Festo Emmy Obaloker

Desinged strategy, managed and executed a competcompetitive Business challenge for 450 skilled youths (Youth, Women) that promoted employment and the initiatives successfully stimulated innovative ideas and entrepreneurial competitions, this resulted in award of start up kits to successful groups following rigorousess plans assessment by technical team and Lower Local Government officials.

Drove Entrepreneurship and Seed Funding by designing, managing, and executing a competitive Business Pitch Challenge for 215 skilled youth and women graduates. This initiative stimulated innovative ideas, resulting in the successful assessment of business plans and the award of start-up kits to 150 successful youths, directly enabling their transition to self-employment

Accelerated Youth Employment and Enterprise Creation by collaborating with Private sectors eg Business Incubation Centres such as the Innovation Village, Vocational Institutions, and Artisans to deliver cottage skills training, mentorship, and business skills to youths. This comprehensive program, which included DIT assessment and start-up kit provision, successfully enabled 80% of participants to achieve gainful employment in marketable trades in Kamuli and Mayuge District.

· Led the development of annual work plans and multiyear budgets for Economic Empowerment and financial inclusion initiatives, (VSLA, Agribusiness, Youth Entrepreneurship, Youth Placement).

· Conducted periodic budget re-forecasts and resource mapping to ensure financial targets align with program quality and donor requirements (e.g., ADA, UNFPA, USAID, EU/ECHO, UN).

· Reviewed and approve partner work plans and procurement schedules and ensured they are realistic, cost-effective, and technically sound.

· Identified financial and operational risks early, implementing mitigation strategies to prevent ineligible costs or audit queries.

Set the technical standards for Sustainable Livelihoods and Market Systems Development, ensuring partners apply gender-transformative and inclusive lenses.

Led joint monitoring visits with stakeholders to verify data accuracy and the quality of field interventions (e.g.,IGA support, Start up kits, Training Centers, VSLA kit distribution, start-up kits).

Conducted quarterly performance reviews for all implementing partners, linking subsequent fund disbursements to the achievement of agreed KPIs.

Served as the technical lead in meetings with Government of Uganda officials, Private Sector actors (SMEs, Financial Institutions), and the donor community.

· Led the development of annual work plans and multiyear budgets for Economic Empowerment and financial inclusion initiatives, (VSLA, Agribusiness, Youth Entrepreneurship, Youth Placement).

· Conducted periodic budget re-forecasts and resource mapping to ensure financial targets align with program quality and donor requirements (e.g., ADA, UNFPA, USAID, EU/ECHO, UN).

· Reviewed and approve partner work plans and procurement schedules and ensured they are realistic, cost-effective, and technically sound.

· Identified financial and operational risks early, implementing mitigation strategies to prevent ineligible costs or audit queries.

Set the technical standards for Sustainable Livelihoods and Market Systems Development, ensuring partners apply gender-transformative and inclusive lenses.

Led joint monitoring visits with stakeholders to verify data accuracy and the quality of field interventions (e.g.,IGA support, Start up kits, Training Centers, VSLA kit distribution, start-up kits).

Conducted quarterly performance reviews for all implementing partners, linking subsequent fund disbursements to the achievement of agreed KPIs.

Served as the technical lead in meetings with Government of Uganda officials, Private Sector actors (SMEs, Financial Institutions), and the donor community.

· Led on Implementing Youth Savings and Loan Association (YSLA) Financial Inclusion approaches to improve access to and utilization of Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health services which enables Young people realizing their rights to make informed choices about their own bodies, their own lives and the world they live in is a matter of justice and a driver of a lifetime of results.

Provided technical guidance in conducting labour market surveys, and market assessments which identify current and anticipated skills, good and services demanded by the market. Nurture entrepreneurship, creativity and innovations focused on meeting market demand for specific skills, goods, and services.

Collaborated with partners and identified FSPs, Fintect Companies, MNOs and adequate products; supported signing of agreements of selected FSPs G MNOs and implementation of these agreements, with customer protection always at the centres, Digitalized VSLA records using CHAMOKA applications.

