I spent time digging into Uganda Community Farm’s plans last year, and ended up becoming a regular donor. From reading the write-ups and later asking Anthony about the sorghum training and grain-processing plant projects, I understood Anthony to be thoughtful and strategic about actually helping relieve poverty in the Kamuli & Buyende region.
UCF focusses on training farmers and giving them the materials and tools needed to build up their own incomes, which is a much more targeted approach than just transferring money (though need to account for differences in local income levels too).
Personally, I think the EA community often focussed on measuring and mapping out consequences of global poverty interventions from afar and not as much on enabling charity entrepreneurs on the ground who have first-hand contextual knowledge on what’s holding their community back. My sense is that robust approaches will tend to consider both.
Strong upvote for a community member taking the time to evaluate an intervention presented by an “outsider,” act on that evaluation, and share it with others. This adds a lot of value!
I haven’t written up a separate post on UCF and how it compares to other charity interventions. I’d consider it, but I am already stretching myself with other work.
I spent time digging into Uganda Community Farm’s plans last year, and ended up becoming a regular donor. From reading the write-ups and later asking Anthony about the sorghum training and grain-processing plant projects, I understood Anthony to be thoughtful and strategic about actually helping relieve poverty in the Kamuli & Buyende region.
Here are short explainers worth reading:
https://www.ugandafarm.org/sorghum/
https://www.ugandafarm.org/plant-details/
UCF focusses on training farmers and giving them the materials and tools needed to build up their own incomes, which is a much more targeted approach than just transferring money (though need to account for differences in local income levels too).
Personally, I think the EA community often focussed on measuring and mapping out consequences of global poverty interventions from afar and not as much on enabling charity entrepreneurs on the ground who have first-hand contextual knowledge on what’s holding their community back. My sense is that robust approaches will tend to consider both.
Strong upvote for a community member taking the time to evaluate an intervention presented by an “outsider,” act on that evaluation, and share it with others. This adds a lot of value!
Thanks so much Remmelt for sharing this, and for your kind support to the UCF’s work.
Thanks for sharing your views!
Have you written anything about your own take on the project, and how it compares to other donation options you were considering?
Good question!
I haven’t written up a separate post on UCF and how it compares to other charity interventions. I’d consider it, but I am already stretching myself with other work.