National Association of Women Organisations in Uganda (NAWOU)

NAWOU Marketing Network

National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda (NAWOU) is an umbrella body for women NGOs as well as for Community Based Organizations (CBOs) at village level in all districts of Uganda. A big number of CBOs are involved in the production of various crafts according to the raw materials available as well as the traditional skills in their areas.

After being requested to help with issues like quality and marketing, NAWOU responded by setting up the marketing Network to bring producers together and to identify their specific needs. It soon became clear that better quality products would guarantee better market. We also became aware, that different markets needed different products and designs.

In 1990 the department decided to embark on a number of activities, including:

Survey of Crafts and Craft Producers

To get an idea of the type and quantities of crafts produced, a survey was carried out. The survey also gave an overview of which crafts are for the local or export market.

Export Marketing

To test which Ugandan crafts would be promising for foreign markets, NAWOU participated in a Trade Fair in Germany. Out of the huge variety of items displayed several product caught the interest of buyers and soon after, the first orders reached NAWOU's office. Ever since NAWOU has actively participated in international Trade Fairs.

In addition to the number of customers gaining from the Fair Trade Organizations, we also succeeded to get private business partners.

Training For Producer Groups

To be able to satisfy export orders the quality of our products have to be of a reasonable standard and from a reliable source. This requires numerous training sessions with our producer groups for whom the production of standardized items in big numbers was very new. NAWOU's role as the quality controller, and marketing agent calls for strict conduct.

Our customers from different countries order different items, which are produced by different producer groups, and at times as many as 50 groups are involved in an order.

NAWOU Shop at the Museum

Another opportunity for local marketing is a shop. We gained some experience by supplying several shops in the town and were finally approached by the Uganda Museum to establish a shop there. At present the shop is fully functional. They serve not only direct sales of crafts but also gives extensive demonstrations on the production of Ugandan crafts.

Members of the Marketing Network

The members of the network are groups who specialize in craft production. The biggest numbers of groups include Nubian women and groups of disabled people, mainly in the central region. They produce mainly baskets, mats, lampshades and various trays. Their main materials are banana fibers, raffia and palm leaves.

In the western region of Kabarole groups produce their typical ndiro (lidded baskets), coffee baskets and mugugu-schoolbags. They use mainly millet straw, raffia and palm leaves and the famous mugug reed.

In the south western region of Kigezi the people make ndiro as well, but in the their own typical shapes and designs, using natural dyes, grass mats, entemerre (flat baskets) and bamboo baskets are also made. A recent addition to their products is hand-made paper.

The Northern region s represented with their traditional baskets produced from the leaves of the Barassus Palm, which gives them a very distinct outlook. For our orders they use only natural dyes following old recipes.

At present over 50 groups are members of the network, living in different parts of the country. NAWOU's marketing department represents the link between them and their customers. The duties of the department are to facilitate training, organize Open-Air Markets, coordinate production for orders, quality control, collection, storage etc.

NAPAKAWO Development Partnership - NAWOU, World Neighbors, and Pallisa and Katakwi Districts

Aims of Nakapawo Partnership

Improve the living conditions and quality of life of communities with emphasis on women in Pallisa and Katakwi districts.
Serve as life learning for all partners working on mutually developed and agreed on development agenda.
Analyze achievements, challenges, and key lessons emerging from such processes and strengthen NAWOU's work in Uganda, World Neighbors work in East Africa and Globally.
Contribute to the broader development sector.

Objectives of NAPAKAWO

Build the capacity of Pallisa and Katakwi women leaders through NAWOU network to rise up to challenges of economic, social and political development.
Build capacity of Pallisa and Katakwi CBO's to enable individual members improve social welfare through:
- Enrolling in functional literacy groups.
- Engaging in Primary health-care/ reproductive health and sexual health programs.
Develop communication strategy that will ensure:
Establishing drama groups in both Pallisa and Katakwi districts for gender sensitization (that will assist communities and value women's contribution in the society).
Building knowledge, sharing ideas and information as regards ownership and inheritance of property by women.
Interactive processes between different stakeholders in development.
Improve participation of women leaders in Pallisa and Katakwi to influence decision-making and resource allocation within the districts to benefit women, the poor and the marginalized groups.
Continuous analysis, documentation and sharing partnership experience with the development practitioners and multiplication of positive lessons.
Build capacity of District networks and CBO's for human and financial resource mobilization.