· Supported Evidence-Based Learning and Improvement by establishing a robust system to document and disseminate comprehensive lessons learned, monthly interactive learning sessions, Webinars, Community of best practices, success stories, and case studies. This initiative directly promoted organizational knowledge sharing and informed adaptive management for enhanced program design and quality.

· Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning. Work with the CARE MEAL team and the IP to support the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems in relation YSLAs. Support in developing programming tools (Selection criteria, tracking tools, monitoring tools etc.)

· Provided strategic and technical leadership to implementing Partners, championing the Locally Led Agenda (LLA) through inclusive planning, joint reviews, and strong partnerships with local governments and stakeholders.

Supported the setup of project coordinating structures, internal team schedules, finalized Budgets and operational plans, risks register

Led a 35-member Economic Empowerment team under the WAYREP project, reaching 44,600 direct beneficiaries (75% women and girls aged 15-30) and 250,300 indirect beneficiaries. This leadership resulted in a substantial 56.1% increase in the average income for women and youth, rising from a baseline of 0% to an end-line value of 56.1%, demonstrating significant improvement in their economic status.

Facilitated Integrated Economic empowerment approach that created significant change in sustainable and dignified livelihoods for women and youth and has increased percentage income for women and youth from 0% to 56.1% reflecting a 56.1% improvement in their economic status. Highlighting a diversified range of income-generating activities (IGAs) among households, with over half engaging in two or more activities, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in economic pursuits.

Led Partners trained 150 Women Livelihoods groups in Financial Literacy, entrepreneurship, Business Skills, guiding savings groups through business plan development and facilitating the provision of Livelihood Enterprise start-up kits in high-demand areas like produce selling, food processing, bakery,goats raring, Piggery, Jelly/Bar Soap/Liquid soap making and event management that increased their income from 0% to 56.1% Household Participation in Income Generating Activities.

Championed Financial Inclusion and Asset Growth by successfully supporting the formation of 360 VSLA groups across Arua, Gulu, and Omugo Sub-county, resulting in a 79.7% increase in member access to finance. Enhanced the formal scaling pathway by facilitating the Local Government registration of 250 groups, linking 75 groups to Formal MFIs for credit services, and digitizing 50 groups with the CHOMOKA app. These efforts empowered participants to increase their asset base through investment in IGAs and meeting basic needs

I provided technical guidance to implementing partners (CEFORD and Thrive – Gulu) that significantly contributed to increased self-reliance, economic, and social resilience among women and youth, which also helped mitigate the risk of Gender-Based Violence . This intervention resulted in a substantial increase in self-efficacy across Gulu, Arua, and Omugo Settlement, with 94.0% of project participants expressing confidence in achieving their goals, up from a baseline of 75%.

Spearheaded the integration of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness and women's rights education into the VSLA methodology. This successfully empowered members to overcome domestic violence and gender discrimination. The social transformation resulted in a significantly reduced community acceptance of GBV, evidenced by an overall rejection rate ranging from 84.2% to 88.1%.

I facilitated matching youth with potential employers, Vocational Institutions, Artisan, Business centres that enabled them gained practical work experience, developing a curriculum for youth and employers and training employers on expectations of the program, including on fair treatment and prevention of Sexual Harassment, Abuse and Exploitation at the workplace in collaboration with the Gender and GBV Specialist.

Guided Enterprise Ownership and Market Access by conducting capacity sharing for 35 Partner staff in Business and Entrepreneurship skills, which was rolled out to project participants. This intervention resulted in 44.5% of both male and female participants owning a Micro, Small, or Medium Enterprise (MSME), and specifically ensured 65% women and girls in YSLA attained MSME ownership with enhanced access to markets and value chains

Deigned and rolled out Job placement and vocational training Program for refugees and host communities out of which they were assessed by Directorate of Industrial Training and supported with start-up kits of whom 75% are gainfully employed or own businesses. The above initiatives have contributed to a reduction to the current unemployment challenge facing youths and has reduced their reliance on remittances to refugees, urban and host communities and enhanced refugees’ capacities and employability skills

Significantly enhanced the entrepreneurial competence of women and youth, increasing their capability to perform economic activities from 47% to 77.8%. Thie increase confirms proficiency in essential business development and entrepreneurship skills, including financial calculations, business plan creation, confident record-keeping, and quality improvement for their income generating activities.

