Government should promote exports specifically in sectors that maximize jobs and income. According to Uganda’s census of 2014, 69 percent of the labour force is employed in subsistence agriculture. Most of these are youth and women located in the rural areas. Trade can facilitate export diversification by allowing this majority engaged in subsistence agriculture to access new markets and new materials which open up new production possibilities. Trade empowerment encourages innovation by facilitating exchange of know-how, technology and investment in research and development, including through foreign direct investment.

ACTADE under this program focuses on promoting the development of domestic trade in Uganda while paying special attention to the interactions and growth of trade within Africa as well as on a global scale. The organization targets vulnerable communities who have the potential but are not able to effectively produce for the market. These communities are locked out of trade due to a number of reasons including lack of information for production and market access as well as a poor policy environment. ACTADE will also aim to support the (vulnerable) communities to produce enough for domestic needs, local markets and subsequently be able to supply external markets.

Our interventions in this program are; advocating for fair trade, lobbying government to provide trade supporting infrastructure such as communal grain storage facilities and educate farmers through their groups on enterprise and value chain development, quality standards and markets. The organization will perform the roles of a think tank that understands trade and development issues to support stakeholders to understand trade and take advantage of opportunities which arise with this knowledge to promote human rights, incomes and sustainable development.

ACTADE as well brings government, businesses and community representatives to the table so that the knowledge and ideas shape conducive national and local policy dialogues.