GLOFA is membership organization operating in the Districts of the Rwenzori Region (Kasese, Bundibugyo, Kabarole, Kamwenge, Bunyangabu, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kitagwenda and Ntoroko) and Uganda as a whole Uganda having offices in Kasese Municipality.
Our Identity
GLOFA is membership organization which operates in a multi-cultural dimension that offer services through the MOs to the community as one family contributing to regional and national development. GLOFA has uniquely positioned herself as the regional and national Association promoting Organic Agriculture and marketing in the Rwenzori Region. Through her networking and with a laudable record of service delivery, it has partnered very well with District Local Governments in the Rwenzori region for the promotion of Organic Agriculture and the house hold based FFLG extension approach. GLOFA has partners at national and international levels such as Organic Denmark, CISU, KOFLEC, Caritas Kampala, URDT, Tanzania Organic Agricultural Movement (TOAM) and UMWIMWA in Zanzibar. This pleasant working relationship with different partners and stake holders has created an enabling environment to co-exist with others without friction hence causing development.
What we do
GLOFA endows small holder farmers through the Farmer Family Learning Group (FFLG) approach in organic agriculture production, advocating for an enabling policy environment, farmers accessing organic markets for increased incomes in their joint marketing groups, promoting agroforestry systems that make FFLG farms to be resilient to climatic change shocks
The FFLG is a house hold based extension approach that is all inclusive that brings on board the entire House hold; Husband, Wife and Children to participate in the house hold activities which among others are Organic agriculture production practices and marketing for increased incomes. The approach promotes social coherence and social capital in the community.
GLOFA promotes her activities in a gender sensitive perspective; where women and youth empowerment is very key in organic Agriculture production, advocacy, marketing and agroforestry initiatives
GLOFA’s successes among others are: small holder organic farmers producing quality and quantity organic products and marketing them jointly on the local and international markets. Most of the marketing groups are registered as primary cooperative societies at national level. Some of the marketing groups are adding value to their produce and are at different levels of development in adding value to their products.
GLOFA with her partners is promoting local organic out lets where consumers can find the organic products that are produced by the FFLGs/Marketing groups. Some of the farmers are producing through the Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) to ensure quality and quantity production which gives assurance to the consumers.
Farming practices at house hold level have greatly improved through the Farmer Family Learning(FFLG) Approach. A number of facilitators in their respective Member Organizations have given support to enhance skills of farmers in production and marketing through the FFLG approach that is appreciated by most of the small holder farming groups (FFLGs) in partnership with the local Governments. This has led to increased production and volume of sales which is translating into increased incomes at house hold level.
GLOFA theory of change
GLOFA applies a theory of change that is informed by the context and the wealth of experience and knowledge built of working on issues of alleviating poverty among the small scale farmers. Addressing structural causes of poverty and their manifestations requires responses that go beyond economic and material deprivation to include a change in attitudes, behaviors, practices and processes that form the bases of exclusion from political, social and economic opportunities and resources.
We believe that poverty can be greatly reduced when people living in poverty are supported to discover and use their power and knowledge individually or collectively to confront power relations that perpetuate violence, conflict and vulnerability; build resilience to natural and manmade shocks; and expand spaces for civic engagement in decisions that affect them. Mobilizing and connecting the agency of people living in poverty through capacity building and mass media is critical in creating rights awareness, and generating pressure on all people in the private and public sphere to be duty-bound, shift attitudes and behaviors and become more inclusive, open minded and committed to promoting gender equality and respect for human rights to have sustainable farmer owned enterprises. This can be through empowering small holder farmers through the FFLG approach for sustainable organic production, advocating for improved and enabling environment of the organic small holder farmers, farmers accessing niche organic markets for increased incomes as they are organized in joint or collective marketing groups for high bargaining power and better marketing conditions and promoting sustainable agroforestry systems that make farmers to be resilient to climatic change shocks.
GLOFA Approach
Our approach focuses on a theory of change that puts FFLGs at the center of development by advancing small scale farmer centered poverty alleviation strategies, strengthening their capacity to produce and market jointly to high value markets that recognize or reward their hard labor, advocating for their rights and ensuring an amicable service delivery by duty bearers in high level collaboration with partners and stake holders.
GLOFA Rights Based Approach
The FFLG-based approach shapes our way of working. GLOFA builds on the progress made by FFLGs in promoting Organic Agriculture and marketing by cooperatives/marketing associations, Government, partners, supporters, and stake holders that alleviation of poverty can only happen if the rural poor small scale farmers’ interests are protected, promoted and fulfilled recognizing that they are the largest group of producers put together feeding the world.
GLOFAs’ role to empower Facilitators in collaboration with FFLG Academy to build capacity of the small scale farmers locally and through a strong partnership/networking internationally. Supporting advocacy movements to hold duty bearers and stake holders accountable to the poor small scale farmers’ needs.
GLOFA Developing Partnerships
GLOFA builds and mobilizes a serious mass of activists and supporters to work in solidarity with the small scale poor farmers, and all other stakeholders through engagements, partnerships, linkages and coalitions to magnify the voices of the Small scale poor farmers and in the fight against poverty. In selecting whom to work with GLOFA is guided by principles of mutual respect and clarity of purpose which is aligned to our vision, mission and values. GLOFA partnership approach is premised on recognition of the need for mutual accountability including appraisals to monitor values and principles; a commitment to demonstrate impact of our actions.
GLOFA applies Participatory Methodologies
Small scale farmers’ development, can only be achieved and sustained when FFLGs are at the forefront of holding those who have a duty to do so accountable. GLOFA uses her experience in participatory methods to support FFLGs/cooperatives/marketing associations/MOs engage in the struggle of causing sustainable development.
GLOFA has deepened participatory review and reflection processes in ways that enhance mutual accountability, learning, building knowledge and promote critical reflection of her systems and methods of work.
