The problem we are addressing

We are working to end extreme poverty for Uganda’s children through building innovative women & youth led enterprises

Over 400 million people in Africa live in extreme poverty and more Africans are being pushed into poverty because of lack of skills and opportunities, and climate change.

In Uganda, every 1 in 2 children lives in extreme poverty, meaning that they lack basic necessities such as nutrition, safe water, sanitation, hygiene, housing, health and education.

Moreover, over 500,000+ children die each year of poverty-associated causes and over 2.4 million children are malnourished and at risk of death from childhood illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria.

We have adopted a proven solution, the poverty graduation model. People who go through our program become successful entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities and build a brighter future for themselves and their families especially the children.

Our model

We are contributing to ending extreme poverty by engaging communities in helping us select members of their community that are in the greatest need of support, identifying what resources the poor already have and are willing to contribute, identifying what the local government is willing to contribute, then providing one-time seed capital/livelihood assets and giving tailored skills and regular guidance, and life skills as well as helping selected participants to save through the business saving & loan groups.

The approach which is based on a cost effective enterprise development model alleviates extreme poverty and allows participants to be self-reliant to meet their basic needs and build better futures for themselves and their children. It also fosters gender equity as our female entrepreneurs are empowered and hold larger household and community decision-making roles.

We give a one-time seed capital or a livelihood asset such as cash, animals, or equipment. We also provide regular training and guidance, including life skills, mentoring and coaching
We follow a participatory approach involving the engagement of community members and the local community leaders in helping us select which families are in the greatest need for support.
We give cash stipends as safety nets to meet their basic needs and we teach participants how to save through the business saving & loan groups (BSLG). The business saving and loan groups are owned and led by the participants while we work with the local government to support them technically.

Where we work

GrainAid Agency works exclusively with people living in extreme poverty (people living on less than $1.90 a day).

We have deep roots in Uganda. We work in rural areas and the urban slums where most people live on $1.90 a day or less. We currently operate in the west Nile, northern Uganda and central region.

Through partnerships with the Government and other NGOs, we plan to continue to expand to the eastern region and throughout Uganda with the goal of lifting over 100,000 families out of extreme poverty and impacting over 500,000 children by 2030.

We have a team of 15 employees and volunteers in Uganda, where we directly deliver our program on the ground. 100% of our team members are Africans.

Who we serve

Children are the most affected by extreme poverty. Extreme poverty deprives children of their rights to basic necessities such as nutrition, safe water, sanitation, hygiene, housing, health and education. Children actually die each year of poverty-associated causes such as malnutrition which also exposes them to killer childhood illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria. Accordion Sample Description
We target especially young mothers, because empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, communities and countries. When women are living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential thus contributing their skills to the workforce and can raise happier and healthier children. We believe that women are key agents for achieving the transformational economic, environmental, and social changes required for sustainable development and especially getting children out of extreme poverty.
We target youth because, more than 75% of Uganda's population is below the age of 30, and this number is projected to increase. The country also has the highest youth unemployment rate of about 15%. Moreover, about 10% young males aged 10-24 are heading households, and 39% of young people aged 10-19 live in extreme poverty. Investing in youth will unlock economic opportunity for decades to come. Additionally, the majority of rural and slum youth are unemployed, with few if any economic opportunities in the formal labor sector. In response, GrainAid Agency adapted the poverty graduation program to transform rural and slum youth into entrepreneurs who can shape the economic future for themselves and for the world around them.

Scaling through collaborations

GrainAid Agency cannot end extreme poverty single handedly we must do it together in partnerships. We are working closely with the relevant government departments, and other nonprofits, and the private sector actors to scale our impact.