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Support to Agricultural Revitalization and Transformation (START) Facility is a grant from the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) that funds agribusiness small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda through a blended finance model combining grants, concessional loans, and commercial financing.
Designed to support the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda, the facility focuses on value addition, agro-processing, and adoption of sustainable business practices and digital solutions. Eligible applicants are agribusiness SMEs operating in Uganda with projects involving agricultural value chain development and sustainable practices. The facility accepts applications through December 2027.
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Support to Agricultural Revitalization and Transformation (START) - UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) deus. tirwakunda@uncdf. org Dr. Jenifer Bukokhe-Wakhungu Deputy Director (a,i) Local Transformative Finance jenifer.
bukokhe@uncdf. org START Factsheet / . pdf 881.
21kB Presentation START Facility Overview / . pptx 175.
09kB Call for Proposal START Facility Frequently Asked Questions The Support to Agricultural Revitalization & Transformation (START) facility was designed in 2017 by UNCDF as a blended finance facility to support the implementation of the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) programme’s food security and nutrition component by providing affordable medium-term finance for value adding projects to promote supply of diversified food options in the region.
The facility offers tailor-made combinations of business development services, project development, financial structuring services, and diverse financial products. The START Facility is implemented by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) with financial support from the European Union (EU).
The 2nd phase of the START facility is designed to promote growth and job creation by investing in fully integrated and sustainable agribusiness SMEs that create and retain wealth within Uganda. The Facility is intended to support agribusiness SMEs to access affordable medium-term finance in form of grants, concessional and commercial loans to enhance value addition and agro-processing.
The Facility aims to provide business development services and facilitate the development of bankable investment proposals grounded in green and circular economy principles. START facility will also support agribusiness SMEs to adopt sustainable business practices and operations, such as the adoption of digital solutions.
START phase II covers all regions of Uganda, scaling up efforts of START phase I that was implemented exclusively in northern Uganda. The project will be implemented by UNCDF and partners over a period of sixty months (five years) starting from January 2023 - December 2027.
The facility aims to achieve the following key results: Strengthen institutional capacity of agribusiness SMEs and Financial Institutions to conduct sustainable business and business operations (including digital solutions); Improve technical capacity of agribusiness SMEs to develop bankable green investment proposals acceptable by financial institutions.
Unlock affordable medium-term finance for agribusiness SMEs in value addition and responsible agro processing. The 2nd phase of START facility implementation will capitalize on the systems and successes generated from the 1st phase and aim to minimize the failures to address the challenges of access to finance for agribusiness SMEs. Apply for START Facility.
Jenifer Bukokhe-Wakhungu Deputy Director (a,i) Local Transformative Finance
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Agribusiness SMEs in Uganda, with a focus on value addition and agro-processing, and adoption of sustainable business practices and digital solutions. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates See official notice (grants, concessional and commercial loans) Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is December 1, 2027. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
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