ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
ASA supports economic empowerment through several microloan programs. The populations ASA focuses on for the micro-loan programs include victims of domestic violence and other displaced, disadvantaged or vulnerable women. Research shows that the average person living in poverty has high returns to capital and is held back in part by poor access to credit. Studies consistently show that capital transfers help grow microenterprises and incomes. A study conducted on a microloan program for 120 villages in two nearby war-torn districts of Gulu and Kitgum revealed that microloan beneficiaries experienced 10 to 40 percent increases in household consumption or earnings compared to control groups; this increase lasted at least two to four years upon receiving the microloan.
Current Projects
Community Microloans: Entebbe
The Community Microloan program started 3 years ago with three recipients with small loans distributed amounting to about $50 each. The recipients paid back the loans after three months with 12% simple interest. Normal interest rates in Uganda are 32% compound interest. After paying back their loans, recipients were able to apply for additional loans.
Currently there are close to 30 recipients and growing. Many have small businesses selling dry goods, vegetables and fruits, food, charcoal, hardware, and second hand clothing. Some are involved in the selling of chickens and goats. There are some who have restaurants as well. Others are involved in tailoring clothes and making crafts.
Northern Uganda
The microloan program in Northern Uganda was started in 2017, building on the success of the microloan program in Entebbe. The program pecifically targets vulnerable women affected by war and gender violence in Barlonyo Village. The program is structured differently than the existing microloan program in Entebbe to meet the unique needs of these women and mitigate the risk associated with lending to the extreme poor. Some of the unique aspects of this program include implementing a group lending style, as opposed to individual microloans being issued, as well as a robust training program to build the financial and business skills of beneficiaries.
Blessed Survivors
Blessed Survivors is a group of acid attack survivors who were victims of gender violence. It was formed in 2015 to support the survivors by providing them access to microloans. Starting with five survivors, the group has now over twenty members and growing.
Many have their own private businesses selling dry goods, food and drinks in small shops. Some raise and sell poultry, others work as tailors, a few make and sell Uganda crafts, others sell charcoal and hardware, and others sell second hand clothing.
Survivors have consistently paid back their loans and are now able to take out additional loans to expand their businesses. Survivors are now able to support their families, their children’s school fees and provide for their families basic needs.
“ASA Social Fund for Hidden Peoples Microloan Project”
3 minutes, 17 seconds
ASA Social Fund for Hidden Peoples’ economic empowerment funding expanded its microloan program to over 40 participants in Uganda. It has spread to three areas: Entebbe, Northern Uganda and Iganga. Hidden Peoples receiving the loans includes: LRA war victims, acid attack/gender violence survivors, orphans, people with disabilities, and albinos. The microloan program has also expanded into providing funds for business training and training of trainers.