GROW Project to indirectly benefit 1.6 million people, says Minister Amongi

Kampala, (UG):- The Government’s Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, a $217 million initiative, is set to transform women-led businesses and indirectly benefit 1.6 million people, according to Gender Minister Betty Amongi.

Speaking at a side event on empowering women and transforming economies during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, Minister Amongi explained that the project aims to expand access to entrepreneurial services for women in targeted areas, including host and refugee districts.

The initiative, she said, is expected to directly support over 60,000 female-owned enterprises, including 3,000 refugee-led businesses.

Amongi emphasized that the project is designed to address key challenges that hinder women’s participation in business, such as limited access to finance, gender-inclusive infrastructure, skills development, and community mobilization.

The minister noted that the government has partnered with women-led organizations to tackle negative social norms that restrict women’s economic engagement, ensuring that more women can participate in and benefit from business opportunities. She added that efforts have been made to strengthen women’s entrepreneurial networks.

So far, the government has mapped and assessed 522 Women Entrepreneurs’ Platforms (WEPs) and established collaborations with UWEAL and NUWEBIZ, two leading organizations working to connect women to economic opportunities. These platforms will provide a structured support system where women entrepreneurs can access essential services, mentorship, and business resources in an integrated manner.

Minister Amongi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the GROW Project serves as a catalyst for economic transformation, empowering women to contribute meaningfully to national development.