WHO ARE WE ?

ACTADE is an independent, non-political, non-governmental organization fully registered under the laws of Uganda. It was established for the purpose of influencing and facilitating the development and promotion of trade and sustainable development through generating innovative policy ideas and policy alternatives in order to address both short and long term public policy challenges in the ever changing global, regional, national and local contexts.

Our vision is the promotion of trade and sustainable development for a better society.

Our mission is "to influence policy, provide information and guide in the Economic development of Africa” through policy research, advocacy, capacity building and advisory services" 

Our tools are policy research and analysis, capacity building, information exchange and dissemination, and advocacy.

Our products are action recommendations based on research and analysis, building the capacity of government officers, policy makers, the private sector, and civil society organizations in East Africa, through practical training, information dissemination, and advisory services.

Our general target beneficiaries are government officials and policy makers, the youth, women, the private sector, civil society and academia.

Our style is to increase our influence in our region (East Africa) by collaborating with other institutions and building long-term strategic alliances, while maintaining ACTADE’s institutional independence, to address the challenges of sustainable development.

Our team is composed of multidisciplinary professionals with practical experience in trade policy and trade promotion, public policy, private sector business management, training, research, law, marketing, international development and project management. Also, ACTADE will set up an internship and volunteer programme, allowing graduates and post-graduates with relevant academic backgrounds to gain first working experiences on trade issues, while supporting ACTADE through their work and commitment.
Our goals and objectives are to:

Undertake public policy research in international agreements which impact trade and sustainable development on the global, regional, national and local communities;
Contribute to the building of local, national and regional capacity in public policy analysis in Africa in order to achieve economic growth and sustainable development;
Facilitate interaction, while maintaining our independence, between and among policy makers, development partners, the private sector and civil society in order to help trade policy become more supportive of sustainable development;
Support poverty eradication efforts through capacity building, policy research, advocacy, and information dissemination; and
Provide information and guide in the development of trade.

ACTADE was established by professionals, after an intensive analysis, who found out that Ugandans - especially the disadvantaged - do not have access to vital information on trade, development and environment. Also it was felt that government does not have the capacity and the infrastructure (institutions etc) to provide information to those Ugandans requiring it. Available information in government agencies is outdated or inadequate for use. There is lack of coordination between government agencies serving the private sector and civil society. There is no effort to explain the international agreements to the people.  Some trade rules, laws and procedures either signed under WTO or made locally are not explained to the poor. There is little or no effort to put in place micro level or firm policies that can eradicate poverty.  So the result is increasing poverty. Instead, there are good macro level policies emphasizing export led growth.  However, Uganda which is predominantly agriculture led, with the major market as the EU, does not have good policies for Agricultural and rural development.

There is lack of capacity within the government agencies and the civil society organizations to tackle and influence trade and environmental laws and decisions in Uganda.  There is lack of commitment to strategic planning for poverty eradication by government of Uganda. There are many gaps in Uganda’s plans including the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA). Most NGOs in Uganda were mainly involved in HIV/AIDS work and relief work. There is need to eradicate poverty not through relief but encouraging market linked production which should boost incomes but not cause negative effects to the poor. That is why ACTADE supports trade and sustainable development.