Gender Equality Uganda Project #79335

Women-Led Organic Gardens and SolarSHE Enterprises

by National Association for Women's Action in Development

Women-Led Organic Gardens and SolarSHE Enterprises

Summary

This project support thousands of women organic vegetable gardeners in Uganda to become agri-entrepreneurs and achieve a sustainable path of economic well-being with reduced market and climate risk. Many gardeners are adolescent mothers now growing healthy food and earning their own income, reducing unwanted pregnancies. Your donations help to fund a women-led solar-powered processing hub to reduce post-harvest losses, converting perishable produce into higher-value products.

$150,000
total goal

$150,000
remaining

0
donors

0
monthly donors

23
days

Challenge

In Kasese District, 85% of households make a living as subsistence farmers on degraded land and hunger and malnutrition are chronic issues. Kasese has one of the highest rates of adolescent motherhood with teenagers at risk of sex for basic needs and unwanted pregnancies. This project will support thousands of women to become thriving vegetable gardeners and agri-entrepreneurs, reducing post-harvest losses, market and climate risk, and breaking the cycle of poverty and hunger.

Solution

Enabling women's organic gardens is a gateway to food secure and climate resilient families. Gardens and agri-processing are a low-cost and effective way to reduce malnutrition and empower women to generate year-round income for family needs. This project addresses three priorities: 1) provide access to gardening for adolescent mothers, 2) build solar-powered processing capability for 500 gardeners (SolarSHE Enterprises), and 3) expand the Model Gardener Volunteer model for sustained impact.

Long-Term Impact

This project will significantly improve the dietary diversity, nutrition, health and economic well-being of thousands of families in Kasese District through a women-led organic gardening and value addition community-based program. Employing partner CWEN's proven SolarSHE agri-processing model, there is high potential for expansion in horticultural hubs throughout Uganda. Communities will also face reduced climate risk through sustained water and soil conservation and use of renewable energy.