Call for Applications: Agribusiness Challenge Fund – Uganda

The project seeks to contribute to increased agri-skills level and gainful employment of youth in the agriculture sector in Uganda. This is intended to be achieved through four specific objectives:

• Specific Objective 1: Employable agribusiness skills levels of 18,800 youth 18-30 years old in target areas in Uganda to be enhanced by 2024.
• Specific Objective 2: Skilled youth (aged 18-30 years) employed in well-paying agribusiness jobs and self-run agripreneurship in target project areas of Uganda to be boosted by the end of the project (2024).
• Specific Objective 3: Youth aged 13<18 years in target project areas of Uganda to increase their engagement in agriculture for a long-term career path or key economic venture by the end of the project (2024).
• Specific Objective 4: Enabling environment for market-responsive agri-skilling and youth gainful engagement in agribusiness in Uganda to be strengthened by 2024.

The SAY Project targets 18,800 youth aged 18-30 years (6,000 being refugee and host community) for immediate employment in the agriculture sector; and 6,500 youth aged 13<18 years (5,500 in secondary schools and 1,000 in justice system rehabilitation centers) for increased agripreneurship knowledge and skills for long-term engagement in agriculture. The project is being implemented in 32 districts across the Northern, Eastern, Central and Western regions in Uganda.

Objectives of the Challenge Fund

The main objective of the Agribusiness Challenge Fund is to competitively select viable youth-owned agribusinesses and facilitate them with booster packages. The objectives of the Challenge Fund are:

• To identify and profile forty viable youth-owned agribusinesses within the SAY Project districts of operation (in Western, Eastern, Northern and Central Uganda).
• To identify the business needs of selected best agripreneurs for mentorship and coaching support.
• To support the selected youth agripreneurs/agribusiness with the required financial and mentorship/specialized business growth support to move to a higher level of business operations.

Challenge Fund Awards

The financial awards for the ten winners in each region is stipulated as follows:

• 1st position: UGX 9,000,000
• 2nd position UGX 7,000,000
• 3rd position UGX 5,000,000
• 4th position UGX 3,740,000
• 5th position UGX 3,450,000
• 6th position UGX 3,160,000
• 7th position UGX 2,870,000
• 8th position UGX 2,580,000
• 9th position UGX 2,290,000
• 10th position UGX 2,000,000

Eligibility Criteria

Two level criteria will be used to select applicants for pitching. Applications will be received from youth either as individuals or as joint ventures (investment clubs or youth groups).

• Criteria for individual applicants (youth agripreneurs)
  • Business must operate within the legal frameworks of Uganda.
  • Should have been skilled under the SAY Project of AVSI Foundation. Note that all SAY Project beneficiaries have been enrolled into an online data base and your application will be subjected to verification.
  • Should have been 18-30 years of age by the time of enrolment for skilling under the project. Youth shall be required to present a valid National ID or any identification document as proof of age and nationality.
  • Must be the rightful owner or co-founder of the business presented and should be involved fulltime in the management of the day-to-day operations and leadership of the agribusiness enterprise.
  • Must have been in the business for (at least) the past six months as at September 30, 2023.
  • The businesses should have an annual/projected income of at least UGX 7 million, with potential to expand.
  • Must demonstrate own investment (cash and in-kind) in the growth of the business so far, and willingness to commit own resources in the business growth.
  • Must be willing to stay clear of partisan political activities during the course of engagement.
  • Be engaged in any of the following: horticulture, banana, dairy, coffee, food processing, piggery, poultry, apiary, fish, mushroom, rabbits and support services along the value chains such as input services, extension services, waste management or recycling, marketing, food retail, ICT solutions for agribusiness, distribution or logistics and climate smart agriculture.
  • Demonstrate clear business records and/or business model canvas.
  • The business should have potential to grow and the individual should be willing to work with other youth.
  • Must showcase eco-efficiency and climate smart agriculture practices.
  • The business must be located in the following districts:
    • Western Region: Mbarara, Kiruhura, Isingiro, Ibanda, Kabale, Bushenyi, Rubanda, Kazo and Ntugamo.
    • Northern Region: Lira, Gulu, Agago, Lamwo, Otuke, Yumbe, Kitgum, Pader and Kole.
    • Central Region: Kampala, Wakiso, Mityana, Mukono, Buikwe, Luwero.
    • Eastern Region: Kamuli, Iganga, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Soroti, Jinja, Tororo and Busia.
• Criteria for agribusiness joint venture applicants:
  • Venture must be at least 75% owned by youth who were aged 18-30 years at the time of enrollment into the project. Owners are required to present valid National ID or any identification document as proof of age and nationality.
  • Venture must have been in existence for (at least) the past six months as at September 30, 2023.
  • The businesses should have an annual/projected income of at least UGX 7 million, with potential to expand.
  • Must be designed and operating as a for-profit business earning revenue from its operations. Youth initiatives designed as non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations or other forms of organizations are non-eligible to apply.
  • Registered or possess a registered/reserved business name or owners willing to formally register the business. Business should have a dedicated bank account or show willingness to open one.
  • Have a clear physical address with business plan or business model canvas and keep records.
  • Operating in targeted value chains of horticulture, banana, dairy, coffee, food processing, piggery, poultry, apiary, fish, mushroom, rabbits and support services along the value chains such as input services, extension services, agro‐processing, postharvest handling, value addition waste management or recycling, marketing, food retail, ICT solutions for agribusiness, distribution or logistics and climate smart agriculture.
  • Businesses that demonstrate commercial viability (potential to scale), innovation and great market potential will be highly prioritized.
  • Demonstrate social inclusion (engage other youth including female) and environmental impact (environmentally sustainable).
  • Must be based in the following districts:
    • Western Region: Mbarara, Kiruhura, Isingiro, Ibanda, Kabale, Bushenyi, Rubanda, Kazo and Ntugamo.
    • Northern Region: Lira, Gulu, Agago, Lamwo, Otuke, Yumbe, Kitgum, Pader and Kole.
    • Central Region: Kampala, Wakiso, Mityana, Mukono, Buikwe, Luwero.
    • Eastern Region: Kamuli, Iganga, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Soroti, Jinja, Tororo and Busia.

For more information, visit Fondazione AVSI.