Programmes

Productive Resources

Ensuring Equitable Access and Control of Productive Resources by small-scale farmers especially women and youth.

ESAFF Uganda focuses towards ensuring Equitable Ownership, Access and Control of Productive Resources like land, water, seed, pasture etc by small-scale farmers especially women and youth. Inequality when it comes to land, seed and other productive resources is related to poverty and exclusion. By tackling inadequate and ineffective implementation of legal standards at both national and local levels, ESAFF Uganda contributes towards a more supportive regulatory environment for small-scale farmers. Additionally, addressing discriminatory cultural attitudes and practices within institutions and communities is essential for promoting gender and youth inclusivity in agriculture. Access and use of, ownership, and control over productive resources are essential to ensuring equality and adequate standard of living of small-scale farmers especially women and youths.

Climate Justice and Climate Resilience

Enhancing climate justice and small-scale farmers’ climate resilience through agroecology.

ESAFF Uganda's focus on climate justice and climate resilience is crucial given the significant challenges posed by climate change, particularly for small-scale farmers who are often disproportionately affected. ESAFF Uganda is advocating for a more holistic approach to addressing climate change that considers social, economic, and environmental factors. Highlighting the responsibility of wealthy nations to lead rapid climate action is essential in promoting global equity and ensuring that those who have contributed the least to climate change are not disproportionately burdened by its impacts. ESAFF Uganda invests in the capacity of small-scale farmers to withstand the impacts of climate change as a proactive approach that not only helps protect livelihoods but also fosters local resilience and empowerment. ESAFF Uganda's focus on climate justice and climate resilience aligns with the broader goals of creating a fairer and more sustainable world.

Consumer Rights

Improving transparency and safety in the food supply chain where consumers enjoy extensive rights with confidence in the system.

Many people are consuming unhealthy or poorly managed food hence impacting the health and economic status of citizens. As agroecological farmers, ESAFF Uganda members are producing healthy food without the use of harmful inputs and technologies like chemicals yet consumers don’t have this information. There is lack of transparency in food control systems, leading to doubts about the safety and quality of products and limited coordination among multiple food control agencies can lead to inefficiencies and reduced confidence in the credibility of the system. Consumer rights must be protected. Consumers have a right to safe food, the right to be informed, the right to choose, the right to be heard, and the right to redress as well as a right to quality standards. Our markets including supermarkets have quite a number of unhealthy products that need to be exposed and ensure that consumers are protected. Under this programme area, ESAFF Uganda protects Consumers’ Rights including small-scale farmers to ensure transparency and safety in the food supply chain.

Fair Economic Opportunities

Fair Economic Opportunities for small-scale farmers and other marginalized groups.

Small-scale farmers contribute significantly to the food supply chain but face income inequalities due to market constraints that are unfavorable to producers. Small-scale farmers encounter challenges such as limited access to profitable markets which results in lower incomes; difficulty obtaining affordable credit and financial services, hindering their ability to invest in better inputs and technologies; inadequate infrastructure, including roads, storage, and irrigation systems, which impacts productivity and increases post-harvest losses; and a lack of access to up-to-date agricultural knowledge and skills, limiting their efficiency and productivity. Women small-scale farmers are particularly disadvantaged due to gender dynamics affecting economic opportunities. Targeted interventions focusing on local economic opportunities and skills are essential for supporting small-scale farmers, especially women. ESAFF Uganda believes that empowering small-scale farmers is key to unlocking their potential to generate and sustain wealth. ESAFF Uganda aims to create equitable economic opportunities for small-scale farmers, particularly women and youths, by addressing issues related to market access, financial services, infrastructure, and knowledge gaps.

Public Agriculture Financing and Accountability

Influencing for increased and favorable Public Agriculture Financing for small-scale farmers with enhanced Accountability in the agriculture sector.

There are significant challenges in the effective management and accountability of public funds. These challenges undermine the intended impact of public agriculture financing. Misallocation of funds, driven by poor planning, political influences, and delays in disbursement, often results in the failure to address the most critical needs of the agricultural sector. The absence of grass-roots-led robust systems for tracking and reporting fund allocation and usage hinders transparency. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to hold stakeholders accountable and diminishes public trust in the system. Furthermore, the limited involvement of small-scale farmers in decision-making processes reduces the effectiveness of funded programmes. Through this programme areas, ESAFF Uganda campaigns for the allocation of government funds and resources to support the agricultural sector. Accountability in this context ensures that these funds are used efficiently, transparently, and for their intended purposes. Effective accountability mechanisms are fundamental to building trust and ensuring that public resources are used responsibly and equitably for improved and equitable service delivery.

Collaboration and Empowerment

Fostering small-scale farmers’ collaboration and empowerment from grassroots to global level.

Neglecting to empower and collaborate with small-scale farmers can pose significant challenges to achieving sustainable agricultural development and poverty reduction. By fostering collaboration and empowerment among small-scale farmers, Uganda can unlock the full potential of its agricultural sector, promote inclusive growth, and improve the livelihoods of rural communities. This approach not only enhances the resilience and sustainability of agriculture but also contributes to broader economic development and poverty reduction goals. There is need to build a strong movement of small-scale farmers from the grassroots to the national level and beyond. ESAFF Uganda is working towards building linkage and partnerships between small-scale farmers and different stakeholders. ESAFF Uganda understands that a united movement of small-scale farmers can exert significant influence on agricultural policies, programs, and investments.