Deadline Date: July 14, 2026
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is inviting experienced firms to support 15 agribusiness small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the second phase of the START (Support to Agricultural Revitalization and Transformation) Facility in Uganda.
The initiative focuses on strengthening institutional capacity of agribusiness SMEs and financial institutions to conduct sustainable business and business operations, including digital solutions, improving the technical capacity of agribusiness SMEs to develop bankable green investment proposals acceptable to financial institutions, and unlocking affordable medium-term finance for agribusiness SMEs engaged in value addition and responsible agro-processing.
The START Facility Phase II was launched with support from the European Union Delegation in Uganda (EUD) to promote economic growth and job creation by investing in integrated and sustainable agribusiness SMEs across the country. Building on UNCDF’s long-standing presence in Uganda, the programme is designed to help agribusinesses strengthen their business operations, improve access to finance, and retain wealth within the country through sustainable agricultural development.
The facility combines business development services, technical assistance, project development, financial structuring, and catalytic financing to help SMEs become investment-ready. Through its blended finance approach, the programme seeks to reduce investment risks, attract private capital, and establish a resilient pipeline of agribusinesses capable of accessing financial support while adopting green and circular economy principles.
The broader objective of the programme is to stimulate economic growth, strengthen local food systems, improve food security, and retain the economic benefits of agriculture within Uganda. Unlike the first phase, which focused only on northern Uganda, Phase II covers the entire country and is being implemented over a five-year period from January 2023 to December 2027.
Under this opportunity, the selected firm will receive a twelve-month contract to provide technical assistance to 15 agribusiness SMEs. The selected firm will support these enterprises in improving operational systems, regulatory compliance, certification, licensing, institutional readiness, and market entry standards required by regulators, financiers, and value chain actors.
Eligible firms should have at least five years of experience providing technical assistance to SMEs in areas such as regulatory compliance, quality assurance, product certification, licensing, business formalization, and market access readiness. Applicants should also demonstrate proven experience supporting enterprises to comply with standards administered by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and other national, regional, or international certification schemes relevant to agribusinesses. Experience in supporting enterprises to obtain certifications such as UNBS, ISO, organic certification, or equivalent standards is required, along with a strong understanding of Uganda’s regulatory environment covering business registration, tax compliance, product certification, and sector-specific licensing requirements. The successful firm must also have a qualified multidisciplinary team led by a Team Leader and supported by technical experts with relevant experience in certification and agribusiness compliance.
For more information, visit UNDP.
