USAID Feed the Future Uganda Institutional and Systems Strengthening Activity- Early

Career Graduate Program

Monthly report

SUBMITTED TO

Makerere University, Department of Social Work and Social Administration

BY

TOMMY OCEN
BRIAN ALITUHA
TUGUME DIPHUS

From

NATIONAL ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL MOVEMENT OF UGANDA

(NOGAMU)

MARCH 2024.
 INTRODUCTION
This report contains details of the activities for the fourth month of the Early Career Graduate
Development Program at the National Organic Agriculture Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU), under
USAID-funded Feed the Future Uganda Institutional Systems Strengthening (ISS) Activity.

This report highlights the: activities undertaken, incomplete assignments, lessons learned, challenges
faced, recommendations, and conclusions for February 2024.

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN

On March 4th, 2024, the Early Career graduate attended an

Agriculture Advocacy Community of Practice Meeting at the ISS
Activity Office Nakawa Business Park. This meeting aimed to
equip IAO management with skills to advocate for their members
on government programs, using NOGAMU's advocacy for the
organic bill as a case study.

On March 6th2024, The Early Career Graduate (Diphus) met with TAGS representatives at the ISS
Activity Office to discuss the innovation project. Based on their suggestions, the project focus
shifted from creating an organic hub at Nsambya market to a broader healthy food campaign.

On March 7th, 2024, The Early Career Graduate attended

the National Biogas Stakeholders Workshop at Spring's
Hotel, Bugolobi. This workshop aimed to unite and
strategize with stakeholders in the biogas industry for
advocacy efforts toward a biogas bill.

On March 19th2024, the ISS Activity team had a visit to

NOGAMU, together with NOGAMU staff worked on
developing and presenting a Monitoring and Evaluation
framework for the Nsambya market developed by an early
career graduate and one board member of NOGAMU. This
framework helps NOGAMU track project progress and
success.

Attended a two-day workshop/training from 20th -21st March 2024 at Feed the Future System
Strengthening Activity offices at Nakawa Business Park. The training focused on Proposal
Development and Gender. In gender and equity, we were trained on the following topics gender-
based violence, gender roles, and responsibilities, sex, gender equality, gender equity, gender
mainstreaming, gender-disaggregated data, sex-disaggregated data, triple roles, and community
work whereas in proposal development we were trained on the following aspects such as concept
2
writing, Grant writing, Budgeting, how to search for grants and log framework development.

Attended Zoom meeting organized by NOGAMU and Agribusiness Development Centre (ADC)
on 14th March 2024 at NOGAMU offices in Kansanga. The purpose of the meeting was for both
parties to find possible ways of collaborating in different activities and services they offered to
farmers such as capacity building, consultancy, linking farmers to markets, and information and
extension services dissemination on online platforms such as threesomes App.

Attended meeting organized by Centre for Imports Development (CID) on 15th March at
NOGAMU offices Kansanga. The meeting aimed at strengthening coordination between the two
parties focusing on the following aspects sustainable production, Trade visibility, Farmer pieces of
training/capacity building, Organic production, and agriculture research.

INCOMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS.

Developing the log frame, and applying gender analysis for the innovation concepts as an
assignment from ISS Activity experts.

Searching/mobilization of resources or funds to sponsor the implementation of innovation

concepts.

The Early Career Graduates are setting up an organic kitchen garden at the NOGAMU office
premises. We are still in the process of seedling verification and in March we shall start seedbed
preparation and planting.

Attending a youth skilling program at a rural community in development (RUCID). This activity is
tailored to enable Early Career Graduates to acquire basic skills and knowledge in organic farming
to offer effective support to the NOGAMU team, especially in the area of agronomy

KEY INSIGHTS.

Learned strategies to effectively communicate and advocate for a cause or policy change. This
includes understanding stakeholder needs, crafting persuasive arguments, and potentially engaging
in lobbying efforts

Gained knowledge on adapting project focus based on stakeholder feedback and industry trends.
The TAGS meeting showcased the importance of flexibility and using feedback to refine project
3
goals and ensure a wider impact.

Developed an understanding of the importance of collaboration within an industry to achieve

common goals. The National Biogas Stakeholders Workshop highlighted the need for
communication, teamwork, and potentially forming strategic partnerships to advocate for industry-
wide changes.

Gained knowledge in designing and implementing an M&E framework. This includes defining
project objectives, identifying key indicators to track progress, and establishing a system to
measure success

Developed the ability to write compelling project proposals that effectively communicate project
goals, activities, and budgets and learned strategies for identifying and securing funding sources to
support project implementation.

CHALLENGES FACED.

Prolonged delay in payment of stipend. Early career graduates receive a stipend for the previous
month (February) towards the end of the new month (March). This has made transportation to the
workplace and access to other basic needs very difficult.

High transport costs. This has been a great threat besides stipend delay.

SOLUTION.

Fasten stipend payments.

RECOMMENDATION.

We suggest that the team should endure a stipend payment every first week of the new month so
that we can use this money for our upkeep during the month. This would improve the condition of
work and living thus greatly improving the performance of Early Career Graduates.

CONCLUSION.
4
The program has so far improved our lives and professional growth especially in the areas of
critical thinking, analysis, problem-solving, planning, and concept writing during the phase of
identification of gaps at the IAO and developing an innovative solution to the problem, Innovation
concept development and co-creation