Action for Development (ACFODE)

What Action for Development (ACFODE) does

Action for Development (ACFODE) is a Ugandan national non-governmental, non-profit women's rights organization founded on 19 November 1985 and headquartered in Kampala at ACFODE House, Bukoto. Its stated vision is "a just society where gender equality is a reality," and its mission is to empower women and girls and influence legislation and policy for gender equality in Uganda. ACFODE operates through four interconnected program pillars: Policy Advocacy and Research, Trans-formative Social-Cultural Change, Economic Empowerment, and Leadership Development. Programmatic interventions span model-couple training for SGBV prevention, VSLA and SACCO formation, cooperative support (including Mt. Rwenzori Coffee Farmers' Cooperative Union, UCCFS, Semuliki Cooperative Union, and Shelter and Settlements Alternatives), school-based GBV clubs, listeners' clubs, women's caucuses, mentorship (SAUTI YA SASA), and policy advocacy on Maputo Protocol implementation and women's land rights.

ACFODE is not a technology company and has no proprietary software, AI/ML, or API surface. Its products and services are human-delivered programs, supplemented by publications (Arise Magazine, annual reports, newsletters), knowledge cafés, community barazas, debate competitions, and digital content on its website and social media channels. The organization reaches an estimated 100,000 rights holders and duty bearers through 60,000+ trained women leaders, 500+ partner organizations, 210 women's networks and caucuses, and direct program delivery across 20+ districts and multiple refugee settlements (Kyaka II, Palabek, Bidi Bidi, Imvepi). Headcount is approximately 32, led by Executive Director Regina Bafaki.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through institutional grant funding from a concentrated base of international development partners — We Effect, the European Union, Swedish Foundation for Human Rights, GIZ, BMZ, Eirene, Women Strong International, and UN Women — supporting multi-year projects such as PWACRU, Empowered to Act (2023–2027), SAUTI YA SASA, GEPA, and SGBV programming in refugee settlements. Membership dues (UGX 100,000 initial subscription, UGX 50,000 annual renewal, UGX 25,000 student rate) are a marginal revenue stream. GTM is community-led and event-driven, relying on direct program delivery through community facilitators, model couples, GBV clubs, and partnerships with district local governments, line ministries (MGLSD, EOC, UWA), and women's parliamentary networks (UWOPA).

Name

Action for Development (ACFODE)

Legal name

Action for Development (ACFODE)

Website

https://acfode.or.ug

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Action for Development (ACFODE) is a Ugandan non-profit women's rights organization founded in 1985 that advances gender equality through policy advocacy, economic empowerment, leadership development, and community-based programs serving women, girls, and cooperatives across Uganda.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Rights and Gender Equality Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF)

Keywords

• Women's rights advocacy
• Gender equality programs
• Economic empowerment training
• Community capacity building
• Gender-based violence prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: ACFODE operates primarily through grant funding from international development partners and donors including the European Union, We Effect, Swedish Foundation for Human Rights, BMZ, GIZ, Eirene, and Women Strong International. These grants fund specific projects and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Action for Development (ACFODE) is a national women's rights NGO in Uganda that delivers gender equality programming through four pillars: Policy Advocacy and Research, Trans-formative Social-Cultural Change, Economic Empowerment, and Leadership Development. It carries out mentorship (SAUTI YA SASA), Model Couple training, GBV prevention in refugee settlements, cooperative capacity-building, VSLA/SACCO formation, and political participation programs. Its beneficiaries are individual women, youth, refugees, and member-based organizations in Uganda.

