FEED THE FUTURE UGANDA ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR AGRICULTURE ACTIVITY ANNUAL REPORT OCTOBER 2017 – 30 OCTOBER 2018

The activity was implemented by Chemonics International Inc. and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The overarching objectives of the activity were to improve the policy and regulatory environment for agriculture, enhance the capacity of government institutions, and increase access to markets and finance for smallholder farmers. The activity focused on four key result areas: (1) improved policy and regulatory environment for agriculture, (2) enhanced capacity of government institutions, (3) increased access to markets and finance for smallholder farmers, and (4) improved agricultural productivity and income for smallholder farmers. The activity implemented a range of interventions, including policy analysis and advocacy, capacity building for government institutions, market linkage facilitation, and agricultural productivity improvement. The activity made significant progress in improving the policy and regulatory environment for agriculture in Uganda. The government of Uganda adopted a new agricultural sector strategic plan, which included key recommendations from the activity. The activity also supported the development of a new agricultural inputs policy, which aimed to improve access to quality inputs for smallholder farmers. In terms of capacity building, the activity supported the development of a new agricultural extension policy, which aimed to improve the capacity of extension agents to provide advisory services to smallholder farmers. The activity also supported the training of extension agents in new agricultural technologies and practices. The activity also made significant progress in increasing access to markets and finance for smallholder farmers. The activity supported the development of new market linkages between smallholder farmers and buyers, and also supported the development of new financial products and services for smallholder farmers. The activity also made significant progress in improving agricultural productivity and income for smallholder farmers. The activity supported the introduction of new agricultural technologies and practices, such as conservation agriculture and climate-smart agriculture, which improved crop yields and reduced soil degradation. The activity was implemented in all 10 regions of Uganda, with a focus on the most vulnerable districts. The activity worked closely with government institutions, civil society organizations, and private sector partners to achieve its objectives. The activity also conducted regular monitoring and evaluation to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The activity's results framework included 14 indicators, which measured progress against the activity's objectives. The indicators included measures of policy and regulatory environment, capacity building, market access, and agricultural productivity. The activity's performance monitoring plan included regular reporting on progress against the indicators. The activity also conducted a midterm evaluation, which assessed progress against the activity's objectives and identified areas for improvement. The evaluation found that the activity had made significant progress in improving the policy and regulatory environment for agriculture, enhancing the capacity of government institutions, and increasing access to markets and finance for smallholder farmers. The activity's policy action matrix identified key policy recommendations for the government of Uganda, including the need to improve the policy and regulatory environment for agriculture, enhance the capacity of government institutions, and increase access to markets and finance for smallholder farmers. The matrix also identified key policy lessons, including the need to prioritize the needs of smallholder farmers and to engage with civil society organizations and private sector partners to achieve policy objectives. The activity's communications products included a range of materials, such as reports, briefs, and fact sheets, which provided information on the activity's progress and results. The activity also engaged with the media to raise awareness of the activity's objectives and results. The activity's staffing plan included a team of international and national staff, who worked together to implement the activity's objectives. The plan also included a detailed breakdown of staff responsibilities and roles. The activity's quarterly financial report provided information on the activity's financial performance, including income and expenses. The report also included a detailed breakdown of the activity's budget and a projection of future financial needs. The activity's projection/burn rate analysis provided information on the activity's financial sustainability, including a projection of future income and expenses. The analysis also identified key risks and challenges to the activity's financial sustainability.