ISSD UGANDA ‘THE ORGANISATION’
Integrated Seed and Sector Development Uganda (ISSD Uganda) is an independent locally registered organisation in Uganda. It aims to be a leading agricultural development organization in fostering resilient seed and food systems for sustainable agricultural production. ISSD Uganda builds on the impactful outcomes and experiences of the successfully concluded seed projects that focused on; seed sector transformation; capacity building and knowledge transfer; partnerships and sector coordination, as well as supporting fragile communities including refugees.

The transition from the intermittent project status to an organization was driven by the need to continue addressing both the outstanding and emerging challenges in the agricultural sector for the medium and long term. Since projects are timebound and designed to follow a project lifecycle, it is fairly unusual for activities of projects to become institutionalized. Thus, ISSD Uganda is positioned to continue in its efforts to contribute to the development of the seed sub-sector as well as enhance interventions in the agricultural and rural development sector.

ISSD Uganda’s focus areas are now not only limited to the seed subsector but the agricultural sector as a whole. We have greater methodological flexibility through the use of a multiplicity of intervention approaches including direct value chain; and/or market development systems. We will build on the foundation of operational and ethical excellence which has been progressively nurtured over the last 8 years. This will ensure compatibility with the contemporary requirements of ISSD Uganda’s development partners.

OUR HISTORY ‘ISSD PROJECTS’
The formation of ISSD Uganda followed the successful implementation of two impactful projects in Uganda; i) the integrated seed sector development (ISSD) project, and ii) the nutrition and income generation intervention (NIGI) project. The ISSD project, which ran from 2012-2021 was an innovation of the Wageningen University and Research Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI) and aimed to support the development of a vibrant, pluralistic and market-oriented seed sector to enhance supply of and access to affordable quality seed by smallholder farmers. The NIGI project, which ran from 2019-2021 aimed to contribute to healthier diets and more resilient livelihoods for fragile communities including refugees. Both projects were funded by the Dutch Government through the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Kampala (EKN).

Mission

To provide holistic innovative methodologies and sustainable technology transfer for economic development

Vision

To be a leading agricultural organization in ensuring resilient, seed systems for sustainable commercialization of agricultural production

Goal

Supporting the development of resilient seed and food systems for sustainable agricultural production and productivity.

Core Values

These core values are the fabric that makes ISSD Uganda. They are the deeply held convictions, priorities, and underlying assumptions that influence the attitudes and behaviors of ISSD Uganda. These tenets form the guiding principles that the staff adhere to no matter what. The five core values that inform ISSD Uganda’s culture are: Accountability; Integrity; Innovation; Collaboration; Excellence. These values account for ISSD Uganda’s reputation and are a way of life that will inform the culture. To create a shared understanding of the values, the phrases below provide descriptions that will guide the conduct, activities and goals of ISSD Uganda.

Integrity

We “Walk the talk”. We strive to do the right thing by honoring our commitments and matching our behaviors to our words. We are transparent in the way we deal with all our stakeholders.

Accountability

We are committed to strive for best practice in our management and operations by making ourselves accountable to our partners, our staff, and all those we seek to impact. We will continually seek input from them to help us improve our work.

Innovation

We take pride in promoting a culture where “seeing more possibilities than problems” is the prime responsibility of every individual in the organization. Thus, everyone is invited to share ideas, and take on risks in pursuit of innovative solutions to societal challenges.

Collaboration

We believe in the strengths of collective efforts to tackle organization and societal problems. Internally, we will demonstrate support for one another, working cooperatively, and respecting each other’s views. Externally, we will be known for our cooperation and openness to actively participate with other actors for shared goals and interests.

Excellence

We pursue excellence in all we do. We do not compromise our reputation as a respectful reliable and dependable partner who delivers service quality whilst remaining competitive.