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PROJECT CONCEPT
Improving Women and Youth Livelihoods in Ssese Islands through Economic Empowerment
Club: Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands
Project Title: - Improving Women and Youth Livelihoods in Ssese Islands through Economic Empowerment.
Area of focus: - Economic and Community Development
Peace Building and Conflict Prevention
Project Location: - Kalangala district (Ssese Islands), Uganda
Project duration: - 2 Years (2023 - 2025)
Problem Statement
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 favour 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, the introduction of a palm oil growing project in the area by BIDCO Uganda Ltd. in the 1990s 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 65 percent of the available land on 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 increased the vulnerability of mainly 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, 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 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.
Project objectives
a. To empower women and youth groups with skills and knowledge in financial, business management and entrepreneurialship
b. To create employment opportunities for women and youths
c. To contribute to sustainable livelihoods for women and youth and their families
Project Beneficiaries
a. 1000 youths (50 youth groups)
b. 1000 women (50 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
Expected Results
a. Better job opportunities and financial wellbeing for women and youth in the district
b. Reduced poverty among women and youth in the district
c. Improved and sustainable economic empowerment for women, youth and their families
d. Improved knowledge and skills by women and youth in financial, business management and entrepreneurialship
e. Improved productivity of women and youth
f. Improved knowledge of rights for self and others among women and the youth
Project Activities
a. Training of women and youth groups to instill financial, entrepreneurial and management skills
b. Financial support to income generating activities/business enterprises
c. Establishment of revolving line of credit to support business start-up/improvement
Implementation Plan
The project will offer a combination of financial services with financial and managerial literacy/education, mentoring, and business and marketing training. Combining financial literacy/training with access to business start-up/improvement loans will help instill positive financial management habits, build assets, avoid costly pitfalls, establish a nest egg for future goals or emergencies and launch revenue-generating enterprises. These products and services will be combined with regular monitoring and evaluation to measure outcomes and results. The project will partner with both Kalangala District Local Government and Finance Trust Bank (FTB) to deliver adapted financial and non-financial services to the project beneficiaries. FTB is one of the oldest microfinance institutions in the Republic of Uganda, providing financial services to low- and medium income, economically active Ugandans. FTB is incorporated under the laws of Uganda and licensed and regulated by the Bank of Uganda as a Microfinance Deposit Taking Institution. The bank possesses expertise in developing and delivering financial and non-financial services specifically adapted to meeting the needs of low income populations. FTB is one of the only two banks that have a branch in Kalangala district.
In addition to 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. FTB will manage and administer this fund. An MOU will be signed between the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands and FTB on the utilization of this fund. FTB will loan out the fund to deserving and qualifying women and youth groups at a nominal interest rate. The loan repayment period will depend on the type of enterprise financed. The recovered money will be used to extend microcredit to more women and youth groups in the district.
Estimated Budget
Items Unit cost Total Days/Units Cost US$
Training in financial, entrepreneurial, and business management 7,000
Direct financial support to various business enterprises 20,000
Revolving fund 40,000
Monitoring and Evaluation 1,000
Total
68,000
Funding (Host club & D9213 contributions)
Cash Contribution from Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Island - US$5,000
DDF from District 9213 - US$5,000
TOTAL - US$10,000
Contact Information
Winnie Akorebirungi Email: wakorebirungi@nda.or.ug Tel: +256772423165
Ruth Kavuma Email: sseseis02@gmail.com Tel: +256772488417
Irene Nabayunga Email: irenebatte7@gmail.com Tel: +256772479045
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