Quarterly Impact Report
Creating a society where every child and woman is safe, and empowered to thrive with dignity.
Who We Are
Founded in 2012, Amani Initiative is a Ugandan indigenous NGO working to prevent and respond to harmful practices and barriers faced by children and women. Through community-led programmes in education, health, human rights, and sustainable livelihoods, we keep children in school, prevent violence, and empower women economically.
We work alongside households, schools, health workers, development partners, private sector actors, and local leaders to build a safer, more equitable society — where every at-risk child and woman can thrive.
Education
School Fees Scholarship for Vulnerable Girls
Five girls at risk of child marriage and teenage pregnancy were supported with scholarship funding during the third school term of 2025. A total of UGX 4,120,000 was disbursed, keeping these girls in the classroom and on track toward completing their education.
Learners’ Profiling Across 20 Partner Schools
From 23–27 February 2026, Amani staff profiled 1,813 learners (889 female, 924 male, including 17 persons with disability) across 20 schools in Maracha, Arua District, and Arua City. The process identified the 600 most vulnerable Primary Five learners to anchor the Dream Achievers Clubs.
Dream Achievers’ School Clubs Launched
Twenty Dream Achievers’ clubs were formed from 23–31 March 2026 across all 20 partner schools. A total of 508 learners (338 girls, 170 boys, including 14 with disabilities) participated. Clubs operate as safe spaces for peer-to-peer support, confidence-building, and psychosocial empowerment.
Life Skills Sessions in Schools
A life skills session was held on 27 March 2026 at Ambekua Primary School, Oluffe Sub-County. Twenty club members (13 girls, 7 boys) were equipped with confidence, knowledge on child marriage prevention, and practical skills to protect themselves from violence — creating safer, more equitable school environments.
Human Rights, Protection & Safeguarding
Pre–IWD Dialogue on Gender Justice
Held on 16 March 2026 in Tara Sub-County, 47 participants (42 women, 5 men) discussed factors blocking gender justice: cultural barriers, lack of information, limited finances, negative attitudes toward women in business, and land ownership denial. Practical actions were proposed including community sensitisation, regular dialogues, and equal accountability for school pregnancies.
Child Protection Policy Review in Schools
On 26–27 February 2026, Amani facilitated a participatory review of its draft Child Protection Policy booklet at Ragem and Urugbo Primary Schools in Arua City. Ten stakeholders — headteachers, SMC members, PTA representatives, and senior teachers — shaped school-specific referral pathways and took ownership of the policy.
Community Dialogues on Police Form 3 & GBV
Two advocacy dialogues were held on 27 February and 24 March 2026 in Abirife Village (Oleba) and Alianya Village (Kijomoro), reaching 58 participants including local leaders, CDOs, police, health workers, and VSLA members. Police officers and midwives explained how to report violence, preserve evidence, and access the Police Form 3 for survivors.
Two-Day Police Form 3 & Gender-Responsive Training
A focused two-day training on 16–17 March 2026 strengthened the knowledge of Amani staff, local government officers, religious leaders, and VSLA representatives on medico-legal documentation, gender-responsive approaches, survivor-centred care, and GBV case referral pathways — enhancing coordination between health workers, police, and community leaders.
Parent Orientation on Parenting Guidelines
On 25 and 27 March 2026, 33 parents, liaison teachers, SMC chairpersons, and PTA representatives gathered at Otravu and Ambekua Primary Schools. Sessions drew on Ministry of Gender guidelines to equip parents with knowledge of their roles and positive parenting practices that support children at home and in school.
Health & Wellness
Community Dialogue on Male Involvement & Antenatal Care
On 23 March 2026 at Ajira Village, Ajira Sub-County, 36 participants (28 women, 8 men — including one person with disability) came together to discuss women’s health rights, barriers to antenatal care, and the importance of early first-trimester ANC visits. VSLA members from Nzakai Terracing women’s group took part in open, participatory discussions on accessing free ANC services at government facilities.
The session promoted male involvement as a driver of improved maternal health outcomes — with Mr. Atama Joel delivering a compelling message on why men must champion their partners’ ANC attendance.
Women’s Health & Economic Rights — Land Rights Sessions
From 26–31 January 2026, eight VSLA groups in Maracha District were reached — including Alioriku, Corner Curve, Nyorimada, Alionya-nya FAL, Erizu, Nyamio, and Nzakai Terracing. A total of 173 participants (169 women, 4 men) discussed challenges in accessing and controlling land, and explored the National Land Policy (2013) protections available to women.
Voice from the Community
“Mr. Atama Joel’s session on male involvement opened our eyes. When men understand why ANC matters, they become champions for their wives and children — and that changes everything in our village.”
