BY EVA NAMUGABI: Civil society Organization Care International has embarked on a five year project aimed at supporting women and girls in districts of Gulu, Arua and Terego.
The Gender Equity and Resilience Project –GEAR funded by the Austrian Development Agency –ADA initiated in April 2024, will focus on issues that affect women and girls including social and gender norms, the gender voice and economic empowerment in the targeted locations.
The approximately 5.75 million Euros, Australian Development Project targets beneficiaries in both Uganda and Rwanda.
Lilian Ssengendo Mpabulungi, the head of gender based program at Care International explains that the project is a continuation of a concluded program that ended in 2023 targets over 30,000 beneficiaries in Uganda.
Mpabulungi, says that whereas the concluded project had a positive impact on the districts of Gulu, Arua and Terego, they still need to build resilience of the enterprises that were supported to ensure that the gaps are reduced, especially those related to gender equity.
Among the interventions to be implemented by the GEAR project is the engaging culture and religious leaders on gender norms, skilling youths and mindset change on gender issues, linking women entrepreneurs to markets but also helping them grow their businesses with compliance.
According to Mpabulungi, many women can still not make decisions in their families and in the spaces where they operate due to gender norms hence citing the need to engage all stakeholders including men, boys, and community leaders among others to positively embrace gender equity.
Naome Achara, the project manager for gender equality and Resilience Care International indicates that the project prioritized Gulu and Arua cities as new cities located in the region categorized to still be very poor.
She notes that West Nile was targeted due to the highest number of refugees where resources have to be shared among the host communities and the refugees.
Under this project vulnerable young people will be supported to attain skills for entrepreneurship but also women in small and medium enterprises will be supported to add value to their products for competition in the market.
Achara says that entrepreneurs will be supported to comply with the existing organs like the Uganda National Bureau of Standards for certified goods, the Uganda Revenue Authority for taxes compliance but also benefit from the existing research varieties for those involved in agriculture linking them to the National Agriculture Research Organization –NARO for the improved seeds.
Karen Knipprentop, the project Coordinator at Care Austria says that the project targets 70% women but also men and boys will be brought on board as allies to support women empowerment.
According to Karren several countries are still struggling with gender based violence associated with gender norms, social norms, noting that bringing men and boys will help to reduce risks as women are empowered in all aspects.
This during the induction meeting between the benefiting countries of Rwanda and Uganda together with Care Austria.