Ukama Ustawi+

The Ukama Ustawi+ (UU+) extension project builds on the success of the CGIAR Regional Integrated Initiative for Diversification in East and Southern Africa (Ukama Ustawi), which has strengthened climate resilience and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers across East and Southern Africa. Over three years, UU reached more than 164,000 farmers with climate-smart practices and provided digital agro-advisory services to over 2.3 million farmers. The initiative mobilized $14 million in blended finance and catalyzed $734 million in investments in the region.

The proposed extension, financed by MFAT, is not a new project but a strategic continuation of high-impact activities. It focuses on consolidating achievements and ensuring sustainability through four core activities: scaling sustainable on-farm practices, expanding digital agro-advisory and financial services, institutionalizing inclusive and climate-smart policies, and catalyzing bold scaling efforts via a dedicated Scaling Fund.

Key interventions include expanding Mother-Baby trials for community-led innovation, supporting Farmer Learning Hubs, enhancing digital extension and risk management services, and implementing policy strategies such as the Tanzania Seed Sector Development Strategy and Ethiopia’s PPP for smallholder irrigation.

The project prioritizes local ownership, capacity development, and partner leverage, with intensified support in Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia, and leveraged activities in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Rwanda. With a total budget of NZD 2.66 million, UU+ aims to deepen systems transformation, reach thousands more farmers, and ensure lasting impact through robust partnerships and evidence-based scaling.