PARTICIPATION OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN CARBON MARKET PROJECTS IN UGANDA: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL LITERACY COMPETENCIES
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Date
2025-09-10
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the role of financial literacy competencies in the
participation of smallholder farmers in carbon market projects in Uganda. The study objectives were
to determine the relationship between Knowledge of Record Keeping, Contractual Literacy, Risk
management and smallholder farmer participation in carbon market projects in Uganda. The study
employed a descriptive qualitative design, making use of a structured literature review to analyze
secondary data without primary collection. The study utilized a desk-based approach while
leveraging secondary data from 2019 to 2025. Attention was drawn to regions such as Central,
Western and South-western Uganda, where carbon market projects are currently ongoing. The
results indicated that each of the financial literacy competencies had a positive and significant
relationship with smallholder farmer participation in carbon market projects. It was also observed
that carbon market projects that incorporated gender and youth-based interventions within their
programs exhibited higher levels of participation among their smallholder farmers.
It was recommended that carbon project developers should incorporate record keeping modules
for farmers at the onboarding stage, tailored to suit various financial literacy levels of smallholder
farmers. The Uganda Carbon Market Association, in collaboration with carbon project developers
can design simplified contract template guised for smallholder farmers, translated to local
languages and supported by trained extension workers. Additionally, the Uganda Carbon Bureau,
alongside the Bank of Uganda, should promote Carbon Farming Savings and Insurance Schemes
by financing existing initiatives that buffer farmers against carbon-farming related shocks and
support investment in diversification strategies such as agroforestry and biogas.
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Undergraduate Research