Using a Theory of Change Approach for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Food Systems in Uganda

Frank Mugagga (), Paul. I. Mukwaya, Peter Kasaija, Patricia Nagawa Kiggundu, Ritah Nakanjako, Allen Kiiza, Eunice Muyama, Juma Wepukhulu, Mary Kemigisha, Heather Mackay and Magnus Jirstrom
Additional contact information
Frank Mugagga: Makerere University
Paul. I. Mukwaya: Makerere University
Peter Kasaija: Makerere University
Patricia Nagawa Kiggundu: Makerere University
Ritah Nakanjako: Makerere University
Allen Kiiza: Kasese Municipal Council
Eunice Muyama: Mbale City Council
Juma Wepukhulu: Elgon Integrated Urban Farmers Association and Mbale City Food Systems Platform
Mary Kemigisha: Kasese Municipality Food Systems Platform
Heather Mackay: Lund University
Magnus Jirstrom: Lund University

Systemic Practice and Action Research, 2025, vol. 38, issue 1, No 3, 24 pages

Abstract: Abstract We explore how the Resilient Urban Food Systems (RUFS) project applied a theory of change approach to raise awareness of the importance of smallholder farmers and to bring them into decision making processes, as key players working towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Kasese Municipality and Mbale City in Uganda. Critical inputs from using a theory of change approach included: constant eye on research impact, in line with the desired long-term change; integrating local Municipality staff as part of the project team; mapping stakeholders and their (dis)interest; transparency and flexible engagement; building capacity for cross-stakeholder communication; attitudinal change and skills improvement via peer-to-peer learning, field visits and, institutional engagements. We can, with a high degree of certainty, conclude that, through working with theory of change, our project sparked a positive attitude change among policy makers, recognition and empowerment of smallholders, and efforts to boost smallholder resilience to stress and shocks.

Keywords: Theory of change; Multi-stakeholder engagements; Smallholder farmers; Research impact; Mbale; Kasese; Uganda (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11213-025-09711-8 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:syspar:v:38:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11213-025-09711-8

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/journal/11213

DOI: 10.1007/s11213-025-09711-8

Access Statistics for this article

Systemic Practice and Action Research is currently edited by Robert Flood

More articles in Systemic Practice and Action Research from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().