New podcast episode – Supporting disability justice in Uganda with ADD International, BUDU and SNUPA

In our latest podcast episode, we speak with UK Aid Match grant holder ADD International, and representatives from their implementing partners in Uganda – Buganda Disabled Union (BUDU) and Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism (SNUPA). Their UK Aid Match project is supporting young people with disabilities through kitchen gardening, improving food security for them and their families, and reducing their risk of violence.

ADD International are empowering disability rights organisations and activists in Africa and Asia to drive change for people with disabilities. Over the past two years they have been supporting BUDU and SNUPA to implement this project and advocate for young people with disabilities.

Listen to the podcast episode to learn more about the project, the support BUDU and SNUPA have received to drive change for people with disabilities and what’s next for ADD International in their mission to strengthen disability justice activists and organisations.

Extracts from podcast

“Persons with disabilities have told us directly – they don’t want to just be consulted; they want to take the lead and use their lived experience for more impactful work. We have seen first-hand that this is not only a fairer approach – it’s more effective.” Scovia Mwerya, Uganda Team Lead ADD Interational

“Through the UK Aid Match project, SNUPA works to challenge norms about what young women with disabilities can do. We show positive role models in kitchen gardening, campaigns and media, and support peer leaders to directly engage with families, VSLAs and government to dispel myths and show what is possible when young people with disabilities lead their own initiatives.” Peter Ogik, SNUPA.

For women living in Mali, there are fewer opportunities to earn income, as they often have less access to resources, formal education and jobs. Most women depend on their land for income – growing and selling food for their families. But climate change and gender injustice (men are usually in charge of the land rights) makes it difficult for women to live off their land and feel empowered.

This is where Tree Aid has come in. They have recently completed a three-year UK Aid Match project, equipping women with the tools and training they need to boost their income, restore their land and have greater understanding of their rights.

Over 1,000 women from 10 different villages were supported in setting up sustainable businesses, learning vital skills from soil conservation to beekeeping to producing products like shea butter and soap.

Sitan, who lives in South Western Mali, has been part of the project since 2020, which brings women together to process and sell forest products like balanites (dates) and shea butter. She has been trained in land management techniques such as water and soil conservation, crucial for growing food in Mali’s drylands. And Sitan has taken part in community initiatives such as public speaking training and the village savings and loan association, giving her confidence and making her feel valued.

“I play an important role in the community, because being a woman here means hard work and courage.” 

Photograph: Sitan tending to her crops. Credit: Tree Aid

The project also delivered gender equality workshops for men and women in the communities, resulting in 58 women incorporated into natural resource management monitoring brigades. Traditionally men’s roles, the newly trained brigades are equipped with bikes, torches and boots, and supported to protect their forest area from attempts at deforestation.

The project has increased average household incomes by 171%, and reports indicate those participating women have been able to amplify their voices, making important decisions about their land and lifting their families out of poverty.

Photograph: Some of the women’s group standing together on the land. Photo credit: Tree Aid

Find out more about the project and it’s impact in empowering women by taking a look at Tree Aid’s project update on their website.

Since 2022, UK Aid Match grant holder, the British Asian Trust have been delivering a three-year Driving Women’s Economic Empowerment (DWEE) programme in Pakistan. They secured £2million of match funding from the UK government to support women in urban and rural areas of Pakistan, equipping them with knowledge and skills to become financially independent.

On 18 January, supporters gathered at an event in London, hosted by Lord Tariq Ahmad of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO,) to celebrate the mid-way point of the project and look at the successes so far.

For many women in Pakistan, access to financial independence is limited. Literacy and employment rates, particularly in rural areas, are significantly lower for women than for men and this reduces women’s freedoms to make their own choices in life.

The British Asian Trust has been working to change this. Through their UK Aid Match programme, among many others, they have partnered with local disability organisation NOWPDP on a textile training programme, which creates opportunity for vulnerable women to earn their own income.  

Agnes was introduced to NOWPDP through a friend, and after contacting them they invited her to take part in their stitching course. At first, because of her disability, Agnes struggled to learn to stitch, but through training and support her skills improved and she now earns an income of her own.

“I now feel capable and independent. I don’t even ask my family for money anymore. I earn my income independently through my stitching business.”

Photo: Agnes stitching as part of the DWEE programme

Through the DWEE programme, close to 5,000 women like Agnes have participated in vocational, technical and entrepreneurial trainings, building life-changing skills to support increased economic independence. Over 2,800 women have secured jobs and internships in trades including dress making, stitching and graphic design. Because of this training and support, thousands of women now have the confidence and skills they need to be financially independent and support their families.

Photo: Women from the DWEE programme

Watch this impact video on YouTube to learn more about the programme.