The African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N) was established in 2018 by seventy women from 32 African Union Member States, who convened in Cairo, Egypt. This initiative was spearheaded by the African Union-Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) under the Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa (Live2Africa) Project, with funding support from the European Union (EU).

The African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N) was established through a collaborative initiative under the African Union-InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) with funding from the European Union’s Live2Africa Project. It brought together 70 women from 32 African Union Member States, representing diverse stakeholders across the animal resources sector. This network, inspired by the Dakar Declaration’s focus on the dairy sector, has since expanded its scope to encompass the entire animal resources value chain, recognizing its pivotal role in Africa’s socio-economic transformation as envisioned by the Malabo Declaration.

The network’s overarching goal is to empower women to actively participate in feed and fodder supply chains, as well as animal-sourced food production, to enhance their contributions across the entire animal resource value chain. AWARFA-N operates through continental, regional, and national chapters, emphasizing the empowerment of women engaged in animal resource agribusinesses.

In Uganda, animal resources farming and agribusiness are integral to the economy, contributing significantly to food security, employment, and household incomes. With oversight from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), the sector is bolstered by institutions like the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) and the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI). However, the sector faces challenges, including limited disease control investment, market access barriers, and capacity gaps among women entrepreneurs.

The AWARFA-N Uganda Chapter which started its mobilization in 2020, was formally registered as a company limited by guarantee, on 9^th April 2024.

AWARFA-N (U) Chapter seeks to key growth bottlenecks by empowering women across the sector, from farmers and processors to traders and researchers. This strategic plan will outline pathways to enhance women’s participation, strengthen value chains, and capitalize on the sector’s projected growth to over USD 151 billion by 2050 across the continent. Through deliberate efforts in capacity building, advocacy, partnerships, and innovation, the Uganda Chapter will align its activities with the broader AWARFA-N goals, contributing to the sustainable transformation of Uganda’s animal resources sector while ensuring gender inclusivity.

The African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N) Uganda Chapter Limited was duly incorporated on 9th April 2024 as a company limited by guarantee, with its headquarters in Wakiso Town Council, Wakiso District. It is part of the larger Pan-African AWARFA-N network and consists of over 100 Ugandan women actively involved in diverse agribusiness activities, ranging from dairy farming to aquaculture.