Product overview

Action for Development (ACFODE) is a nonprofit women's rights organization that does not offer commercial products but operates four interconnected program pillars: Policy Advocacy and Research, Trans-formative Social-Cultural Change, Economic Empowerment, and Leadership Development. The organization also produces publications including Arise Magazine, Annual Reports, and Newsletters. Major ongoing projects include the SAUTI YA SASA Mentorship Programme, Empowered to Act (with We Effect), PWACRU, My Right: No Violence (refugee support), and various women's economic empowerment initiatives in cooperatives. These programs work holistically to advance gender equality through capacity building, advocacy, community engagement, and economic empowerment of women and girls across Uganda.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Advocacy and Research Programme A program pillar for individual women, CSOs, and government stakeholders that reviews existing policies from a gender perspective, engages stakeholders in dialogue on gender equality laws, and advocates for effective implementation of GBV laws and policies.
• Trans-formative Social-Cultural Change Programme A program pillar for communities, women, youth, and schools that increases public awareness on women's rights through capacity building, media engagement, community dialogues, and documentation promoting positive social-cultural practices.
• Economic Empowerment Programme A program pillar for women farmers, VSLA/SACCO groups, cooperative members, and microentrepreneurs that provides financial literacy training, VSLA and SACCO support, social enterprise development, and linkages to government programs (UWEP, YLP, Emyooga, OWC).
• Leadership Development Programme A program pillar for duty bearers, youth, and aspiring women leaders that builds capacity to champion women's and youth issues through regional youth dialogues, mentoring programmes, and election monitoring.
• Arise Magazine ACFODE's flagship bi-annual publication covering women's rights, gender equality, and organizational activities, published for donors, partners, members, and the general public.
• Annual Reports Annual organizational reports documenting ACFODE's activities, achievements, and financial information for donors, partners, and members.
• Newsletters Periodic newsletters covering organizational updates, project activities, and news for donors, partners, members, and the general public.
• SAUTI YA SASA Mentorship Programme A 9-month mentorship programme pairing young women (18-45 years) with professional mentors to enhance civic engagement and career opportunities, implemented in partnership with GIZ.
• My Right: No Violence Project A project preventing sexual and gender-based violence among girls and women in Kyaka II refugee settlement through school-based GBV prevention clubs, listeners' clubs, and model couple mentorship sessions.
• Enhancing Gender Equality in Member-Based Organisations (GEPA) Project A project (2018-2022) implemented in partnership with We Effect that enhances capacities of member-based organizations to deliver gender-responsive services through gender audits and training of gender focal persons.
• Protection of Women's and Children's Rights in Uganda (PWACRU) Project A project (2020-2023) implemented in partnership with We Effect and the European Union that ensures a policy, legislative and institutional environment supportive of women and children's rights through CSO and duty bearer capacity strengthening.
• Empowered to Act Project A collaborative project with We Effect (2023-2027) addressing gender inequality through gender-inclusive programming and service delivery among member-based organizations including MEACCE, BIACE, and BGCUL cooperatives.
• Increasing Economic Security for Women in Kasese Project A project (April 2023 - April 2024) with Women Strong International enhancing productivity, income, and access to resources for women in Mt. Rwenzori Coffee Farmers' Cooperative Union through financial literacy and social enterprise training.
• Women's Political Participation Enhancement Project A project (2023-2025) funded by the Swedish Foundation for Human Rights promoting civic education and women's political participation in Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Kaberamaido, and Amolatar districts through training-of-trainers workshops.
• SGBV STOP in Kyaka II Project A project (2019-2022) funded by BMZ and implemented with Eirene promoting gender equality among refugee and host communities by building capacities of social actors, duty bearers, and model couples to prevent SGBV.
• Women and Youth Empowerment for Leadership Programme A 3-year programme (2018-2021) strengthening gender-responsive governance by improving women's representation and influence in political positions, with national-level civil society and government partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60,000 women leaders equipped with leadership skills
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• We EffectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with We Effect for gender equality programs including the GEPA project (Enhancing Gender Equality in Member-Based Organisations through Policy Advocacy 2018-2022), PWACRU project (Protection of Women's and Children's Rights in Uganda 2020-2023), and Empowered to Act project (2023-2027). We Effect provides funding and technical support for gender-inclusive programming among member-based organizations.
• EirenecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEirene eV International Christian Service for Peace partners with ACFODE on SGBV prevention projects in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement and surrounding communities, including the 'My Right: No Violence' and STOP projects.
• Women Strong InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with ACFODE on the 'Increasing Economic Security and Opportunity for Women in Cooperatives in Kasese District' project (2023-2024), focusing on enhancing productivity and income for women in Mt. Rwenzori Coffee Cooperative Union.
• UN WomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a development partner with ongoing collaboration in promoting women's rights and gender equality initiatives.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership (2018-2020) under the 'Building Local, Thinking Global' project to provide support to local GBV actors within Palabek Refugee Settlement in Lamwo district.
• Uganda Women's Network (UWONET)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Women and Youth Empowerment for Leadership and Women's Rights Programme (2018-2021) focusing on gender-responsive governance.
• Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Women and Youth Empowerment for Leadership and Women's Rights Programme for promoting women's rights and gender accountability.
• Women's Democracy Network - Uganda Chapter (WDN-U)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in women and youth empowerment programs for leadership and democratic governance.
• Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment ministry partner for women and youth empowerment programs, gender policy implementation, and coordination on GBV response mechanisms.
• Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in women and youth empowerment for leadership, supporting women's political participation and caucus formation.
• Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment partner for operationalizing equal opportunities and gender-responsive planning and budgeting.
• Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for strengthening collaboration between technocrats and political leaders on gender-responsive budgets and plans.
• Uganda Wildlife AuthorityminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in the Mount Elgon Conservation Area project for protecting rights of communities living around Mount Elgon National Park.
• CEEDminorOthersListed as a development partner in ACFODE's network of supporters.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Plan International Uganda: Global INGO with a major Uganda country office working on girls' rights, GBV, and youth economic empowerment. Comparable on the girls' rights and SGBV programming ACFODE runs in refugee settlements, and is a typical co-funder for adjacent programming.
• CARE International Uganda: Large international NGO operating across Uganda on women's economic empowerment, GBV, and refugee programming. Overlaps with ACFODE on VSLA, SGBV, and refugee response work but at much greater scale and geographic scope, often as an intermediary donor.
• UN Women Uganda: UN entity coordinating global gender equality work, including Uganda country programming on women's political participation, GBV response, and economic empowerment. Listed as an ACFODE development partner and is a comparable convener/funder in the same beneficiary space.

