Advocacy and Lobbying Program (ALP)

Strategic Objective: To influence decision-makers and agricultural policies that affect the livelihoods of the small-holder farmers through community cooperation and synergies with supporting stakeholders on the topics of farmers’ rights, and sustainable and organic farming.

Background

Agricultural Policy and Service Delivery Gaps

The Ugandan government seeks to boost labor productivity by fostering community involvement in development and supporting vulnerable groups. However, significant challenges remain:

Agricultural initiatives are predominantly top-down, which restricts smallholder farmer participation.
A staggering 63% of smallholder farmers have not benefited from government agricultural programs.
Barriers such as low literacy and inadequate mobilization obstruct farmers' access to essential inputs and extension services.

Land Tenure and Management Issues

Land tenure is crucial for agricultural success, yet it faces persistent issues:

Increasing land conflicts due to grabbing, disputed transfers, and boundary disputes.
Women and youth are often excluded from land ownership.
Ineffective land administration and dispute resolution mechanisms hinder progress.

AFIRD’s Past Interventions

In the previous strategic period, AFIRD concentrated on:

Enhancing farmer capacity to secure land rights.
Promoting awareness about budgeting, seed saving, and land policy.
Creating advocacy materials focused on land rights and indigenous food.

Persistent Challenges

Despite advancements, challenges remain:

The prevalence of counterfeit agricultural inputs.
Limited access to nutritious food.
Gender discrimination in land access.
Lack of awareness regarding agricultural policies and farmers' rights.

Implementation Strategy

AFIRD will employ:

A Human Rights-Based Approach to Development.
Evidence-based advocacy.
Strategic partnerships with organizations like PELUM, ACSA, SEATINI, Food Rights Alliance, and relevant government bodies.

Key Result Areas and Interventions

Engagement in Government Programs and Policies

1. Challenges

Farmer participation in government programs is limited.
Access to agricultural services is poor.
There is a lack of structured advocacy platforms.

2. Proposed Interventions

Develop community-based mechanisms for policy monitoring.
Train farmers in advocacy and lobbying.
Amplify farmer voices at various administrative levels.
Support local advocacy committees and engage in government budget processes.

Enhanced Access to Advocacy Information

1. Challenges

Farmers lack access to vital policy information.
Awareness of rights and government programs is limited.
There is a need for evidence-based advocacy materials.

2. Proposed Interventions

Translate and share agricultural policies.
Update and publish AFIRD’s advocacy activities online.
Document and disseminate advocacy case studies.

Strengthening Organic Agriculture and Permaculture in Government Programs

1. Challenges

- Insufficient government emphasis on organic agriculture.

- Limited adoption of sustainable farming practices.

2. Proposed Interventions

Facilitate dialogues with local officials and leaders.
Network at national and local levels.
Participate in agricultural events and symposiums.

Advocating for Children’s Right to Access Nutritious Food

1. Challenges

Poor nutrition in schools and homes.
Limited awareness of children's food rights.

2. Proposed Interventions

Conduct nutrition and food rights training.
Use educational institutions to advocate for improved child nutrition.

Implementation Approach

Community Empowerment

Train smallholder farmers and women's groups in policy engagement.
Establish mentorship programs for advocacy.

Stakeholder Collaboration

Collaborate with CSOs, government agencies, and farmer organizations.
Foster multi-stakeholder dialogues.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

Conduct assessments to track baseline and impact.
Monitor policy changes and improvements in service delivery using ICT tools.

Performance Indicators

Increased farmer involvement in policy-making.
Growth in community-led advocacy initiatives.
Enhanced awareness of land rights and agricultural policies.
Expansion of organic agriculture in government programs.
Improved nutrition advocacy in schools.

Conclusion

The Advocacy & Lobbying Program (ALP) seeks to empower smallholder farmers to influence policies and demand improved services. Through community-driven advocacy, engagement with government, and collaboration with stakeholders, AFIRD aims to create a supportive policy environment for sustainable agriculture.

Agency For Integrated Rural Development

Advocacy and Lobbying Program (ALP)

Background

Agricultural Policy and Service Delivery Gaps

The Ugandan government seeks to boost labor productivity by fostering community involvement in development and supporting vulnerable groups. However, significant challenges remain:

Agricultural initiatives are predominantly top-down, which restricts smallholder farmer participation.

A staggering 63% of smallholder farmers have not benefited from government agricultural programs.

Barriers such as low literacy and inadequate mobilization obstruct farmers' access to essential inputs and extension services.

Land Tenure and Management Issues

Land tenure is crucial for agricultural success, yet it faces persistent issues:

Increasing land conflicts due to grabbing, disputed transfers, and boundary disputes.

Women and youth are often excluded from land ownership.

Ineffective land administration and dispute resolution mechanisms hinder progress.

AFIRD’s Past Interventions

In the previous strategic period, AFIRD concentrated on:

Enhancing farmer capacity to secure land rights.

Promoting awareness about budgeting, seed saving, and land policy.

Creating advocacy materials focused on land rights and indigenous food.

Persistent Challenges

Despite advancements, challenges remain:

The prevalence of counterfeit agricultural inputs.

Limited access to nutritious food.

Gender discrimination in land access.

Lack of awareness regarding agricultural policies and farmers' rights.

Implementation Strategy

AFIRD will employ:

A Human Rights-Based Approach to Development.

Evidence-based advocacy.

Strategic partnerships with organizations like PELUM, ACSA, SEATINI, Food Rights Alliance, and relevant government bodies.

Key Result Areas and Interventions

Engagement in Government Programs and Policies

1. Challenges

Farmer participation in government programs is limited.

Access to agricultural services is poor.

There is a lack of structured advocacy platforms.

2. Proposed Interventions

Develop community-based mechanisms for policy monitoring.

Train farmers in advocacy and lobbying.

Amplify farmer voices at various administrative levels.

Support local advocacy committees and engage in government budget processes.

​​

Enhanced Access to Advocacy Information

1. Challenges

Farmers lack access to vital policy information.

Awareness of rights and government programs is limited.

There is a need for evidence-based advocacy materials.

2. Proposed Interventions

Translate and share agricultural policies.

Update and publish AFIRD’s advocacy activities online.

Document and disseminate advocacy case studies.

Strengthening Organic Agriculture and Permaculture in Government Programs

1. Challenges

- Insufficient government emphasis on organic agriculture.

- Limited adoption of sustainable farming practices.

2. Proposed Interventions

Facilitate dialogues with local officials and leaders.

Network at national and local levels.

Participate in agricultural events and symposiums.

Advocating for Children’s Right to Access Nutritious Food

1. Challenges

Poor nutrition in schools and homes.

Limited awareness of children's food rights.

2. Proposed Interventions

Conduct nutrition and food rights training.

Use educational institutions to advocate for improved child nutrition.

Implementation Approach

Community Empowerment

Train smallholder farmers and women's groups in policy engagement.

Establish mentorship programs for advocacy.

Stakeholder Collaboration

Collaborate with CSOs, government agencies, and farmer organizations.

Foster multi-stakeholder dialogues.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

Conduct assessments to track baseline and impact.

Monitor policy changes and improvements in service delivery using ICT tools.

Performance Indicators

Increased farmer involvement in policy-making.

Growth in community-led advocacy initiatives.

Enhanced awareness of land rights and agricultural policies.

Expansion of organic agriculture in government programs.

Agency For Integrated
Rural Development