Empowering Small Holder Farmers: Inter-Religious Council of Uganda and OAIC’s Key Asks at the COP28 to African Policy Makers

In the recently concluded Conference of Parties (COP28) held on 8th December 2023. The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, in collaboration with the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), actively participated in this global event, seizing the opportunity to present our Key Asks for Small Holder Farmers on Climate Change to African Policy Makers.

At the heart of our advocacy lies a commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by small holder farmers in the ever-evolving landscape of climate change. Our presented Key Asks are a testament to our dedication to influencing policy changes that will positively impact the lives of these essential contributors to agriculture. These include:

1. Recognize the role of smallholder farmers as key stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
2. Promote Adaptation solutions that are linked to ecological renewal and lead to Food Sovereignty
3. Expand access to productive resources for women smallholder farmers.
4. Climate Financing should be in grants and not loans.
5. Just and accessible financing frameworks that cater for adaptation and mitigation realties of smallholder farmers, pastoralists, indigenous people, and fishing communities.
6. Reprioritize Investment in public institutions for effective service delivery with focus on agricultural systems and social protection.