Rural women get business development tips
Mar 04, 2014
At least 6,000 women are to benefit from a two-year entrepreneurship and business skills development training offered with support from the Netherlands government.
By Patrick Jaramogi
At least 6,000 women are to benefit from a two-year entrepreneurship and business skills development training offered with support from the Netherlands government.
The initiative being implemented by the Eastern Africa Sub- region Support Initiative for the Advancement of women (EASSI) and Deutshche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW) has already seen over 1400 rural poor women from Busia- Uganda, Busia Kenya, Kabale and Rakai benefit.
The project targets cross-border communities aged between 16-55 who are in the informal sector and are not in school or employment.
“We want to address poverty among the rural poor women by helping them acquire skills and be able to influence decisions on economic self-reliance,” said Elizabeth Ampairwe the EASSI project coordinator for WOGE (Women and Girls Empowerment).
WOGE is being implemented in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia.
Ampairwe who was addressing a group of 40 Trainer of Trainers (TOT) drawn from Rakai, Busia-Uganda, Busia-Kenya, and Kabale said rural women are equipped with tips in book keeping, business skills development, understanding value chain and appreciating agriculture as a business.
“Over 1000 rural women have been trained in business skills development with practical skills in liquid soap and candle making,” she said.
Phobes Bageire a farmer and tie and dye maker from Kabale said the training had helped them boost their book keeping and saving culture.
“I am optimistic that after this weeklong training, being a nurse with a drug shop, my business will grow further,” said Florence Alikoba from Busia- Uganda.
Mariam Nakintu a salad and juice seller from Rakai noted that the trainings had helped them understand business and get insight in savings as a culture for boosting businesses.
Christine Nankubuge the EASSI deputy executive director said the main objective of the trainings is to contribute to poverty eradication by strengthening women’s and girls’ voices on economic self- reliance in the Eastern African region.
“We want to empower women and girls who have been marginalized from decision making and economic opportunities,” said Nankubuge.
She said the women have been facilitated to form women’s groups so as to get collective voices for improved marketing and lobbying for capital and market access.