G-1467

Eco. empowerment - women/youth

Description

Financing

Documents

Photos

History Logs

Project Description

Region: Africa

Country: Uganda

Location: Ssese Islands (Kalangala)

Total Budget: $68,000

Area of Focus: Community economic development



Background

According to the 2014 Population Census Final Report by Uganda Bureau Of Statistics (UBOS), Uganda's total population stands at 37.7m. The number of people between the productive age of 14 and 64 is slightly over 18m. With 58% of this population group unemployed, it means that Uganda's total non-utilized labour potential is 10.4m. The report further indicates that in the age category of 20 to 24, 65% of its members are unemployed; meaning that 11.8m youths are jobless. For those above 25 years, the situation is even worse, with over 90% of them unemployed. To compound the problem, Uganda has one of the youngest and fastest growing population rates in the world with its fertility rate of 3%. Coupled with the fact that the current Uganda job market can absorb only 8,000 out the more than 40,000 young graduates from universities annually, a stronger focus on job creation for this group of people cannot be overemphasized.

The situation is even more difficult for women and girls, who face yet greater challenges in securing productive and fulfilling employment. The 2014 UBOS report indicates that three out of every four unemployed Ugandans were women. The 2005 Gender and Growth Assessment report by the World Bank cites the following barriers, among others as factors impeding Ugandan women from securing gainful employment : - a) Women are marginalized in business ownership, skills development, access to financial resources, non-agricultural employment, and inheritance rights. b) There is a marked gender gap in access to and control over productive resources such as land; and c) Women have lower access to education services - only a third of girls enrolled in primary education continue in school to the age of 18.

Problem Statement

Kalangala district (also called Ssese Islands) is located in Lake Victoria with a total of 84 islands. It has an area coverage of 9,066.8 sq km out of which only 432.1 sq km (4.8%) is land. Bugala is the biggest island in the district with 275 sq km of land. Sixty four out of 84 islands in the district are inhabited with an estimated population of 66,300 (2012 Estimate).

Although there are no independent statistics on women and youth unemployment for Kalangala district, the situation is even worse when compared to the rest of the country due to the district's geographical location, remoteness, its relative isolation and its uniqueness as a hard-to-reach and islands district. Additionally, the district faces unique challenges that don't favor women and youth in securing gainful employment.

Firstly, the main economic activities in the district of fishing, oil palm growing, lumbering and tourism don't support direct female and youth participation; hence making them economically vulnerable. Secondly, the district faces the problem of dwindling fish stock attributed to over fishing, pollution and use of illegal fishing practices. This means that even the indirect employment that the fishing sector used to offer to women and youth as employees in fish processing is no longer available. Thirdly, the district's uniqueness as an islands district makes delivery of routine agricultural extension and animal husbandry services very difficult. Hence, these advisory services are unavailable to women and youth who form the bulk of farmers in the district. Furthermore, a palm oil growing project in the area by BIDCO Uganda Ltd. that was expected to be another source of off-farm job opportunities; and a blessing in the face of now less lucrative fishing trade, has led to further challenges. To start with, BIDCO maintains a controversial 6,255 hectares of palm oil plantation in the district. With over a third of the available land on the biggest island of Bugala island under palm oil, the project has not only reduced the available arable land but has caused food insecurity and deforestation in the district. These problems have mainly affected women and youth. There are also concerns that the oil palm scheme has reinforced existing gender inequalities because of differentiated access to land, strong gender division of labour and strong male migration. Women and youth have become even more marginalized; the increased cash-income has reinforced men's power, and the reduced capacity to rely on forest and arable land has undermined women's and youth's fall-back position, and labour in the plantations does not represent a viable alternative for these groups.

This project seeks to support women and youth groups in Kalangala to start and strengthen small income generating activities. Given that most women and youth in the district lack adequate access to education, financial services and formal employment, the project focus will be on developing skills and providing financial support that will allow them to succeed in the informal economy and as entrepreneurs. The project will take place on Bugala Island where there is the biggest number of unemployed women and youth. Bugala has also been affected more by palm oil growing. The project will offer a combination of financial services with financial literacy/education, mentoring, and business and marketing training. The project will partner with both Kalangala District Local Government and Uganda Women Finance Trust Bank (UWFT) to deliver adapted financial and non-financial services to the project beneficiaries. UWFT is one of the oldest microfinance institutions in the Republic of Uganda, providing financial services to low- and medium income, economically active Ugandans. The bank possesses expertise in developing and delivering financial and non-financial services specifically adapted to meeting the needs of low income populations. UWFT is one of the only two banks that have a branch in Kalangala district.

Besides directly supporting the groups' income generating activities, the project will provide US$ 30,000 as revolving line of credit to support women and youth business enterprises. UWFT will manage and administer this fund. An MOU will be signed between the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands and UWFT on the utilization of this fund.

The project will be completed in 2 years (2018 - 2020).

Project objectives

a. To empower 10 women and 10 youth groups, each of 10 members with skills and knowledge in financial, business management and entrepreneurialship

b. To create employment opportunities for 100 women and 100 youths

c. To contribute to sustainable livelihoods for women and youth and their families

Project Beneficiaries

a. 100 youths (10 youth groups)

b. 100 women (10 women groups

c. Families of the recipient women and youths, particularly children

d. General community of Kalangala District who will buy/use the goods and services produced by the women and youth groups

e. Kalangala District Local Government

Project Activities

a. Identification of entrepreneurial women and youth groups with potential to operate business activities

b. Training of women and youth groups to instill financial, entrepreneurial and management skills

c. Financial support to income generating activities/business enterprises

d. Establishment of revolving line of credit to support business start-up/improvement

Estimated Budget

Training in financial, entrepreneurial, and business management US$ 7,000

Direct financial support to various business enterprises US$ 30,000

Revolving fund US$ 30,000

Monitoring and Evaluation US$ 1,000

Total US$ 68,000

Primary Host Partner

District: 9211

Rotary Club of: Kampala-Ssese Islands

Primary Contact: Nelson Kabwama

Email: kabwamanel@yahoo.com

Primary International Partner

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Project Status

Dropped
This project has been "Dropped". Check the history log entries to see why it was dropped.

Project listed for the 2017-18 Rotary Year.

Proposed Financing

Existing Contributions Towards This Project

Date

Cash

DDF

Total

Kampala-Ssese Islands (9211)

17-Dec-17

$5,000

$8,000

$13,000

Remaining Amount to Raise

Additional Club Contribution (Needed) - Add a contribution

$29,667

-

$29,667

Amount Requested from The Rotary Foundation

$17,333

$8,000

$25,333

Total

$68,000

Note: as of July 1, 2015 there is a 5% additional support fee for cash contributions. This fee does not appear in the financials above because it does not apply if the funds are sent directly to the project account (without going through TRF, and therefore without Paul Harris credit). Clubs sending their cash contribution to TRF must be aware they will have to send an additional 5%.

Project Supporting Documents


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Project Photos


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History Log Entries

17-Dec-17

System Entry

System Entry: Creation of project page.

2-Sep-18

System Entry

System Entry: Project dropped per lack of response to the carry-over notification emails.

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