Coca-Cola Beverages Africa in Uganda has handed over coolers to women to enable them to start businesses in the retail category. This is part of a bigger Coca-Cola initiative called 5 by 20.
5 by 20 is the Coca-Cola Company’s global commitment to enable the economic empowerment of 5 Million Women entrepreneurs across the Company’s value chain by the year 2020 and true to their word they are making a huge impact in empowering women that are in the retail business.
According to Flavia Nabaasa, the Business Development & Commercialization Director CCBA in Uganda, the company is well on track to deliver on their global commitment.
“We had a target of empowering 35,000 women in Uganda by the year 2020,” Flavia Nabaasa told media during the cooler handover ceremony held at UMA show grounds on Thursday. “We have so far empowered 33,000 women and are certain to deliver on our global commitment by the end of the year.”
In Uganda, women usually face several challenges when doing business such as lack of basic business skills, lack of financial services/assets and lack of access to peer to peer networks and mentorship among others.
Through the 5 by 20 initiative, women are also offered access to business skills training and connections with peers and company sales executives who are always at hand to offer continuous monitoring of the business which helps in offering the much-needed foundation for building a successful business.
“We believe there is no better investment than women to spur economic growth and foster sustainable development. Women reinvest 90% of their income in their family and community, so by supporting women, we are building sustainable communities through this ripple effect.” Flavia Nabaasa added.
It is therefore not surprising that the company has this year so far received 1851 coolers which are being issued to customers across the country with women in the retail category being the beneficiaries of this process. The women are also given startup stock to go along with the coolers.
The event was also graced by madam Joyce Kizza, one of the successful Coca-cola distributors (with experience of 25+ years) who gave a vote of thanks to the women that have embraced the business and encouraged them to continue working hard.
