Care International Launches Five-Year Project to Empower Women and Girls for Gender Equity

Summary:

• Care International has launched a five-year project, the Gender Equity and Resilience Project (GEAR), funded by the Austrian Development Agency. Starting in April 2024 with a budget of 5.75 million Euros, GEAR aims to support women and girls in Gulu, Arua, and Terego districts of Uganda, as well as in Rwanda.

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GULU, (Examiner) – Care International has initiated a five-year project, the Gender Equity and Resilience Project (GEAR), to support women and girls in the districts of Gulu, Arua, and Terego. Funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with a budget of approximately 5.75 million Euros, the project began in April 2024 and aims to address social and gender norms, amplify the gender voice, and promote economic empowerment in these regions.

Lilian Ssengendo Mpabulungi, head of gender-based programs at Care International, explained that GEAR builds on a previous initiative that concluded in 2023 and seeks to benefit over 30,000 individuals in Uganda. Despite the positive impact of the earlier program, Mpabulungi emphasized the need to further strengthen the resilience of supported enterprises to close gaps in gender equity.

The GEAR project will implement several interventions, including engaging cultural and religious leaders on gender norms, providing youth with skills and mindset training on gender issues, linking women entrepreneurs to markets, and helping them grow their businesses in compliance with relevant regulations. Mpabulungi highlighted the importance of involving all stakeholders, including men, boys, and community leaders, to foster gender equity and empower women to make decisions within their families and communities.

Naome Achara, project manager for gender equality and resilience at Care International, noted that Gulu and Arua were prioritized due to their status as new cities in economically challenged regions. West Nile was also targeted because of its large refugee population, necessitating resource sharing between host communities and refugees. The project will support vulnerable young people in acquiring entrepreneurial skills and assist women in small and medium enterprises to add value to their products for market competitiveness.

Achara added that entrepreneurs will receive support to comply with standards set by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and the Uganda Revenue Authority, as well as benefit from agricultural research and improved seed varieties through the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO).

Karen Knipprentop, project coordinator at Care Austria, stated that while the project primarily targets women, men and boys will also be included as allies to support women’s empowerment. Knipprentop emphasized that involving men and boys is crucial to reducing risks associated with gender-based violence and promoting gender equity.

The project’s objectives and strategies were discussed during an induction meeting involving stakeholders from Rwanda, Uganda, and Care Austria.