The Women in Agribusiness Expo & Investment Summit
Market Access in Action: A Landmark Collaboration with UN Women.
We believe that while training builds capacity, market access builds wealth. In a landmark collaboration with UN Women, the Step Up Youth Initiative hosted the Women in Agribusiness Expo and Investment Summit to confront a critical structural barrier: while women constitute 3.9 million of Uganda’s agricultural workforce, over 70% remain restricted to low-income cultivation, unable to access high-value agro-processing or export value chains.
This Expo was not merely an event; it was a strategic bridge to Economic Sovereignty. It was intentionally designed as a high-powered ecosystem to transform local women farmers—including refugees, survivors of gender-based violence, and young entrepreneurs—into recognized, investable industry leaders.
Dismantling Structural Barriers By connecting producers directly with private investors, high-level industry leaders from across Africa, and policymakers, this platform achieved more than sales; it directly attacked the major drivers of women’s economic exclusion:
Access to Markets: We broke the “middleman trap” by connecting producersd directly to buyers and export value chains, significantly increasing revenue and resilience.
Access to Finance: We moved beyond basic savings groups to introduce tailored financial products and investment opportunities, overcoming the hurdle of limited financial literacy.
Digital Empowerment: We highlighted the urgent need for digital literacy, equipping women with the tools to digitize sales and value chain activities, finally bridging the digital divide.
The Obuntu Result: We moved women from being seen as mere cultivators to being recognized as investable producers. This is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to Dignity (Ekitiibwa) and Self-reliance (Okweyimirizaawo)—proving that when you open the gate, she will walk through it.
