Gendered governance of the maize value chain within refugee communities in Rwamwanja, Uganda

Bibliographic Data

ID24228644
AuthorsAlice Turinawe (0000-0002-6709-3841, Makerere University), Rosemary Emegu Isoto (0000-0003-2953-0569, Makerere University), Irene Nakamatte (Makerere University), John Sumelius (0000-0003-2003-6396, University of Helsinki), Chen Qiuzhen (University of Helsinki), Sam Bamuhiiga Rutahindwa (Finn Church Aid (FCA), Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement), Elias Katareiha (Finn Church Aid (FCA), Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement), Stephen Ssenkima (Finn Church Aid (FCA), Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement), Frank Tukamuhebwa (Finn Church Aid (FCA), Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement), Mariléia Sell (0000-0003-0209-5851, Natural Resources Institute Finland)
Year2026
Pages1-17
Publication date2026-10-08
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDevelopment in Practice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0961-4524 • E-ISSN: 1364-9213
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09614524.2026.2735974
OpenAlexW7221199151
LanguageEN
References cited18

Refugee-hosting areas connect humanitarian support with wider commercial markets, creating distinct value-chain governance challenges. This study examined how coordination, market information, pricing, contracts, and gender shape the maize value chain around Rwamwanja refugee settlement in western Uganda. Using a cross-sectional mixed-methods case study, data were collected from 158 value-chain actors and eight key informants through surveys, interviews, value-chain mapping, gross-margin analysis, participatory SWOT analysis, and stakeholder validation. Spot cash sales dominated transactions (94.7 per cent), while contracts were concentrated among processors and institutional buyers. Men were more involved in contracting, transport, processing, and wholesaling, where capital, mobility, and market networks mattered most. Women were strongly represented in farming and retailing, operated smaller farms, and earned lower farm-level margins. Governance power was therefore stronger among actors controlling information, transport, capital, and external markets. Collective marketing, transparent weighing, gender-responsive finance, and farmer-to-processor relationships could strengthen farmers’ bargaining position and support upgrading.

Bargaining power · collective marketing · gendered governance · maize value chain · market information · refugee communities · value chain actors · women farmers · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Agriculture and Agroindustry Studies · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact

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