Uganda’s Minister Betty Amongi Rallies World Leaders: Informal Sector is Africa’s Key to Poverty Eradication

The Ugandan Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi Akena, has issued a sharp and decisive challenge to the international community, arguing that global poverty eradication goals hinge entirely on prioritizing investment in Africa’s vast informal sectors.

Speaking at the Global Social Solidarity Economy Forum (GSEF) in Bordeaux, France, Minister Amongi urged development partners and world leaders to undertake a critical shift in attention and financing, stressing that current global frameworks consistently overlook the unique potential and inherent challenges within informal economies—the primary source of livelihood for millions across the continent.

“If Africa is to genuinely emerge from poverty and meet the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Agenda, we must fundamentally turn our attention to the informal sectors,” Minister Amongi stated.

She emphasized that supporting these grassroots enterprises is not merely a social welfare concern, but a strategic necessity for catalyzing sustainable economic growth across Africa.

Uganda Pitches Holistic Strategy
The Minister utilized the global platform to showcase Uganda’s comprehensive and integrated strategy for social solidarity and poverty alleviation, detailing how the nation is focusing its resources to pull vulnerable populations out of poverty through empowerment and financial inclusion.

Uganda’s multi-pronged approach, she explained, is anchored on several core pillars designed to formalize and finance the working poor:

1. Livelihoods and Income Enhancement: This includes flagship initiatives aimed at enterprise development, such as the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), and the formalized expansion of rural cooperative financing through the EMYOOGA program. Additionally, vocational training via Presidential Skilling Centers and the Jua Kali programs provides specialized skills for immediate employment and business creation, often including free starting equipment.

2. Financial Inclusion Interventions: Key to mass mobilization is the Parish Development Model (PDM), which is designed to funnel financial resources directly into the grassroots economy. This is complemented by targeted agricultural resilience programs and local government initiatives that focus on creating secure market access for women informal entrepreneurs.

3. Social Safety Nets and Transfers: Recognizing the immediate needs of the most vulnerable, Uganda implements direct safety nets, including the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) for the elderly, targeted support for Persons with Disabilities (GPWD), and crucial cash transfers for refugees and vulnerable groups managed by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

4. Social Care and Protection: The strategy heavily invests in protective services, including the maintenance of children’s care and rehabilitation centers, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) shelters, and essential rehabilitation and skilling centers dedicated to supporting school dropouts and teenage mothers.

The Minister noted that the strategy also incorporates labor-intensive public works projects, utilizing local people in community development, alongside dedicated financing for core social services like Health, Education, and Water.

Call for Sustained Multilateral Financing
Despite the demonstrated successes of Uganda’s national programs, Minister Amongi highlighted that the primary obstacle remains the need for sustained and predictable international financing to match the scale of the challenge.

She concluded her address with a strong appeal for greater international cooperation and multilateralism, essential for driving global frameworks that can effectively finance actions aimed at building economic resilience in vulnerable economies.

“The scale of the challenge necessitates greater cross-border partnership and dedicated funding windows,” Minister Amongi asserted, urging the global leaders and development partners assembled at the GSEF to make substantial, long-term investments in the systems that support the working poor within the informal economy.