Background: Microcredit or Micro finance services are precursors and catalysts for many other social services and development goals. This has policy, programming and planning implications in many areas including services for Young Persons, eradicating HIV and Key Population-led Programmatic Interventions and increasing household level living standards. The aim of the report is twofold: explore the categories that made Microcredit a catalyst for quality life practices; how Key Populations (KP) can use Microcredit to engage in quality life improving practices.
Methods: Community immersion, literature review and key informant interviews were used to generate the report between December 2015-February 2019 in 15 Ugandan Town Councils. 230 respondent aged 17-34 years were eligible out of 330. Eligibility was based on age; 5-7 months grace period after first loan withdrawal; small interest on loans ranging 0.002-0.009%; membership to more than one group or social collateral; did not have to deposit money in bank as collateral; plans set aside to ensure food sustenance; number of months in business between 6 months and 3 years; had plans for long term investments; and requested first/kick-starter loan equal to or below Ugx. 2,000,000.00.
Results: All 230 reported self employment for past two years, flexibility to innovate, engage in self care and saved for food. Out of two thirty (230), one hundred seven (107) with median age 29 (IQR17-34) tested for HIV at least five times in 2018.
A disaggregation of respondents: 101 Straight females; 90 Straight males; 22 Transgender; 7 Lesbians; 20 Gay male. All respondents were below 35 years. 53 with median age 25( IQR 17-34) were living with HIV among whom 7 are Transgender; 5 were Gay males.
Microcredit supports participation in quality life practices, it is a motivator to demand SRHR/RMNCAH/HIV Services, it galvanizes communities into forming, maintaining collateral viable groups and links businesses that follow market demands because their businesses were linked into food consumption (72) operated a food kiosk- and a side grocery); telephone kiosks operation (25); attire and shoes (22); movie kiosk (8) artisanry (12); brick-making (32); carpentry (9); Boda-riders (7); event planning and hosting (23); stationery (27); grocery shops (20); and commitment to nurture goodwill and credibility e.g. return the money.
A disaggregation of respondents: 101 Straight females; 90 Straight males; 22 Transgender; 7 Lesbians; 20 Gay male. All respondents were below 35 years. 53 with median age 25( IQR 17-34) were living with HIV among whom 7 are Transgender; 5 were Gay males.
Microcredit supports participation in quality life practices, it is a motivator to demand SRHR/RMNCAH/HIV Services, it galvanizes communities into forming, maintaining collateral viable groups and links businesses that follow market demands because their businesses were linked into food consumption (72) operated a food kiosk- and a side grocery); telephone kiosks operation (25); attire and shoes (22); movie kiosk (8) artisanry (12); brick-making (32); carpentry (9); Boda-riders (7); event planning and hosting (23); stationery (27); grocery shops (20); and commitment to nurture goodwill and credibility e.g. return the money.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Microcredit supports engagement in quality life improving practices most especially for young women and people. People explore their potential to develop financially, it increases interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. Businesses that are market-linked provide possibilities for increased Household income base. Further study into how young people can use the funds to save for pensions and insurance is called for.
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