Coffee contributes substantially to Uganda’s economy, with approximately 15% of Ugandans directly or indirectly employed in the sector. As the seventh largest coffee producer in the world and second largest in Africa, Uganda is a global leader, but much needs to be done in order for the five million Ugandans employed in the sector to be fully efficient producers and exporters. The Netherlands Trust Fund Phase II Project in Uganda (NTF II Uganda) seeks to improve the effectiveness of umbrella institutions and farmer organizations to provide the required support services to the coffee sector and enhance its competitiveness in the EU market.
STRENGTHENING M&E CAPACITIES OF PARTNER INSTITUTIONS
It is critical for trade support institutions (TSIs) to be able to effectively manage, monitor and evaluate projects. In this context, ITC will be coaching Uganda Export Promotion Bureau (UEPB) to undertake the review and update the Uganda Coffee Sector Strategy. UEPB will use the new skills to update export strategies related to six selected priority sectors. In addition, ITC is providing training and coaching to three TSIs to establish effective monitoring and evaluation processes and enable them to conduct those processes in accordance with internationally accepted best practices. In this regard, the Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) will design and adopt an evaluation policy and construct a framework that will ensure the independence, credibility and relevance of the evaluation function.
ENHANCING SUPPORT SERVICES OFFER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF COFFEE FARMERS
The project is assisting NUCAFE to develop its new strategic plan and business plan. This process will enable NUCAFE to better define its position as a trade support institution to coffee farmers’ associations, and to enhance its portfolio of services to be more responsive to the needs of its constituencies spread across five coffee producing regions Specific training will be delivered to strengthen the capacity of NUCAFE staff and liaison officers. These training workshops cover issues such as financial planning and management, service portfolio design and development, networking and designing business support services. In addition, ITC will collaborate with NUCAFE to deliver custom-made training courses to Farmer Associations for the purpose of enhancing the supply, marketing and export of coffee. The trainings will be integrated into the service portfolio of NUCAFE.
ENHANCING FARMERS’ ASSOCIATIONS’ BUSINESS CAPABILITIES
The project supports the process to strengthen NUCAFE’s 120 Farmers Associations to become business minded organizations and achieve a certain level of professionalism to enter the European market. They are gaining this through training which focuses on priority areas identified which include understanding business management, financial management, understanding the coffee value-chain, export marketing for coffee, export procedures for coffee, and traceability (4C). The project will also support the certification process for selected FAs.
ABOUT THE NTF II UGANDA PROJECT
The Netherlands Trust Fund II (NTF II) Programme is based on a four-year partnership agreement between ITC and CBI. The programme is funded by the Government of the Netherlands. NTF II Uganda project is implemented by ITC in close collaboration with the Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB), the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), the National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises (NUCAFE). The project focuses on improving the effectiveness of umbrella institutions and farmers’ organisations in the coffee sector in accessing the EU market.