Target grassroot women, Microfinance institutions told

PIC: The Ambassador of Netherlands to Uganda, Henk Jan Bakker, speaking at the event at Makerere University in Kampala (Credit: Shamim Saad)

Microfinance institutions have been advised to target women groups at grass roots when giving out loans to help them start up income generating activities and improve their livelihoods.

The institutions were also told to move out of Kampala and take their services closer to the people so as to save them the burden of coming to Kampala.

The call was made by Prof. Consolate Kabonesa, an associate professor at Makerere University at a symposium on gender and development.

The event was organised by the Alumni of the International Institute for Social Studies (ISS) and beneficiaries of the Netherlands fellowship Programme (NFP), who completed their masters or PhD degrees in the Netherlands.  

Speaking at the sidelines during the symposium, Kabonesa noted that many women in Uganda still find it hard to access credit from financial institutions because they have no collateral.

She said it is important for women to join Saccos as banks tend to trust groups than individuals when giving out loans.

PIC: Participants at the event

Kabonesa also advised microfinance institutions to equip women with skills like book accounting and balancing so they know how to manage their businesses as well as use the loans effectively.

"When you give them loans, it is also paramount to educate their spouses the purpose of these loans so that the men do not forcefully take away the money and use it for unproductive activities," she added.

The symposium brought together the Alumni of ISS and beneficiaries of NFP from Congo, Kenya and Uganda. The alumni were discussing ways of publishing and disseminating research findings of their works for career growth in areas of NGO's, academics, business or government.

In his opening remarks, the Ambassador of Netherlands to Uganda, Henk Jan Bakker, said gender inequality takes many forms, explaining that it is not only economic inequality, but also inequality in terms of social status, women's role in politics and religion. He said these exist in every single country in the world.

He said addressing gender inequality should be a key priority in all government policy agendas.

Bakker said countries need a more nuanced articulation of what works, what are the benefits of gendered development in addition to how social science knowledge impacts development processes.