The USAID - funded Feed the Future Uganda Institutional and Systems Strengthening (ISS) Activity is a five-year program being implemented by Cardno and J.E. Austin Associates. ISS will mitigate institutional governance, management, and market systems constraints to improve how system actors work together to achieve agriculture-led economic growth. The Activity’s overarching goal is increased responsiveness and accountability of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and national level Industry Apex Organizations (IAOs) to their members, constituents, and the general public and a more conducive environment for agriculture sector market actors to productively engage and coordinate.  

J.E. Austin Uganda ISS is leading the project team to apply its Policy Development and Implementation Methodology, including assistance to private sector IAOs to improve and execute advocacy campaigns and partnerships with public private dialogue platforms to increase their effectiveness through evidence-based inclusive dialogue. Project activities are targeted to strengthen the business enabling environment, including the facilitation of 13 successful regional dialogues on the issues of aflatoxins, counterfeits, and the increasing price of fertilizer. ISS also provides capacity building trainings in communications, advocacy, leadership and organizational management, and business modeling for 20 pre-selected IAOs in the agriculture sector.