: uganda@selfhelpafrica.org

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May 2018

Cover: Fatuma Nambiro, Uganda.