Help bring Financial Stability to Uganda

Uganda, a vibrant and diverse country in East Africa, is also one of the world’s poorest, ranking 162 out of 189 countries on the UN’s Human Development Index. In Uganda, 41% of people live in poverty, and almost half of Uganda’s total population is under the age of 15, representing one of the youngest populations in the world. However, the country’s recent strides in poverty alleviation, reducing hunger, mobile connectivity, and women’s empowerment indicate a strong trajectory toward rapid and inclusive economic development.

UGANDA BY THE NUMBERS

• 42.7M total population
• 76% of the population lives in rural areas
• 41% of people live on less than $1.90 per day
• 33% have an account at a financial institution
• 6.3% GDP growth projected for 2019
• 5.8 children, on average, per family
• 72% of the workforce is employed in agriculture
• 51% of children complete primary education

ABOUT OPPORTUNITY UGANDA

In Uganda, Opportunity International partners with its local financial institution partner, Opportunity Bank of Uganda, Limited (OBUL), a leading savings and loans company in Uganda, to expand access to tailored financial services and training for families living poverty. Together, Opportunity and OBUL are reaching families in all four of Opportunity’s regions (Central, Western, Eastern, and Northern).

With access to tailored financial services, relevant training, and support groups and networks, low-income families are growing small businesses, farms, and local schools to build sustainable livelihoods for themselves and unlock more opportunities for their children through quality education.

Opportunity’s industry-leading program teams in Education, Agriculture, and Digital Financial Inclusion are working with partners like OBUL to reach more families in need with effective, sustainable solutions that ensure families can break the cycle of poverty and stay out of poverty, for good.

MICROBUSINESS OWNERS

• Small loans provide capital to grow their business
• Savings accounts offer a safe place to keep their income
• Training in financial literacy and digital literacy help less-educated individuals learn skills to effectively grow their income and use mobile phones to access services
• Trust Groups and Savings Groups connect clients to a local network of their peers to learn from, work with, and encourage each other

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

• Agricultural loans provide capital at the right time to purchase inputs and supplies to grow higher-yielding crops, especially for coffee (a main crop grown in Uganda)
• Mobile phone banking makes it more convenient for rural clients to save and make payments
• Training in Good Agricultural Practices and support from a local Farmer Support Agent improves farmers’ technical skills in cultivation, farm management, and sales

CHILDREN & YOUTH

• School Improvement loans help school leaders invest in infrastructure and staffing improvements to local schools
• School Fee loans enable parents to pay for educational costs upfront, ensuring their children do not need to drop out when household cash is low
• School clusters help local educators learn from each other and improve conditions for learning at their schools, preparing students with a higher quality education

Thanks to your support, families working their way out of poverty in Uganda have access to these life-changing programs and services. Thank you!

Links:

• Visit our Website
• Where We Work: Uganda