dfcu Bank champions success of female entrepreneurs through GROW project partnership

dfcu Bank has been announced as one of the select Financial Institutions, tasked with implementing the GROW (Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women) Initiative across Uganda.

The announcement was made during a launch event organized by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).

The GROW Project, funded by the World Bank and spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development alongside the PSFU, seeks to enhance access to entrepreneurial services for women entrepreneurs throughout Uganda.

As an implementing partner, dfcu Bank will provide women entrepreneurs with the necessary financial resources and financial literacy support.

This is aimed at growing their businesses and create more employment opportunities.

This initiative is in line with dfcu Bank’s enduring commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs, supporting the expansion of their businesses, and fostering economic growth across the nation.

Speaking at the event, Kate Kiiza, dfcu Bank’s Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, highlighted the significance of the bank’s involvement in the GROW initiative.

“Our participation in GROW is a natural extension of dfcu Bank’s ongoing journey of transforming the lives and businesses of Ugandan women entrepreneurs, a path we have been on since the launch of the dfcu Women in Business Program in 2007,” Kiiza said.

She added that the program, a first of its kind in Uganda, was followed by the establishment of the Women Business Advisory Council in 2012.

Later on the was the creation of a Women in Business Advisory Center at the Bank’s headquarters in Nakasero in 2015, dedicated solely to serving female entrepreneurs.

Kiiza noted that since the inception of the dfcu Women in Business program in 2007, around 85,000 women have joined.

“For dfcu Bank, investing in women is not only good business but also yields significant economic and social benefits for families, communities, and the country’s economy,” she emphasized.

Kiiza concluded by expressing confidence that the GROW initiative would pave the way for effective public policy, networking, and inclusive solutions that meet the specific needs of women business owners.

In her remarks, the Vice President of Uganda, H.E. Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, commended the Government of Uganda, the World Bank, the Private Sector Foundation, and all other partners involved in implementing the GROW initiative.

She stated, “We anticipate that the outcomes of the GROW initiative will have a lasting and significant impact on our country and communities. By collectively working to eliminate the barriers women face, we can foster progress, reward women’s skills and creativity, and build a better future for everyone.”

The event was graced by the Vice President of Uganda, H.E. Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, and attended by a host of Ministers, Members of Parliament, representatives from Development Organizations, and female entrepreneurs.