UGANDA: Caritas holds a workshop to harmonize micro finance models and approaches
By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
The department of Caritas Uganda of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) held a two-day workshop from September 29-30, to discuss the different microfinance models and approaches and develop together a harmonized approach to improve the live hoods of the communities in the 19 dioceses.
The workshop, which was held in Kampala Ecclesiastical Province, attracted a total of 43 diocesan programme managers and live hood officers from the 19 dioceses. According to Helen Chanikare, the Program Manager of the Caritas Uganda, the aim of the workshop was to develop a Village Saving and Lending Association (VSLA) manual for Caritas Uganda and the dioceses particularly, after the Government of Uganda passed the Tier 4 Microfinance Institutions and Money lenders Act in 2016. The Act is meant to supervise and regulate the microfinance institutions that are in the category of Tier 4 of which Saccos like the Self Help Groups (SHGs) are part.
“Understanding the implications of this regulation in the work of Caritas is important which then calls for harmonization of our approaches in the different dioceses,” Chanikare said. “The government’s direction is also focused around formal financial inclusion, it is therefore important that as Caritas we re-examine our approaches and methodologies to ensure that they are in line with the government priorities as far as rural microfinance is concerned,” she added.
SHGs microfinance models encompass VSLAs, Savings and Internal Lending Communities among other models integrated in most live hoods programmes and projects implemented by the different dioceses.
Through a variety of initiatives that target households Caritas Uganda has empowered the poor and marginalized to act together to overcome impediments to full enjoyment of their rights. Among these interventions are the microfinance models (VSLA/ SILC) which are integrated in the various programmes and projects.
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