Free Access | 2024-04-12

Building bridges: Aligning Women Enterprise Investment and Farmer Realities under Uganda’s Parish Development Model

Authors/Editors: Solomon Stephen Nuwagaba

Abstract:

The Parish Development Model (PDM) aims to transition subsistence households into the money economy through localized investments at the parish level, with each parish receiving UGX 100 million annually to support enterprise development, particularly for women, youth, elderly, persons with disabilities, men and other vulnerable groups. However, over 40 percent of PDM beneficiaries continue to switch from the intended enterprises, which is likely to impede the success of the programme. Farmers have switched from high-value enterprises such poultry, piggery, and coffee to low-value enterprises due to long turnaround time, weather vagaries of pests and diseases, and market access constraints. To enhance PDM’s impact, policy actions should focus on fastening fund disbursement, strengthening market access through cooperatives and storage facilities, expanding financial literacy and adopting gender-sensitive enterprise selection strategies that provide targeted financial and technical support.