Our story
Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) was formed during the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in 2002 in South Africa. This was in an effort to create a Forum to bring together small-scale farmers into a social movement to influence favourable agriculture policies and practices at global, continental, regional, national and local levels.
ESAFF Uganda became operational in 2008 and has since become the largest small-scale farmer-led advocacy movement in Uganda. ESAFF Uganda works to enhance the SSFs ability to make informed decisions and participate meaningfully in development processes. ESAFF Uganda currently has a membership of a membership of 12588 small-scale farmer community organisations in 54 districts representing over 765,560 individual small-scale farmers of which 67 percent are women.
ESAFF Uganda is also part of a bigger network of small-scale farmers in 15 other countries in Eastern and Southern Africa including South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, Lesotho, DR Congo, Madagascar, Seychelles and Mozambique.
ESAFF Uganda is also part of La Via Campesina (LVC) which is the largest peasant organisation in the world.
Vision and Mission
Our mission is “To create an enabling environment where small-scale farmers lead in building a just and resilient food system through advancing agroecology and food sovereignty, securing their rights to productive resources, safeguarding consumer rights, fair economic opportunities for all, promotion of public accountability of resources, and strengthening collaborative social movements at all levels.”
Our vision is “A just and resilient food system led by small-scale farmers”
Our Strategic Goal
Increased political rights, social and economic stability and sustainability of small-scale farmers hence ensuring that small-scale farmers especially women, youths and marginalized groups can thrive and contribute significantly to a just and resilient food system at all levels.
“We, small-scale farmers speaking for ourselves”
Our Six Strategic Objectives
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To ensure Equitable Access and Control of Productive Resources by small-scale farmers especially women and youth.
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To campaign for Climate Justice and enhance small-scale farmers’ Climate Resilience through promoting agroecology.
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To protect Consumers’ Rights including small-scale farmers to ensure transparency and safety in the food supply chain.
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To ensure Fair Economic Opportunities for small-scale farmers and other marginalized groups
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To influence increased and favorable Public Agriculture Financing targeting small-scale farmers and Accountability in the agriculture sector.
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To foster Small-scale farmers’ Collaboration and Empowerment from grassroot to international level.
We are a movement of small-scale farmers from grassroots to national level across the country that positions small-scale farmers' interests in policy processes at all levels.
Our Values
Equity and Justice: ESAFF Uganda is committed to ensuring fairness and justice in the agricultural sector. This includes advocating for equitable access to resources, opportunities, and rights of all small-scale farmers, with a particular focus on marginalized groups such as women and youths.
Empowerment: Empowering small-scale farmers to be self-reliant and active participants in the food system is a fundamental value. This includes providing education, training, and resources to enhance their capacity to innovate, adapt, and advocate for their rights.
Participation and Inclusiveness: Ensuring that small-scale farmers are actively involved in decision-making processes and policy discussions is crucial. ESAFF Uganda values the participation of all farmers, recognizing the importance of including diverse voices in shaping the future of agriculture.
Transparency and Accountability: ESAFF Uganda is dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of public resources. This value is reflected in efforts to involve farmers in monitoring public resource distribution and holding public officials accountable.
Collaboration and Solidarity: Building strong partnerships and fostering collaboration among farmers, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders is a key value. ESAFF Uganda believes in the power of collective action and solidarity to achieve common goals.
Innovation and Adaptability: Encouraging innovation and adaptability among small-scale farmers is essential for addressing challenges and seizing opportunities. ESAFF Uganda supports initiatives that foster creativity and resilience in the face of changing conditions.
Respect for Cultural Diversity: Recognizing and respecting the cultural diversity of farming communities is important. ESAFF Uganda values the preservation of cultural heritage and the promotion of culturally appropriate farming practices and food systems.