Using Policy to Drive Agrifood Transformation: Lessons from Uganda

Despite Uganda’s rapidly growing economy, as many as 34.6 million people continue to face food insecurity. More than 72 percent of the country’s population cannot afford a healthy diet, and both undernourishment and overweight/obesity among adults pose a growing challenge. To successfully confront these challenges and encourage the sustainable transformation of Uganda’s agrifood system, stronger policies and enhanced collaboration are needed, according to a recent brief from FAO.

Uganda launched its National Food Systems Transformation Pathways in 2021 to ensure optimal nutrition and wellbeing for all Ugandans and to contribute to climate change adaptation and sustainable economic development.

These National Pathways include several key priorities in the area of agricultural development, food and nutrition, social safety nets, trade, food safety and standards, and programs to address climate change. Many of these priorities are already the target of existing national policies; however, as the brief points out, alignment among the governmental bodies in charge of implementing these policies remains lacking. In addition, many policies addressing key food security priorities are not adequately funded, and there is no efficient and coordinated mechanism for monitoring, evaluation, and information-sharing

To address these gaps, Uganda established the National Food Systems Coordination Committee in 2022 to establish greater coordination across the government when it comes to the sustainable transformation of Uganda’s agrifood system and the accomplishment of its critical food and nutrition security goals. The Committee includes representatives from ministries and agencies across the agrifood system and aims to oversee implementation of key policies, forge stronger partnerships, and establish coordinated communications and messaging. It also addresses the need to allocate and mobilize funding and other resources in a more efficient way, including partnering with local governments to ensure national policies and funding benefit local populations.

This committee could provide an important model for other countries to follow, the brief suggests.

With the proper establishment and implementation of a systems approach to agrifood development, stronger coordination with all agrifood sector stakeholders, and continued political will to strengthen legal, governance, policy, and institutional frameworks, Uganda has the potential to achieve its food security, sustainability, and economic goals.

Sara Gustafson is a freelance communications consultant.