United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels: financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments — through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance — can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development.
Support to Agricultural Revitalization and Transformation (START) Funding Facility
The START funding facility is designed to support the implementation of DINU food security and nutrition component. The Facility is intended to offer access to affordable medium-term finance for agricultural value adding projects in Northern Uganda through provision of seed capital to SMEs. START Facility is structured as a blended finance facility providing a customized mix of Business Development Services, Project Development Services and Financial Services. The three lines of business are managed by the three participating institutions namely:
Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL) respectively.
3rd Call for Proposal (CfP3)
Through CfP3, START Facility is inviting proposals for commercially viable investment projects focused on agro-processing / value addition including, not limited to processing plants, post-harvest handling technologies, effective storage systems, digital technologies to handling agro-processing, storage and any other agricultural value addition projects.
The link to the application portal can be accessed here www.start.go.ug