Agago | PFP

Agago, Uganda

Location & context

Agago District in northern Uganda has lived through decades of conflict and disruption, leaving deep scars on families and local economies. Many households still face food insecurity, poor access to healthcare, and limited opportunities for education or livelihoods. HIV/AIDS and malnutrition continue to affect children’s wellbeing.

Our work here began in 2019 with PAORINHER (Patongo Orphan Infant Health Rehabilitation Centre), a community-led organisation supporting orphans and vulnerable families, many affected by HIV/AIDS. Together we improved school infrastructure, nutrition and water access, laying the foundations for wider change.

In 2023, this partnership evolved into Agago Children and Community Initiatives (ACCI) Ltd, a Ugandan social impact enterprise co-founded by PAOROINHER and PFP to drive sustainable development across the wider district. ACCI now brings together health, education, agriculture, and livelihoods under one umbrella. It focuses on creating healthy, skilled and thriving communities free from hunger and poverty. Through ACCI, we are building a model that combines social impact and enterprise, ensuring income-generating activities sustain the work for the long term.

Key needs and challenges facing the Agago community include:

Food insecurity driven by climate shocks and poor access to inputs and markets
Limited access to quality education, particularly vocational and adult learning
Weak healthcare infrastructure and limited outreach to remote areas
Low household incomes and barriers to accessing finance
Organisational capacity gaps among local groups, hindering sustainability

Partners & approach

Power for the People works in partnership with ACCI Ltd and PAORINHER CBO, supported by the Agago District Government and local community networks. We are proud to partner with Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust and Women Rights Initiative (WORI) to strengthen our impact.

Our Handshakes Not Handouts model underpins everything: communities co-design and co-own solutions, with PFP’s role focused on investment, training, and strategic support.

ACCI’s five-pillar strategy for 2025–2028 drives our shared approach:

Agricultural Excellence and Food Security
Community Outreach and Livelihoods
Education Access
Health and Nutrition
Governance and Organisational Strengthening

Funding partners & sponsors

Our work with PAORINHER and ACCI has been possible thanks to our amazing community of funders and sponsors.

What we have delivered

Food Security and Agriculture

The Agago Hub Farm produced 5 tonnes of cassava, 3,254 tomatoes, 170 fish, 103kg onions, and 122 chickens in 2024, feeding schoolchildren and local families while generating income.
Established a seedbank and piloted farmer training through 10 Community-Based Facilitators, reaching 141 subsistence farmers (39 men and 113 women).
Demonstrated sustainable and innovative practices - including poultry waste composting, solar irrigation, biogas use - to boost productivity and soil health.

Education and Vocational Training

PAORINHER Primary School achieved strong results in Uganda National Exams thanks to our investment in school infrastructure.
Introduced PFP Academy to 5 village groups (141 participants) covering entrepreneurship, health, and environmental education.
Plans developed for vocational training expansion and adult literacy.

Health Access, Nutrition and Menstrual and Sexual Reproductive Health

Improved child and maternal nutrition through the school feeding programme.
Introduced menstrual and sexual reproductive health (MSRH) sessions for girls and women.
Health outreach events and partnerships explored to extend diagnostic and treatment services.

Community Outreach and Livelihoods

5 community groups supported through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), many led by women or people with disabilities.
Revolving community funds piloted, building experience for scaled-up micro-grant models.

Governance and Organisational Strengthening

Recruited a skilled, diverse Board of Directors to provide strong local governance for ACCI’s work.
Completed a strategic planning process with the Board and staff team.
Invested in team capacity with the recruitment of a Programmes Manager to oversee ACCI’s work and manage it day to day.

Impact highlights

41 individuals

trained in business, agriculture, and health through the PFP Academy.

10 community facilitators

trained to cascade learning.

Over 500 students

benefiting from improved nutrition and school farm produce.

At least 50% women

or single mothers - inclusive participation.

Local governance

strengthened through a more active ACCI Board and clearer management systems.

Challenges & learning points

Funding constraints continue to limit expansion of water infrastructure at the Agago Hub.
Need for improved financial systems and staff training to manage enterprise growth.
Ongoing leadership and governance development within ACCI are key to long-term sustainability.

Future plans & sustainability

Food Security and Agriculture

Fully operationalise the Agago Hub as a Centre for Agricultural Excellence by the end of 2025.
Launch milling operations to process grain and produce fortified flour for income and nutrition.
Create a farmers’ network of 40+ smallholders linked to fair markets via a digital platform.

Education and Vocational Skills

Map school provision across Agago District and replicate PAORINHER’s excellence in 2–3 additional schools.
Pilot vocational training for youth and adult literacy from 2026.

Community Outreach and Livelihoods

Expand from 5 to 16 community groups by 2027, each accessing training, VSLA support, and the new Community Fund.
Pilot small-business grants and scale the Street Business School methodology to increase household income.

Health Access, Nutrition and Menstrual and Sexual Reproductive Health

Partner with Women’s Rights Institute Uganda (WORI) to reach 1,000 women and girls with reusable pads and MSRH education in 2025–26.
Scope and fund a mobile health clinic and upgraded PAORINHER Health Centre by 2027.

Governance & Organisational Strengthening

Recruit new Directors with finance and government expertise.
Embed robust budgeting, HR, and impact measurement systems.
Transition gradually from PFP-funded salaries to self-financing via agricultural profits.