Surpass Beyond Your Expectation: Improved economic status for women with disabilities in Kampala slums, Uganda

Abstract

Disability managed to hit the list of development concerns as detailed in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Uganda is among the countries that quickly realised the significance of including it in the National Development Plans (NDP II) 2015/16-2019/20 and the Social Development Sector Plans (SDSP1) 2015/16-2019/20.
    This concern arose from the appalling number of persons with disabilities estimated at one billion people globally by the World Health Organisation. 19.2% of this population is female aged 18 years and above in comparison to 12% males. Persons with disabilities form the world’s largest minority, representing 15% of the global population where 80% live in developing countries. Uganda´s National census, 2014, estimated disability prevalence at 12.4% for people aged 2 years and above. Women comprised 2.7% higher than men at 13.7% females versus 11% males. While statistics indicate that 1 in 5 women struggles with a disability, women with disabilities experience myriad stigma and discrimination in their lives. The disability prevalence rate in Kampala is estimated at 8.1 (Disability Status Report-Uganda 2019, Page 80).
    In response, the government focused on providing health services, Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), vocational training, universal primary and secondary education, and holistic representation as some of the key measures to empower Persons with disabilities.
    The strategic need to support women with disabilities to improve their economic status Kampala compelled Aspire Women Development Initiative to design a project dubbed ‚Surpass beyond your Expectation‘. The project aims to equip women with disabilities with financial and literacy skills to realize economic independence, effectively manage their finances and satisfy their families’ basic needs. Women with disabilities´ capacity in financial management will be strengthened, economic opportunities identified, building on existing structures to reduce children of women with disabilities’ care burden at the household level and overcome stigma promoted by community members.
    Project beneficiaries will be supported to access soft loans as a measure of addressing the challenge of acquiring loans from financial institutions that require collateral. Children of women with disabilities will enjoy their right to childhood with limited burden of care work imposed by the need to look after their parents.
    Five divisions in Kampala will be targeted reaching out to 150 women with disabilities as key beneficiaries and their 150 children. At the national level, the project hopes to engage key decision-makers from the Divisions, line ministries, parliamentarians representing persons with disabilities, NUWODU and NUDIPU to advocate for change and improvement in the economic status of women with disabilities. The project aims to help women with disabilities improve their economic status and ably take care of their families with minimal hurdles.