dfcu foundation launches programme to promote agribusinesses, growth

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In a country where agriculture is the backbone of the economy yet remains largely under-leveraged; a new initiative is poised to redefine the future of farming.

The Financial Expansion for Agribusiness Transformation (FEAT) Programme — launched by dfcu Foundation in partnership with Rabo Foundation — is more than a development project; it is a strategic movement to empower Uganda’s smallholder farmers and agribusinesses with the tools, training and the necessary financial access to thrive.

With a strong emphasis on inclusion, sustainability and innovation, FEAT aims to unlock the full potential of Uganda’s agricultural sector, turning subsistence farming into scalable, profitable enterprise across key value chains.

The programme which was launched last week, will run for five years countrywide. It is set to support 2,280 agribusinesses and impact over 100,000 individuals across key value chains including coffee, dairy farming, cereals and oilseeds (sunflower, soya beans).

In the programme, 80,000 farmers will be trained with 50% of them being women and 40% youth. This is expected to benefit over 400,000 Ugandans based on average household size. Farmers can access it at any of the dfcu Bank branches countrywide.

Rabo Foundation, the impact finance arm of Rabo bank, supports farmer organisations and rural enterprises across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Its partnership with dfcu Foundation reflects a shared commitment to building sustainable food systems and improving smallholder livelihoods. In Uganda, dfcu Bank is also a sponsor of the Best Farmers Competition, organised by Vision Group in partnership with the Embassy of the Netherlands, KLMAirlines, and Koudijs Nutrition BV.

Unlocking finance and skills for agribusiness growth

“At its heart, FEAT is a collaborative effort to unlock real opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs — through access to finance, markets and skills,” Mabel Ndawula, the executive director of dfcu Foundation, said.

“The combined strength of Rabo Foundation’s global expertise and dfcu’s deep local commitment ensures that smallholder farmers and small and medium enterprises can move from subsistence to prosperity, driving inclusive growth and resilient rural economies.

A long-term commitment to agricultural transformation

Charles Mudiwa, the CEO of dfcu Bank, emphasised the central role of agriculture in Uganda’s economy: “Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, and supporting its transformation is central to dfcu’s purpose of building better lives and businesses. Through FEAT, we are not only expanding access to finance but also investing in the skills, technologies, and partnerships that make agribusiness more competitive, resilient and inclusive.”

Sonja Timmer, the Lead ImpactFinance for Africa at Rabo Foundation, highlighted the strength of the partnership: “FEAT builds on a longstanding collaboration with dfcu Foundation, whose team brings deep local expertise in Uganda’s agribusiness sector. It reflects our shared belief that entrepreneurship in smallholder value chains is key to sustainable growth.”

She added: “FEAT is more than a programme — it is a catalyst for change, equipping agri-entrepreneurs and farmers with training, tools and financial solutions to scale their businesses sustainably and improve livelihoods.”

Goal of funding

To promote financial sustainability, FEAT will provide sh100b in financial linkages. It will introduce a catalytic revolving fund facility to support early-stage enterprises not yet ready for commercial credit.

Participants will also benefit from capacity building in leadership, governance, financial literacy, marketing, price risk management and climate-smart agriculture. A catalytic fund is meant to support start-ups until they can achieve self-sustainability.

Training will be delivered through management business advisers, agritech experts, and digital platforms such as dfcu Foundation’s SOMA e-learning platform and the Bean Book tool for coffee exporters.