KAMPALA, Uganda — The Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, a significant initiative by the Government of Uganda supported by a $217 million grant from the World Bank, offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to empower women entrepreneurs across the nation. Implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), GROW aims to address key constraints hindering women’s business growth, including inadequate business management skills, limited access to affordable capital, and societal norms.

The project provides an integrated package of services to facilitate the expansion of women-owned micro and small-scale enterprises into larger, more productive ventures. This guide delves into the various facets of the GROW Project, outlining its objectives, services, eligibility criteria, and avenues for engagement.

Understanding the GROW Project

The GROW Project is a national endeavor focused on increasing access to entrepreneurial services for female entrepreneurs, including refugee women and those residing in refugee host districts. Its core objective is to enable these businesses to scale up, transitioning from micro to small, and from small to medium-sized enterprises.

The project defines a women-owned business as one where at least 51% of shares are held by a woman. A micro-enterprise is characterized by fewer than five workers and an annual turnover of less than 10 million Ugandan shillings (approximately $2,600 USD), while a small enterprise employs five to 49 workers and has an annual turnover ranging from 10 million to 100 million Ugandan shillings (approximately $2,600 to $26,000 USD). Both registered and unregistered women-owned businesses are eligible for support.

Services and Products Offered by GROW

The GROW Project provides a multi-faceted approach to support women entrepreneurs, offering a range of services designed to foster business growth and overcome common challenges:

Business Development and Skills Training

• Mentorship, Networking, and Information Sharing: Through district-level Women Entrepreneurship Platforms (WEPs), GROW facilitates a supportive environment for networking, mentorship, and knowledge exchange among women entrepreneurs.
• Community Dialogue: The project promotes dialogue with women entrepreneurs, their male counterparts, and community leaders to mitigate socio-cultural beliefs and practices that negatively impact women’s economic empowerment.
• Skills-Based Training: A free, ten-module training program is available for women entrepreneurs and a gender-mixed set of their employees. This training covers essential topics such as entrepreneurial mindset, personal development, digital marketing, product research, business management, financial literacy, and overcoming stereotypes.
• Specialized Trade-Specific Skills Training: Women entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses can access specialized training in areas like climate-smart agribusiness, e-commerce, hotel management, and tourism.
• Trade Facilitation Services: GROW assists with product certification, business registration, product development, and export promotion.
• Work Placement and Apprenticeships: Opportunities for women entrepreneurs to acquire skills through coaching and mentorship by master craft experts are provided through work placement and apprenticeship programs.

Financial Opportunities

• Grants for Innovative Businesses: The project offers grants for innovative businesses through a publicized and competitive process.
• Grants for Common User Production Facilities and Children’s Early Learning Centers: These grants are designed to serve women entrepreneurs by providing access to essential infrastructure.
• GROW Loans: Qualified entrepreneurs can access GROW loans through selected commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs).

Geographic Coverage and Beneficiaries

The GROW Project extends its services to all districts, cities, and municipalities across Uganda, ensuring widespread accessibility.

The primary beneficiaries are existing women-owned micro and small-scale enterprises that demonstrate potential for growth and increased productivity. While business registration is not mandatory for all activities, such as training and mentoring, it may be required for certain loans and infrastructure grants.

Eligible and Ineligible Sectors

Priority sectors for GROW project services include agribusiness, science and technology, services, manufacturing, and construction.

However, certain businesses are not supported due to their potential for harm to communities, land, cultural sites, or the environment. This includes, but is not limited to, unsustainable forestry, harmful chemicals, and gambling.

Special Considerations and Related Programs

The GROW Project places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, offering special consideration to certain groups:

• Ethnic Minority Groups: Women entrepreneurs belonging to ethnic minority groups such as Batwa, Tepeth, Ik, and Benet are prioritized.
• Refugee Women Entrepreneurs: Refugee women entrepreneurs registered with the Government of Uganda are strongly encouraged to access GROW products and services, and support is also extended to their host communities.
• Specific Sub-Regions: Women entrepreneurs in the Busoga, Bukedi, and Karamoja sub-regions receive special consideration.
• Women with Disabilities: Women entrepreneurs defined as disabled by the Disability Act 2020 are also given special consideration.

The GROW Project also functions as an accelerator for successful beneficiaries of other Government of Uganda programs aimed at women’s economic empowerment, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), EMYOOGA, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), and Youth Livelihood Program (YLP).

