Sponsor a Village
Across the Uvira territory, especially in rural villages, communities face systemic neglect: poor infrastructure, limited access to education and healthcare, and only informal economic opportunities. Meanwhile for those that receive it, international aid models often impose external priorities and offer one-size-fits-all solutions.
The Sponsor a Village programme aims to unleash the potential of the villages’ resourceful citizens by placing decision-making power in the hands of the communities themselves.
Through this initiative, over a two-year period, Nguvu ya Uvira, in full consultation with recipients, will provide microcredit, business grants, and infrastructure investment to villages that propose community-owned and community-managed development projects.
Key Features
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In 2024, consultations began with several village chiefs and community groups around Uvira to assess readiness and local priorities.
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A pilot framework was developed based on three key pillars: local proposal design, conditional microloans and grants, and reinvestment of repayments into communal priorities (e.g. mosquito nets, school fees, or vaccine drives).
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Implementation was paused in early 2025 due to the outbreak of war and displacement of populations, but community interest remains high.
Future Plans
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Launch the pilot phase once basic security returns, starting with one pre-identified villages that had already engaged in consultations.
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Provide conditional microloans or seed grants for small businesses or cooperatives, in exchange for participation in communal investment plans.
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Link repayments to community benefit, with funds redirected into shared needs chosen by the village (e.g. school supplies, healthcare, clean water).
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Hire dedicated staff to ensure compliance and work with the villages village liaison network to monitor progress and ensure transparency.
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Provide, if requested, training on business management to enable the villages to have the skills to suceed.
