What is the project about?
Food and income are the basic needs of every household. In Uganda, agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economy, employing over 70% of the population. However, the income distribution is extremely unfair, causing many of the farmers to live in poverty. This in combination with poor agricultural practices, low technological adoption and insecurity over land ownership prevent the farmers from realizing their full potential.
By helping the farmers in improving their businesses by providing them with knowledge, the GDP aims to contribute to the long-term and sustainable success of local businesses and to the development of local communities. Hopefully, their income and their standard of living can improve as well, enabling them to educate their children, afford health care and clothes for the family, housing and contribute to the community’s well-being. Meeting one’s basic need is the focus of every household! Together with Kulika Uganda, the Graduates Development Program strives to develop solutions for a sustainable and long-term success of the farmers.
Kulika Uganda, our local partner, is an organization established in 1981 with a focus on providing educational opportunities through vocational and academic scholarships to Ugandan people. Since then, Kulika Uganda has developed into a fully independent Ugandan NGO with an emphasis on community development and the provision of educational opportunities to help people improve their livelihoods. Kulika Uganda works with smallholder farmers to build their capacity in ecological organic agriculture for increased farm productivity and income. For further information about Kulika Uganda visit http://www.kulika.org/
In collaboration with Kulika Uganda, this years team has come in contact with five different groups of entrepreneurs. As most of the population of Uganda is employed in the agricultural industry, the 5 groups are all farmers. All projects need support in the development of detailed business plans, market access and financial models.
- The Maranatha Youth group is composed of a group of 25 small-scale youth farmers. They are engaged in biochar production, poultry, tree nursery and provide village saving loans to the members.
- Joy Bites women Group is composed of 6 small-scale female farmers. The group makes snacks, such as bagiya, banana crisps, roasted groundnuts and soybeans, daddies and hard corns from maize. They supply to school canteens, shops, bread shops and individuals.
- Gods Glory Youth self-help Group is composed of 30 small-scale youth farmers. The group is engaged in mushroom growing, briquette making and biochar production. In addition, they provide village savings and loans to their members.
- Nampya Self Help Group is composed of 30 small-scale youth farmers. The group is engaged in catering, yoghurt making, beekeeping and providing loans and savings to the group.
- Kulika Uganda enterprise is the partner organisation in Uganda. This organisation has different farming activities for training purposes and as an income for the organisation. The farming activities include charcoal briquettes, poultry, piggery and the creation of honey and wine.
The GDP Team
Otte van der Goot • Chairman
Asmara Leysner • Head of Fundraising
Matthijs van Gaalen • Head of Acquisition
Pim Bos • Controller
Demie Landsman • Head of Marketing
Emiliek Noteboom • MSc BA: Strategy and Organisation
Gabriella Banor • MSc BA: Strategy and Organisation
Iris Klein • BSc International Business Administration
Jesper Kettenis • MSc Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics
Martijn de Jong • BSc Bedrijfskunde
Nienke van der Burg • MSc BA: Strategy and Organisation
Robbin Brussel • MSc Entrepreneurship
Tomas Veraa • BSc Economics and Business Economics
Lex van der Wal • MSc BA: Strategy and Organisation
Vincent Straathof • BSc Bedrijfskunde