— Community participant, Ajira Sub-County Dialogue, March 2026
Livelihoods & Empowerment
Startup Capital Disbursed to 43 Women
From 26–28 February 2026, startup capital was transferred via mobile money to 43 vulnerable women and girls across Tara Sub-County (Maracha) and Vurra Sub-County (Arua). Funds helped beneficiaries launch and expand small businesses, diversifying household income.
- • BRIDGE Project: UGX 10,500,000 to 35 women (UGX 300,000 each)
- • Empowered Voices: UGX 1,400,000 to 8 VSLA members (Vurra)
- • Total disbursed: UGX 34,200,000 across all 43 beneficiaries
Hands-On Skills: Bread & Bar Soap Making
Two livelihood trainings were held on 19 February (bread making) and 26 March 2026 (bar soap making) at Drimu and Yepi villages, Alikua Sub-County. Sixty women from the Pakayo-Amudrile and Alarapi-Asianzu VSLA groups gained hands-on practical skills through step-by-step demonstrations, quality control guidance, and basic marketing strategies to turn skills into income.
Financial Literacy & Group Dynamics Training
Four financial literacy sessions were conducted in February and March 2026 across Drimu, Yepi, and Kololo East. Seventy-nine participants (77 women, 2 men, including 5 persons with disability) built skills in personal financial management, business idea development, pricing and costing, and record-keeping for small businesses.
Social Empowerment Training Sessions
Five structured social empowerment sessions were held in January and February 2026 across Drimu, Yepi, and Kololo East, reaching 77 participants (74 women, 3 men, including 5 persons with disability). Topics covered rights and responsibilities, self-awareness, SGBV, sexual and reproductive health, and positive parenting — with practical action points generated by participants.
Household SWOT Analysis & Support Visits
Household SWOT visits were conducted from 28 January to 31 March 2026 across 35 households in Tara Sub-County’s five parishes. Seventy-two people (57 women, 15 men) were engaged on business progress, action point follow-up, and problem-solving for enterprise challenges. A total of UGX 1,230,000 has been saved by BRIDGE project beneficiaries in 7 savings cycles to date.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Accountability sits at the heart of our work. This quarter, our MEAL team conducted systematic visits to assess progress, capture learning, and support beneficiaries.
📋 Quarterly MEAL Visits
- 25 March 2026 — 6 of 35 benefiting households visited across Wanguru, Anyivu, Vurra, Pajama, and Yiddu parishes
- 19 people reached (6 males, 13 females), including 6 direct beneficiaries
- Progress assessed against planned activities, outputs, outcomes, and targets
- Challenges, gaps, and emerging risks identified for corrective action
🏘️ Household Support Visits
- 23–27 March 2026 — Anyavu, Drimu, Yepi, and Nelebe villages, Alikua Sub-County
- 60 beneficiaries reached: GBV survivors, young women, out-of-school girls, and widows
- Community feedback sessions held and GBV cases followed up systematically
- Survivor-centred support groups strengthened and accountability reinforced
Key Achievements This Quarter
Challenges & Recommendations
⚠️ Challenges Identified
- Staff workload stretching due to the volume of concurrent activities across multiple projects
- Market price fluctuations affecting staff movement costs and procurement — budgeted amounts sometimes insufficient
- Limited office space in Maracha; current premises undergoing renovation, constraining operations
- Some households with disability require additional, targeted resource allocation
✅ Recommendations
- Increase budget allocations to support households with special needs, particularly persons with disability
- Include provision for refreshments during extended activities
- Strengthen GBV prevention, response, and referral mechanisms across all project areas
- Introduce systematic enterprise tracking to monitor beneficiary business progress and ensure sustainability
- Budget a specific line for mobilisation fees to improve local leader engagement
Active Projects — Q1 2026
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1Empowered Voices — Funded by Capital for Good / Girls First Fund. Ending child marriage & teenage pregnancy in Maracha, Arua, and Arua City. Jul 2024 – Jun 2026.
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2Women Voice & Leadership (WVL) — Supported by CARE. Promoting women’s full participation and leadership in political, economic, and public life. May 2024 – 2027.
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3Voices of Strength — Funded by Irene Steahiln Foundation / Feminist Humanitarian Network Uganda via CEPAD. Nine-month project supporting GBV survivors and women’s livelihoods.
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4Dream Achievers Programme — Funded by Girls Opportunity Alliance & Obama Foundation. Two-year project (Oct 2025 – Sep 2027) targeting 600 vulnerable learners in 20 schools across Arua City, Maracha, and Arua District.
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5BRIDGE Project — Supporting women with startup capital, financial literacy, and SWOT-based livelihood development in Tara Sub-County, Maracha.