Direct peers

• Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE): Ugandan national women's rights NGO focused on gender-responsive governance, women's political participation, and civic engagement. ACFODE and FOWODE were formal co-implementing partners on the Women and Youth Empowerment for Leadership programme and operate in overlapping districts and donor ecosystems.
• Women's Democracy Network - Uganda Chapter (WDN-U): Uganda chapter of IRI's Women's Democracy Network, focused on increasing women's political participation. Direct peer to ACFODE's Leadership Development pillar, working with the same women-leader beneficiary cohort and similar district partners.
• MIFUMI: Ugandan NGO working on women's rights, GBV prevention, and legal reform including marriage and family law. Highly comparable to ACFODE on the SGBV/legal advocacy dimension, with overlapping district presence in eastern Uganda.
• Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP): Ugandan NGO focused on domestic violence prevention, survivor support, and community mobilization. Direct peer on ACFODE's GBV prevention and community dialogues work, with similar district footprint.
• Raising Voices: Uganda-based NGO developing methodologies for preventing GBV and engaging men/boys. Comparable to ACFODE on the Trans-formative Social-Cultural Change pillar and community-based intervention design (akin to ACFODE's Model Couple approach).
• Uganda Women's Network (UWONET): National umbrella network coordinating Ugandan women's rights organizations. Co-implemented with ACFODE on the Women and Youth Empowerment for Leadership programme and shares donor and government interlocutors, making it a direct peer in both mission and funding sources.

Emerging players

• Women for Women International: International NGO focused on women's economic empowerment, SGBV response, and training in fragile/conflict-affected settings. Comparable to ACFODE's economic empowerment and refugee programming on methodology, though operating in different countries and typically at larger program scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acfode
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ActionForDevelopment
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACFODE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/action-for-development-acfode

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Action for Development (ACFODE)