Elly Kaganzi

About Elly Kaganzi

As a passionate advocate for rural development and gender equality, I bring over 20 years of experience in leading transformative agricultural and market systems programs across the globe. Currently serving as the Director for Agriculture and Market Systems at CARE USA, I am dedicated to empowering rural communities—especially women—by designing and implementing innovative, high-impact strategies that drive sustainable economic growth. Throughout my career, I have successfully built and led diverse global teams that have spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives, such as the Right to Food, Water, and Nutrition Impact Area Strategy, which aims to ensure 75 million people worldwide fulfil their right to adequate food and nutrition by 2030. My expertise in market systems development has enabled me to secure substantial partnerships and funding from leading agrifood corporations and foundations, including Cargill, PepsiCo, and foundations including the Sall Family Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. What sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to creating inclusive, gender-transformative approaches that not only enhance agricultural productivity but also uplift smallholder farmers, particularly women, enabling them to build resilient livelihoods. I have developed and executed sustainable and regenerative agriculture programs and led the development of cutting-edge tools and approaches adopted globally, such as the Farmer Field and Business School approach, which has become a model for empowering communities through practical, market-driven solutions. My work is driven by a vision of a world where rural communities are not only self-sufficient but are thriving hubs of economic activity. By leveraging strategic partnerships that are private sector driven, innovative program design, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by rural populations, I strive to create lasting impact that resonates far beyond the communities I serve. Let\'s connect to explore how we can collaborate to drive meaningful change in the agriculture and market systems space.

Experience

1. Director

   CARE

   Jun 2021 — Present · Atlanta, GA, US

Education

• Makerere University

  Master of Arts - MA

  2002 — 2005

• Makerere University

  Masters

  2004 — 2006