LIVELIHOOD ENHANCEMENT
In pursuit of socio-economic security and community empowerment, Creative Initiative for Enterprise Development (CIfED) is dedicated to enhancing livelihoods through a multifaceted approach. Our interventions are designed to foster sustainability, ensure food safety, enable traceability, and bolster climate resilience within households. By connecting farmers directly to climate-smart advisory services and facilitating market linkages with off-takers and consumers, we aim to create a more robust agricultural ecosystem.
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
To shield our members from market volatility and exploitation, CIfED has organized farmers into Rural Producer Organizations (RPOs). This strategic move facilitates seamless information dissemination, training, and collaborative efforts in production, bulking, and marketing. Over the past two years, we have actively engaged 300 groups, comprising 7,500 members in Alwa and Buganda sub-counties of Kaberamaido and Serere districts.
01
Bulk Marketing
In partnership with OUTSPAN ENTERPRISES LTD, an off-taker company, CIfED promotes the cultivation of organic sesame, sunflower, and soya beans. Additionally, as an agent of the Eastern Development Company, we facilitate contract production and marketing of high-value crops. Collaborations with ClicWorld and Digital Microfinance Network (DEMNET) have brought together savings groups under one platform, strengthening financial inclusion and promoting sustainable agriculture.
02
Apiculture
CIfED collaborates with Savannah Honey, a Kenyan-based company, to support women and youth in beekeeping enterprises. The produced honey and other bee products undergo processing into liquid honey, wax, royal jelly, propolis, and bee venom. These products are then packaged, bulked, and marketed to Savannah Honey Ltd. Beekeeping is positioned as a catalyst, encouraging smallholder farmers to engage in tree growing for short-term income, increased pollination, and nutrition benefits.
03
Promotion of Clean Cooking Energy and Saving Stoves
In collaboration with UNACC (Uganda National Clean Cooking Organization), CIfED is actively promoting clean cooking technologies. We provide training to farmer groups and households on the production and utilization of briquettes and Lorena cook stoves. This initiative serves as an alternative to fuelwood, contributing significantly to the reduction of deforestation. Discussions are underway for an agreement to distribute B Energy biogas solutions while concurrently promoting sustainable organic farming systems.
VILLAGE SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS PLUS
Our intervention in this domain has empowered many low-income individuals to access credit within their groups at group-determined interest rates. The capacities of savings groups are built to enable them to start and manage enterprises, and they are linked to financial institutions for start-up capital.
CIfED provides a range of VSLA Plus services, including business development support, financial literacy, and linkage to formal financial institutions. These efforts aim to elevate the savings groups to register at the sub-county level and foster capacity in value addition, resulting in improved earnings.
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We advocate for the Savings with a Purpose (SWAP) model, encouraging groups to utilize their savings for specific purposes rather than distributing them at the end of the year. To enhance monitoring and assessment, we are in the process of uploading information on savings groups to the Savings Groups Management Information System (MIS) – SAVIX.