Like many other international development organisations, Newcastle-based social lender, Shared Interest has faced challenges over recent months due to the impact of coronavirus.
Here, Shared Interest Managing Director, Patricia Alexander explains why their charity, Shared Interest Foundation, relaunched a special fund to help producers during and beyond the pandemic.
“As Covid-19 continues to affect countries across the globe, it remains unclear how developing world communities will cope with the health, economic, and social hardship caused. What we do know, is that, in addition to restrictions on movement and trade, people are dealing with floods, droughts and delayed harvests, which are threatening livelihoods and increasing household food insecurity.
The Shared Interest Livelihood Security Fund was launched a decade ago by our charity, Shared Interest Foundation. It was initially set up to help producers in the developing world recover from shocks that may affect the smooth running of their businesses, and subsequently impact their livelihoods. A shock being defined, in this instance, as a natural disaster, economic downturn, and political, social or health related crises. These events all undermine producer groups’ sustainability and eliminate any progress they have made towards lifting themselves out of poverty.
During an era when the United Nations has tripled the sum needed to avert a Covid-19 catastrophe in the world’s poorest nations, the Livelihood Security Fund will now enable us to support producers during and beyond the pandemic, while remaining true to our mission.
Shared Interest Society and Foundation have decades of experience in supporting producers in Africa and Latin America, and our in-country teams and partners in these regions mean that we can gain insight of the challenges faced. We hope that, through the Fund, we can help farmers and workers survive the additional economic and social hardship caused by Covid-19.
We have identified several types of support, which could be provided. These range from the provision of hand sanitiser and other protective items, to the supply of seeds, farming tools, and equipment.
Many producers are not only facing risks to their health and livelihood because of the virus, but are also dealing with the effects of travel restrictions on their supply of food and other essential items. We need to help producers to find ways to increase the resilience of their businesses, but first we must support them in overcoming the hardship they face.
We heard from our first beneficiary, Bukonzo Organic Farmers Co-operative Union (BOCU), in March as news arrived that they were helping their local community, in the Kasese region of Uganda, to cope with the impact of coronavirus.
As a large coffee co-operative, Bukonzo supports the livelihoods of over 3,000 farmers, and they decided to distribute food supplies to supplement those delivered by the Ugandan government. Not long after we received this news, Bukonzo contacted us once again but this time, they needed urgent aid after severe flooding hit their village and the surrounding area. Heavy rainfall caused five rivers to burst their banks. Over 35,000 people were displaced, including Bukonzo members and their families.
“The Fund is in place to help sustain businesses and support income levels, but in the first instance we must respond to basic needs. In the case of Bukonzo, this meant providing food and shelter for farmers and additional support for pregnant women and children. Some have lost everything in the floods and are sleeping in schools and churches.
Before Bukonzo members can begin to rebuild their farms, general wellbeing is of upmost importance as they not only fight the current threat of Covid-19, but also the water-related diseases that follow this type of flooding.
We are pleased to have received news of Bukonzo successfully distributing the food supplies and shelter materials provided by the Fund. We will remain in close contact with them over coming weeks.
Once Bukonzo overcomes the immediate difficulties faced, they will need to deal with ongoing issues caused by the pandemic. We know from our work with farmers and artisans that many are continuing to feel the effects of disrupted services due to lockdown restrictions.
The co-operative provides income for thousands of farmers, and its survival is vital to the future of the community. Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Livelihood Security Fund so far, and helped Bukonzo on their journey to recovery. We know from speaking to the co-operative that they will want to return to its role of improving the lives of farmers.
As General Manager, Josinta Kabugho says: ‘We want to be part of the people supporting those in need.”
