Scaling Smallholder Farmer Empowerment: Lessons from the Lifelong Learning Program in Uganda

Abstract

An evaluation study of the Lifelong Learning for Farmers (L3F) program was undertaken in two sites; in the central and northern regions of Uganda. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to measure the impact of the program on crop and household income, as well as the empowerment levels of its participants. The two sites had differences not only in geographical location but in historical background and implementation of the program, which may have influenced the livelihood outcomes. Despite these differences, the results of the study confirm the potential of the L3F approach to raise participants’ crop and household income relative to non-L3F counterparts, significantly so for women participants. There is also sufficient evidence to confirm that L3F positively contributes to farmer empowerment, and, subsequently, their livelihood. The paper draws lessons for scaling the empowerment process using the lifelong learning for farmers’ model in Uganda.

Challenges and Opportunities for Open, Distance, and Digital Education in the Global South

“…Different tools may be used for different purposes and levels, but the trend is increasingly digital, connected, cloud-based, and mobile across diverse contexts, disciplines, and education levels (Firdhouse, 2016;Imhonopi, Urim, Onwumah, & Kasumu, 2017). In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, access to mobile phones has widely outpaced access to computers, and so mobile platforms like M-Omulimisa are now being used to support learning and development even in rural communities (Kalibwani, Kakuru, Carr, & Tenywa, 2021). There is increasing use of distance and blended approaches but also some recognition that decisions about how best to mediate learning must be based on some contextual understanding (Vaa, 2015).…”

Networking and training for IMPROVEMENT of farm income: A case of lifelong learning (L3F) approach in West Africa

“…The reason for this is that farmers decide on their wants and requirements while working with stakeholders to create a network [ 45 ]. Therefore, through appropriate and effective training systems, COL and its partners created strategies to employ ICTs to enhance L3F and thereby contribute to improved livelihoods for farmers [ [ 44 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]].…”