Country Uganda
Duration Start 1 January, 2012 till 31 December, 2016
Policy field(s) Local economic development
Inter-municipal co-operation
Institutional development
Public policy and planning
Funding Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands
Objective: Increased food security for the Ugandan population
Target group: 8 local governments, 2 national local government associations (UAAU and ULGA)
Intended result: Local governments are able to contribute to the security of food supply
Activities: Technical assistance, benchmarking, network meetings and study visits

Uganda has a large agricultural sector, but has not succeeded in sufficiently feeding its own population. One in every five Ugandans suffer from malnourishment. Food security is one of the biggest challenges facing the country. Various ministries and government institutions are engaged in food security. Local governments also play an important role. It is their task to create an enabling environment for food production in their region. However, many local administrators and local council staff lack the necessary knowledge and skills.

participation
The LGCP programme in Uganda is working on reinforcing the capacity of 8 local governments and their national organisations. The aim is to enable them to improve the local security of food supplies. Experience with the programme at a local level is spread nationally via the associations. With this approach, the participation of all relevant parties such as farmer cooperatives, NGOs and local council staff is key. If producers and citizens can join
the discussion on the plans and actions, this increases not only the effectiveness, but also the legitimacy of the administrators.

Aim
The LGCP Uganda programme wants to contribute to local governments being better able to create the conditions for increased food security. This concerns the capacity to:
- analyse the local food situation and include the security of food supplies in local development plans;
- set priorities for food security, tackle the situation and monitor the progress;
- establish effective cooperation with the relevant government institutions, local population, farmers and businesses;
- enhance the public accountability of local governments for the services that concern the security of food supplies.
What is primarily important for the Urban Authorities Association of Uganda (UAAU) and the Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA) is that they are better able to support the members, and represent their interests on a national level with regard to improving local food security situations.

What do we want to achieve?
- 8 local governments can identify and integrate the priorities for food security in their development plans.
- These local governments possess the necessary capacity to effectively tackle those priorities.
- The local governments and their national associations know the various stakeholders in the field of food security and involve them in the preparation and implementation of the development plans.