Uganda’s GROW Project Continues to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

9 October 2024, 10:31 am

By Nakato Annet.

The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) has released an update on the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Entrepreneurs (GROW) Project, launched in March 2023.

This initiative, funded by the International Development Association of the World Bank, aims to support female entrepreneurs across Uganda, including refugees and those in host communities.

The GROW Project seeks to tackle various challenges that hinder women from expanding their businesses, such as lack of access to affordable credit, insufficient business management skills, and inadequate infrastructure.

A key component of the project is the GROW Loan, which offers affordable credit to women through partnerships with major commercial banks. So far, UGX 18.98 billion has been lent out to 1,193 women entrepreneurs, with loans ranging from UGX 4 million to UGX 200 million.

Eligible women who repay their loans on time will benefit from reductions in their loan amounts, with some receiving grants of up to 10% of their loan value. The project also offers extensive entrepreneurship training, technical support, and access to common user production facilities.

The Ministry encouraged more women to take advantage of the available services, including the GROW Loan, and emphasized that all services under the project are provided free of charge.