Work our people have led.

Crane and wetland conservation, with a national census

The challenge. Uganda's Grey Crowned Crane population and its wetlands are under pressure from drainage and degradation, while communities depend on the same wetlands for their livelihoods.

What was done. Leadership of a multi-donor programme combining species monitoring, wetland restoration, community conservation and livelihoods, delivered with district partners. This included a national Grey Crowned Crane census covering 131 districts and, from 2025, crane recovery work in the River Rwizi catchment as part of a consortium.

Results. A national population estimate from the census, now in peer review. Programme targets in the Rwizi catchment include restoring at least 400 hectares of wetland and supporting wetland-friendly livelihoods for at least 300 households.

Climate-smart agriculture at scale in Northern Uganda

The challenge. Smallholder farmers faced growing climate variability, and district governments lacked the planning tools to support adaptation.

What was done. Technical advice on gender-responsive climate-smart farming practices; integration of climate-smart agriculture into district development plans; development of a district-level agriculture monitoring, reporting and verification system; and quality assurance of climate-focused interventions.

Green jobs for rural youth in the sesame value chain

The challenge. Rural young people had few decent jobs, while organic sesame offered export value that smallholders were not capturing.

What was done. Management of the Sesame Green Jobs project: organic sesame production and certification support, green business development and market links for rural youth.

National evaluation of agricultural market information services

The challenge. Market information was not reaching smallholder farmers in a form they could use, and its financing was not sustainable.

What was done. A national evaluation with provider and user surveys, analysis of information flows and costs, and stakeholder consultations. It proposed a national market information system delivered with the private sector.

Results. The evaluation informed the redesign of national market information services. Findings were published as a CGIAR working paper (2006) and in the journal Cahiers Agricultures (2014).

Producer-group research programme start-up

The challenge. Understanding how trust and relationships shape the performance of producer groups, to design better programmes.

What was done. Start-up and management of the field research operation: office set-up, recruitment and supervision of field staff, monitoring and data-quality processes, and engagement with local officials.

Urban agro-enterprise action research in Kampala

The challenge. Poor urban households needed reliable food and income sources that worked within the city's environmental and regulatory limits.

What was done. A multi-partner, gender-responsive action research project that set up community-led agro-enterprises with urban poor households, combining participatory market analysis, enterprise development and monitoring.

Results. Lessons were published in 2008 as "Mainstreaming agro-enterprise for poverty reduction among the urban poor in Kampala".