Benefits for Men and Networking Opportunities

While primarily focused on women-owned enterprises, the GROW Project ultimately benefits the staff and households of these businesses, including men. Community engagement activities will involve male champions to support women entrepreneurs.

Networking is a crucial aspect of the GROW Project, recognizing its importance for the success of micro and small business owners. GROW supports:

• Women Entrepreneurship Platforms (WEPs): These multi-level and multi-sector business associations and trade groups provide a supportive environment for networking, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. WEPs mobilize, prepare, and link beneficiaries to GROW services and information.
• Industry Events and Conferences: GROW facilitates women entrepreneurs’ connection with key industry players and helps them stay updated on the latest trends.

For more information on WEP activities, individuals can contact the GROW Focal Point Officer (typically a Community Development Officer or Labour Officer) in their respective district, city, municipality, or division. Capacity-building firms for WEPs, such as the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (UWEAL), play a vital role in mobilizing and preparing women entrepreneurs, managing WEPs, facilitating advocacy strategies, and coordinating working groups.

GROW Loan Details

The GROW loan is a significant financing service available to individual women entrepreneurs owning micro and small-scale businesses. It is not available for women’s groups, although some commercial banks accept group guarantees to support individuals lacking other forms of collateral for loans not exceeding 5 million Ugandan shillings (approximately $1,300 USD).

Participating Institutions and Interest Rates

Currently, GROW loans are accessed through six commercial banks: Centenary Bank, DFCU Bank, Equity Bank, Stanbic Bank, Finance Trust Bank, and Post Bank. These banks offer GROW loans at an interest rate of no more than 10% per year, which translates to less than 1% per month.

Loan Amounts and Repayment

The GROW loan ranges from a minimum of 4 million Ugandan shillings (approximately $1,050 USD) to a maximum of 200 million Ugandan shillings (approximately $52,000 USD). The repayment period for GROW loans typically ranges from six months to two years.

Collateral and Eligibility

While GROW loans require some form of basic security to demonstrate commitment to repayment, collateral requirements vary by bank and loan amount. Acceptable collateral includes registered and unregistered land, movable household, and business assets.

General eligibility criteria for GROW loans across all participating financial institutions include:

• Women-owned micro and small enterprises with at least 51% ownership by a woman.
• Loans are specifically for financing business operations and growth activities.
• Business enterprises must comply with the GROW project’s environmental and social requirements.
• GROW loans can only be accessed as new loans; loan substitution is forbidden.

Application Requirements and Charges

To complete a GROW loan application, general requirements include holding or opening an account with the bank, completing the loan application process, proof of cash flow, and proof of an ongoing business (trading license). For contract financing, a contract to be financed and call-off orders will be required. Flexible security requirements are in place, including personal or group guarantees, movable assets, registered and unregistered land, and land titles.

There are no application, processing, or arrangement fees payable to the bank for GROW loans. Applicable charges are limited to statutory fees or those payable to other entities, such as security valuation fees, charges for mortgage registration, insurance, and Credit Reference Bureau fees.

Feedback and Grievance Redressal

The GROW Project encourages feedback and provides multiple channels for registering grievances about its services and products:

• Toll-free hotlines: 0800307777 or 0200244000
• WhatsApp: 076-2304961
• Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
• Mail: Project Coordinator, GROW Project, P.O. Box 7136 or 7683, Kampala, Uganda.
• In-person: Speak to a GROW Project Focal Point Person at the district, city, or municipality levels. Refugee populations can also reach out to the Regional Desk Officer or Camp Commandant.
• Website: Visit grow.go.ug for more information.
• Suggestion Box: A suggestion box is available at the GROW Project Office.

Opportunities for Muslim Women and Training Applications

Muslim women entrepreneurs can compete for interest-free grants and benefit from all GROW project products and services without interest attached.

Information on GROW training events will be advertised through official communication channels, the media, and women entrepreneurship platforms. Application forms can be downloaded from the GROW website or obtained physically from a GROW Focal Point Officer. Refugee women entrepreneurs can access forms from settlement commandants.

For work placement or apprenticeship programs, women entrepreneurs and their employees can apply through the GROW website or by filling out a physical application form obtained from a GROW Focal Point Officer or settlement commandant for refugees.