A path shared for 27 years - IFAD

The project was going to rehabilitate the old health centre but we
wanted a new one because the old one wasn’t solid: it was made of
unfired bricks. The project accepted our idea and our leaders were fully
in charge of mobilizing the community’s contribution (labour, sand
and gravel).
Comments from villagers in Hoima-Kibaale districts, Uganda
“As one of the beneficiary representatives in the project management
committee of Homabay district, I have taken part in the preparation of
annual work plans and budgets, annual review workshops, mid-term
review, monitoring and evaluation, etc. The annual review workshops
are especially helpful for understanding what the project is supposed
to do, is doing, why and for whom.”
Beneficiary representative, Kenya
“In 1997, when the project decided not to give loans after all, we decided
to set up our own fund. We call it the Kakamega Social Development
Revolving Fund. Our money came from the sale of shares to members,
contributions from local committees for social and women’s
development, interest on loans and the sale of loan application forms.
Two years later, we were issuing loans through 42 solidarity groups
(1,200 members) to finance the start-up and/or expansion of small
individual and group businesses.”
Members of the Shishende Mugo Women’s Group, Kenya
“Our women’s association has started organizing regular meetings with
other associations to share experiences, discuss problems and possible
solutions, identify resource persons needed to carry out the solutions,
etc. This was our idea, not the project’s.”
Women attending the participatory evaluation workshop, North Kivu,
Democratic Republic of Congo
Men and women sit together at a
village meeting in North Guera, Chad.
©The Joint Programme
Weekly meeting of KWFT credit
groups, Kenya.
©The Joint Programme
WE ARE BOSS!
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