Press Release: WFP and Outbox Hub launch programme to support food system innovations in Uganda
21 April 2022
Kampala — The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge is launching in Uganda, offering technical support and US$300,000 to entrepreneurs to foster locally-driven solutions to tackle food systems challenges, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Outbox Hub announced today.
The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge is supported by USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, to assist start-ups in Uganda, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives to scale up their solutions, contributing to the economy while addressing gaps in the food system.
The programme seeks innovative solutions that contribute to food security through resilience to shocks and stress, access to safe and nutritious food, improved supply chains, the empowerment of smallholder farmers, and the advancement of food security for all.
The initiative comes at a time when the economic fallout from COVID-19 threatens Uganda’s development gains. The poverty rate for people employed in crop agriculture rose from 22 percent before the pandemic to 29 percent during the pandemic.
Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, with 55 percent of women and over 80 percent of people without a formal education engaged in the sector. The country’s National Development Plan (NDP) highlights Uganda’s potential to become the food basket for the East African region and encourages the use of technology to increase productivity in the agricultural sector.
“Agriculture is our source of life. Without agriculture, there is no food, and without food, there is no life,” said Ahimbisbwe Stanley, Assistant Commissioner Quality Assurance and Standardization at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in Uganda. “The government is determined to enable farmers to transform from subsistence to commercial production and we are investing our resources to connect smallholder farmers to profitable agricultural value chains in Uganda and beyond.”
Piloting, implementing, and scaling innovative ideas lies at the heart of WFP and Outbox Hub’s work. This programme will have an impact on promoting innovation in food systems and advancing efforts towards achieving zero hunger in the world.
“The private sector is a vital partner in the quest to reach zero hunger by 2030,” said Marcus Prior, WFP Uganda Deputy Country Director. “Women and youth are at the heart of all our efforts to end hunger and we strongly encourage them to participate in this initiative.”
The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge is running simultaneously in Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda, and is possible with the support of US$2 million from USAID.
“We are excited to collaborate with WFP to enable businesses to flourish while ensuring everyone in Uganda enjoys their right to food,” said Richard Zulu, the Executive Director of Outbox Hub.
The winning ventures will receive funding of up to US$50,000 each as well as 6 months of acceleration support, including connections to experts and mentors.
The call for applications opens on 21 April 2022 and will close on 21 May 2022. Interested ventures are invited to apply online at: https://bit.ly/ignitefooduganda
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
About the Implementing Partners:
WFP IGNITE Innovation Hub for Eastern Africa was launched in December 2020, with help from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, to leverage WFP’s brand, public and private partners, deep field access, and expertise to develop, nurture and scale sustainable innovations for increased food security in the region.
Outbox is an innovation and entrepreneurship support organization that brings together the people, knowledge, capital and infrastructure that enables entrepreneurs to build successful businesses through the growth of inclusive communities that create value where we operate. To date, Outbox works with Government and various development partners to create work opportunities for over 150,000 young people by 2025.
Follow us on Twitter: @Meygag61 @WFP_Africa @OutboxHub
For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Patience Akumu, WFP/Kampala, Mob: +256 700 964 398
Alessandro Abbonizio WFP/Nairobi, Mob: +254 723 001639
Cynthia Kyofuna/Outbox, Mob: +256 706 955 051 cynthia.kyofuna@outbox.co.ug
