The Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project is making a significant impact in empowering women entrepreneurs across Uganda, with a particular focus on the country’s most marginalised communities.
Led by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MoGLSD) and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), and funded by the World Bank, the initiative supports women to grow their businesses, stay employed, and create more job opportunities.
Support for Marginalised Communities
The GROW project offers a variety of services, including loans, training, mentorship, and business development.
While the programme targets women entrepreneurs and women-owned enterprises, it gives special attention to ethnic minority groups such as Batwa, Tepeth, Ik, and Benet. Recognising the unique socio-economic barriers these communities face, the project ensures their inclusion in business and the broader economy.
Additionally, refugee women and women with disabilities are prioritised for support, along with those from rural districts and underserved sub-regions like Busoga, Bukedi, and Karamoja.
A Step Towards Long-term Empowerment
The GROW project aims to integrate these women into Uganda’s economic transformation, focusing on gender equity and empowerment. Refugee women entrepreneurs, in particular, have been trained in business skills, helping them achieve financial stability and contribute to their communities.
The government’s commitment to the project’s sustainability is evident, with plans to evolve it into a women’s bank.
This will ensure continued financial support for women entrepreneurs. With additional infrastructure grants to enhance access to services and markets, the GROW Project is driving tangible change in Uganda’s entrepreneurial landscape.