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The venue of the launch event was consciously chosen to reflect the agroecological, community and women based approach of the project. Jero Farm was co-founded by Ann and Richard Mugisha, who were closely involved with the KHEA and the YALTA Programme of PELUM Kenya . The Farm is an agroecology social enterprise that promotes innovative nature based solutions to address challenges of hunger & malnutrition in the community.
The launch united a diverse group of farmers, agripreneurs, students, teachers, policy specialists, and community leaders to explore agroecology and organic agriculture as a driving force for women’s and youth’s leadership in reshaping Africa’s food systems. Agroecology was celebrated not only as a farming practice, but as a pathway to decent jobs, climate resilience, and intergenerational leadership at the event. T
Through this understanding of agroecology, the BWYNAAO programme aims to empower women and youth to lead sustainable farming initiatives, scale agroecological innovations, and strengthen food system resilience across Africa.
Highlights from the Launch
Key note Speech: Josephine Akia of PELUM Uganda In her keynote speech, Josephine Akia of PELUM Uganda underscored agroecology as both a science and a practice that can transform Africa’s food systems while tackling unemployment, climate change, and food insecurity. She emphasized that agroecology promotes sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation helping communities view food as medicine and enhancing resilience. Through strong communication and media engagement, public awareness of agroecology is growing across Africa. Mentorship initiatives such as AWOLA and YALTA are amplifying the voices of women and youth, building their confidence and visibility as leaders in agroecology.
Presentation on Introduction to Agroecology by Emiru Jacob (YPARD Uganda Fellow):
The presentation framed agroecology as a holistic, participatory approach that integrates ecological, economic, and social sustainability into food systems. It emphasizes the interactions between plants, animals, soil, water, climate, and people to increase productivity while conserving natural resources. Key principles include reducing external inputs, maximizing local resources, conserving biodiversity, and ensuring social equity. Practices such as crop rotation, polycultures, agroforestry, and organic amendments combine traditional knowledge with innovation to create diversified, resilient, and conservation-oriented agroecosystems that support both healthy ecosystems and sustainable rural livelihoods.
Presentation: Introduction to the KCOA Platform by Francis Nsanga (KHEA - KCOA Project):
Francis Nsanga introduced the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology (KCOA) platform, a project launched in 2019 across Eastern Africa Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Rwanda. KCOA focuses on knowledge collection, validation, dissemination, capacity building, and networking within value chains, with a particular emphasis on youth and women. The session highlighted the Digital Knowledge Platform, demonstrating registration, access to knowledge products, blogs, success stories, upcoming events, and networking with multipliers across Africa. The launch saw 47 new users, mainly from Uganda and Kenya, indicating strong interest in organic agriculture knowledge, and underscored the value of practical demonstrations to boost platform visibility and utilization.
Promoting Rural Development Programme (PRUDEV) by Obaa Geoffery GIZ Uganda
The Promoting Rural Development Programme (PRUDEV), implemented by GIZ Uganda with support from the EU, BMZ, and the Ministry of Local Government, focuses on strengthening agro-based local economic development in Northern Uganda, particularly Adjumani, with a strong emphasis on women and youth. Running from 2017 to 2027, PRUDEV addresses low investment in agro-based value chains by promoting sustainable production and marketing systems that create jobs, increase incomes, and enhance resilience. Its thematic focus areas include natural resources management and climate-smart agriculture, inclusion and resource efficiency of agro-based MSMEs, access to financial and non-financial services, and public-private sector engagement for sustainable local economic development. A key feature of the programme is the Community-Based Trainer (CBT) model, which bridges gaps in public extension services by providing tailored support directly to rural farmers.
Key Activities:
Workplans and Tasks: Each implementing partner i.e. YPARD, PELUM Kenya and AGSN shared their planned activities under the BWYNAAO Programme, aligning them with the broader project objectives. Discussions covered thematic areas such as national and global cafes, mentorship of fellows, and engagement in the KCOA digital knowledge-sharing platform.The fellowship programme generated considerable interest with more than 500 applicants expressing interest . The selection process for fellows is ongoing, with the successful applicants scheduled to be announced by 15th October 2025. These fellows will play a key role in advancing the programme’s impact at community and regional levels.
Farm Visit: Participants had the opportunity to tour Jero Farm, where they observed practical demonstrations of agroecological practices. The visit showcased how small spaces can be maximized to produce high-quality and nutritious food for both household consumption and market sale. Participants also learned about sustainable soil management, organic input use, and diversified farming approaches.
Agritainment: The host farm demonstrated a unique family-centered approach to agroecology. All members of the family actively participate in farm activities, creating a model that blends livelihood, learning, and creativity. During the launch, the family presented their story of farming and agroecology through poetry and a musical composition, illustrating the cultural and social dimensions of food systems transformation.
Mini Exhibition: Community members and participants showcased agroecological products ranging from organic fruits and vegetables to herbal teas and natural inputs. The exhibition created opportunities for sales, product promotion, and networking. It also demonstrated the potential of agroecology to generate income while meeting community nutritional needs.
Partners and Supporters
The launch was made possible through strong collaboration with who made presentations on the different activities and how they fit into the BWYNAAO
