Strategic roadmap for the institutionalisation and national scaling of the Youth and Women Quality Centres (YWQC) model

Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, contributing between 20–24 percent of GDP and supporting the livelihoods of more than 70 percent of the population. Despite its importance, the sector is dominated by smallholder farmers who face persistent challenges, including limited access to high-quality seeds, declining soil fertility, climate change impacts, and post-harvest losses. Women and youth, who provide the majority of agricultural labour, are disproportionately affected by structural barriers, including land tenure insecurity, financial constraints, and limited technical knowledge. Emerging value chains such as insect farming, apiculture, and fruit tree production also suffer from weak seed and input systems, further constraining productivity and equity. To address these challenges, the Youth Women Quality Centre (YWQC) model was piloted in Butaleja district between 2022 and 2023 under the code name “Eno Sure Seed”. YWQCs serve as localised hubs where women and youth champions facilitate access to quality seeds, planting materials, agronomic training, entrepreneurship skills, and peer learning. The pilot demonstrated that YWQCs can strengthen seed systems across multiple value chains, improve access to inputs, and enhance the agency of women and youth in agribusiness. However, the model remains geographically limited. The roadmap for scaling the YWQC model outlines a phased approach to integrate these centres into Uganda’s agricultural system. In the short term (0–12 months), efforts will focus on consolidating pilots, forming interim steering committees, and expanding reach. In the medium term (12–36 months), the model will be rolled out regionally, aligned with national policies, and anchored institutionally through accreditation standards and commercial integration. In the long term (36–84 months plus), YWQCs will be scaled nationally, institutionalised within government frameworks, and sustained through cost-recovery mechanisms, governance strengthening, and continuous capacity building