Love Mercy has been in operation for 14 years, and has reached over 25,000 households in northern Uganda through Cents for Seeds alone. Our mission and vision is to see a northern Uganda empowered out of poverty – it remains a bold one, but possible. Last year we were excited to see 1,500 new women joining the project.

In 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all UN Member nations. It provides a shared blueprint for humanity, to build peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future, all while tackling climate change.

Read on to hear from our CEO, Bec Lloyd, as she shares how our projects in northern Uganda are making a real impact and contributing to these important goals.

Why are the goals important?

The goals are a call to action. To end poverty and inequality worldwide, to protect our planet and ensure that all people access justice and wellbeing. If these goals are reached, they can quite literally transform our world. They combat the urgent environmental, political and economic challenges facing our world, and people today. This year, we wanted to share how our projects are aligned with the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – seeing a global community free from poverty. Below are the SDGs that are being addressed directly by our projects.

Goal 1:
**End poverty** in all its forms everywhere

Love Mercy projects:

Over the last 3 years, more than 2 decades of progress against poverty has been undone by Covid-19. Global inflation and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have seen more than 75 million people plunged back into poverty. Cents for Seeds was not immune, with a drop in wellbeing measured across participants, and a decrease in the total return rate of seeds. However, despite these challenges, in 2022, women participating in Cents for Seeds still reported a 3% increase in wellbeing overall. They could attend Village Savings & Loan Association (VSLA) meetings, and further develop food and economic security.

Income Generating Activities (IGAs) were also started, empowering women with a secondary source of income and further financial security.

Goal 2:
create a world **free of hunger** and food insecurity.

Love Mercy projects:

Cents for Seeds

Since 2014, the number of hungry people across the globe has been steadily rising. This has been exacerbated by climate events and Covid. Cents for Seeds aims to empower women in northern Uganda with access to resources, to provide for themselves and their families. The sustainable agricultural project is alleviating poverty and hunger, all through a small loan of seeds. A woman may harvest between 150-300kg of seeds from an initial loan. This crop acts as food for her family. She is able to sell some, to buy other food types to create a balanced diet for her family. Over time, women begin to achieve food security, They are able to plan for the future, create a small store of food at their home, and ensure that they have enough to feed their family.

Ending hunger opens up communities.

Goal 3:
Ensure healthy lives and **promote well-being** for all at all ages

Love Mercy Projects:

Cents for Seeds
Kristina Health Centre
Well Worth It

Our ongoing impact reports reveal the change in wellbeing of women in Cents for Seeds vs women who are not participating in the project. Year on year, since we started measuring, and in spite of challenges worldwide, wellbeing has continued to rise for women in Cents for Seeds. These impact measurements take a holistic approach to wellbeing, understanding the needs of a person to be in the best position to fulfil their potential.

Activities:

Free immunisations for children at the KHC
Implementation of a rapid response Covid-19 vaccination plan
Agricultural micro-loans that provide food security
Drilling & repair of borehole wells to prevent the spread of disease and promote WASH practices
Outreach for remote communities to access health education and care
A focus on reproductive, maternal and child health, including specific outreaches for this group

Goal 5:
Achieve gender equality and **empower** all **women** and girls

Love Mercy projects:

Cents for Seeds

Women and girls worldwide are disproportionately affected by the fallout of the pandemic. In Uganda, development gains have been fragile due to the increasing instability in weather patterns and environmental threats. Gender inequality exacerbates this situation, with significant disparities between men and women in agricultural land ownership and employment. The patriarchal nature in the communities of northern Uganda heavily restricts women in decision-making, owning resources and accessing education or employment. Women specifically involved in the agriculture space also face limited market access, high transport costs, and difficulty accessing finance. Additionally, Covid-19 exacerbated domestic violence and further created unsafe environments for women. Cents for Seeds is attempting to address all facets of inequalities that women face in Uganda, both directly and indirectly.

Activities:

Empowerment of women specifically, through the provision of a seed loan
Increase in agricultural knowledge and skillset that opens up earning potential and a path out of poverty
Financial literacy training and savings group accessibility through VSLAs
Increased access to food and income, decreasing gender and home-based violence
Small business training through IGA groups, and the development of secondary sources of income
Girls accessing education with finances secured from crops harvested
Improved physical, social and emotional wellbeing of all women in the program
Increased access to healthcare, with maternity, and postnatal care being a focus

Goal 6:
Ensure access to **water** and **sanitation** for all

Love Mercy Projects:

Well Worth It

733+ million people live in countries with high and critical levels of water stress. At current rates, by 2030 over 1.6 billion people will lack safely managed drinking water. In Uganda, the situation is dire. Of its population of 45 million, 38 million people, or 83% of the population, lack access to a reliable, safely managed source of water. Two decades of economic growth have led to large movements in population, requiring access to water at different points.

Women and girls specifically spend a minimum of 30 minutes each day collecting water. In most rural settings, particularly in the north, access to a water source is between 5 – 10 km away. This takes girls out of school, and women away from caring for the land to look after their crops.

Activities:

Drilling and repair of borehole wells in northern Uganda
Education on maintenance and services of borehole wells to ensure long-term function

Promote inclusive and sustainable **economic growth**, employment and decent work for all

Love Mercy projects:

Cents for Seeds
Kristina Health Centre
Well Worth It

The most common type of farming in Uganda is subsistence farming. Most of the population resides in rural or remote settings, and have access to land. What many lack, however, is access to resources. Cents for seeds is increasing the financial capacity of families all over northern Uganda. Having the resource to farm, and year-on-year crop yields, ensures financial security, and the ability to continue working on their land. This in turn promotes sales of crops at the local market, increasing cashflow within the community, and again increasing personal finance.

Activities:

Village Savings & Loan Association (VSLA) training and meetings to ensure financial skills are gained and put into action
VSLA enables women to save, borrow and earn interest

Financial security allows women to continue working their land to harvest seeds, purchase other household items, afford healthcare when needed and pay school fees for their children - changing the lives of everyone in her household.

Did you know that Uganda’s fertile agricultural land has the potential to feed 200 million people - more than 4 times its population size! 80% of Uganda is arable land, but only 35% is being cultivated. What these communities need are the resources to farm - and that is where Cents for Seeds comes in. We see a Uganda where women are empowered, homes are financially and food secure, and every community is thriving. Our goal is to reach 30,000 households with Cents for Seeds by 2025. Will you join us?