The 7th Annual National Women Entrepreneurs Symposium & Youth Summit 2025, held in Kampala on November 18th under the theme “Centering Women and Youth Entrepreneurs for Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Economies,” that was officiated by Yafesi Ogwang, the Assistant Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture addressed the critical national challenge posed by climate change which threatens a potential 3.1% loss in GDP by 2050 and the urgent need to empower the women and youth who form the backbone of the informal economy.

The symposium established that these groups are disproportionately impacted by escalating environmental shocks, yet they possess the inherent capacity to drive transformation through grassroots innovation. Key innovations highlighted included the adoption of agroecology to build soil health and resilience against drought, the use of Black Soldier Fly farming to convert market waste into valuable inputs, and the increased uptake of clean energy solutions. The discussions focused heavily on transitioning these successful local practices into scaled, formal enterprises, recognizing that the lack of access to finance, technology, and formal market registration remains the primary obstacle to achieving full climate resilience.

A significant focus of the summit was on the strategic integration of women and youth into both economic and governance frameworks to achieve a just transition. Government and development partners reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging national policies, such as the new Markets Act and the forthcoming National Development Plan (NDP) IV, to support these entrepreneurs. Specific policy advancements included the integration of climate-smart agriculture into the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the establishment of a 15% public procurement quota reserved for women and youth-led enterprises, providing a direct pathway into high-value government contracts.

Furthermore, partners like the Institute for Social Transformation (IST), UN Women, Women’s International Peace Centre, Korea Hope Foundation, PELUM Uganda, OXFAM Uganda, Stabex,  showcased their collaborative efforts to strengthen capacity through skills training, digital inclusion, and innovative financial models like revolving funds. This commitment extended beyond economics, with a pledge to expand women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction and peace-building, recognizing environmental stewardship as a critical component of social cohesion and conflict prevention.

The final call to action from the 250+ participants including policymakers, entrepreneurs, and development practitioners was for a unified national strategy centered on predictive and fair climate finance and deeper multisectoral collaboration. The consensus was that achieving a climate-resilient Uganda requires moving beyond project-level support to establish robust, systemic changes. This includes simplifying financial access, enforcing policies that promote inclusive representation in climate governance bodies, and actively investing in green jobs and value chains like renewable energy and the circular economy. The symposium ultimately reinforced the vision of an inclusive, prosperous, and climate-resilient nation, positioning empowered women and youth as the essential leaders and innovators driving Uganda’s social, economic, and environmental transformation.