The Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (UFAAS), with support from the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), and the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), has kicked off the orientation of Master Trainers under the ‘Global Programme for Small-scale Agroecology Producers and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation (GP-SAEP)’ Project.
The goal of the project is to transform food systems towards agroecology by enabling small-scale producers to strengthen their practices of agroecology, through better access to knowledge, support services, improved technologies and market outlets, thereby improving their resilience to climatic, environmental and socio-economic shocks and stressors as well as food and nutrition security and incomes. The four-year project (2023-2026) is supported with funding from the European Commission (EC). In Uganda, the project will be implemented in five district of Buikwe, Kasese, Bugiri, Lira, and Sembabule.
Following a call for for applications from Master Trainers to train 60 Rural Advisory Services (RAS) facilitators on agroecology and provide backstopping at field level during the project, over 40 applications were received and five successful applicants were selected.
The successful participants will be onboarded during a 4- day training (26 February -1st March, 2024) at Esella Country Resort in Najjera, a Kampala suburb.
The purpose of the training the Master Trainers is to: equip them with a shared understanding of the project and their respective roles; expose them to the training materials and solicit for feedback on appropriateness; and enhance their competencies required to support RAS Facilitators towards Agroecology transition, among others.
According to Ms Beatrice Luzobe, the Chief Executive Officer of UFAAS, the selected Master Trainers bring on board various experiences and are expected to learn from the synergies of one another.
The training content revolves around introduction to agroecology, managing change for agroecology transition; implementation approaches and modalities including, digital tools and case studies on participatory approaches; and preparation for RAS facilitators training and organisation for field practice.
The training is organized by the UFAAS Secretariat, and is facilitated by Dr Hlami Ngwenya, the GP-SAEP Africa Coordinator from GFRAS; Dr. Lilian Lihasi the GP-SAEP Regional Coordinator from AFAAS; Mr Bashir Benbella from AFAAS, and Mr. Ezela Masolaki from Access Agriculture.
Details about the training are in the Workshop concept here.
For correspondence, please contact:
- Mrs Beatrice Luzobe, Chief Executive Officer, UFAAS
- Email: ufaas2013@gmail.com.
About UFAAS:
Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (https://ufaas-ugandacf.org/) is a professional networking and sharing platform for Agricultural Advisory and Extension Services (AEAS) actors in Uganda. It is a Country chapter of the Africa Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS). It was established in May 2011 following an institutional assessment that found that while there were several professional networks related to Agriculture and Veterinary, none was embracing all the AEAS actors in Uganda. The forum was thus initiated, with the mandate of contributing towards improvement of AEAS in Uganda by promoting coordination, interaction, and harmonization amongst the diverse actors who operate in a pluralistic extension system.
UFAAS membership is comprised of institutions and individuals from the Public and local government extension system at the different administrative levels, Academic institutions involved in training Agricultural Advisory Service providers; Private sector organizations involved in AEAS, Agricultural media promoting AEAS; and Farmers’ organizations.
UFAAS draws her mandate of promoting an effective, efficient and innovative AEAS system through strategic partnerships, advocacy, capacity building, information sharing and interaction among AEAS actors in Uganda. This drives her engagements in strengthening partnership in AEAS and advocating for favourable policy environment to reinforce accessibility to quality Agricultural extension and Advisory services by Value Chain Actors.
UFAAS operates through, its Technical Working groups (TWGs) on Resource Mobilisation, Climate Smart Agriculture, Digitalisation of AEAS, Professionalization and Lobby and advocacy, that are led by selected members basing on their competences.