Fostered strong relationships with consortium partners and collaborated with local government and UNHCR, joining Technical Working Groups, Cash Transfer Working Groups, Livelihoods working groups, and coordination meetings to facilitate partner collaboration.

Scaled Financial Inclusion and Digital Access by facilitating the formation of 560 YSLA/VSLA groups (75% women). I supported their formal recognition by securing Local Government registration certificates. Furthermore, I linked over 200 groups to Formal Financial Institutions and digitized 150 groups' records using the CHOMOKA digital app, dramatically increasing their formal financial integration.

As a Technical Lead, delivered comprehensive VSLA, financial literacy, and business skills training to group members, providing technical guidance and individualized investment consulting to 80% of clients; this directly facilitated the successful transition of high-performing savings groups into formal SACCOs and financial institutions.

Strengthened implementing partner impact by providing capacity sharing, delivering technical guidance through support visits, and coordinating joint monitoring with donors to document best practices and improvement areas.

Accelerated Youth Employment and Private Sector Linkages by Arranging internship and job placement programs for 402 youth (70% refugees, 60% women) across Arua, Adjumani, and Yumbe.

Successfully facilitated private sector internships and job placements for 402 youth (60% women, 70% refugees) across Adjumani, Arua, and Yumbe by mapping high-growth employers and establishing recruitment links, resulting in hands-on work experience supported by targeted stipend management.

Increased Financial Inclusion of Refugees and Host Populations and Linkages Created to Formal and Non- formal Saving and Credit-based Interventions this Increased financial inclusion of refugees, host populations and other value chain actors (transporters, processors, vendors) that improved economic self- resilience among these communities.

Prepared weekly, monthly and Quarterly report and attended the Livelihood zonal meeting, livelihood sector working group meeting, zonal coordination meeting and interagency meeting.

Planned, designed, implemented and provided technical quality of strategies and activities that have improved the economic stability of households and wellbeing of children and youth orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV and other adversities.

Technical guidance on VSLA formation, Registration with Government, Linkage to financial institutions for savings and Agricultural loans, Linkage to existing government Programmes and other development partners.

Directed a multi-disciplinary team of 40+ professionals across Youth, Education, Child Protection, and MEAL sectors, ensuring integrated service delivery for OVC and caregivers in two districts.

Spearheaded the technical design and rollout of Economic Strengthening (ES) strategies, directly improving household stability and the wellbeing of children orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Led the implementation of socio-economic interventions, including Financial Literacy, Business Selection Planning (SPM), and Advanced Business Skills to drive sustainable household income generation.

Mentored and coached a diverse workforce of Field Assistants, Community Based Trainers (CBTs), and government counterparts to ensure field activities aligned with international best practices.

Ensured technical quality and compliance across all ES components, including the management of non-formal education placements and life-skills training for out-of-school youth.

Oversaw the administration of critical subsidies, including cash transfers for education and temporary consumption support, ensuring transparent and targeted delivery to the most vulnerable households.

Prepared work plan, Concept note, reports and shared with donors and stakeholders

Led a 20-person team to integrate VSLA, financial inclusion, and agribusiness value chains, increasing average household income from 43,800 UGX to 142,350 UGX and reducing vulnerability for over 80% of participating households.

Facilitated and supported establishment of 213 VSLAs, achieving an 89% graduation rate and a 74% post-graduation resilience rate through targeted training in financial literacy and market-oriented skills.

Placed 240 youth in master artisan apprenticeships, reducing unemployment from 15% to 1% through career guidance and vocational training.

Enhanced the nutritional status of vulnerable families, with 99% maintaining a balanced diet and 96% of children accessing sufficient food via Farmer Field Schools and urban horticulture initiatives.

Facilitated the mapping of service delivery points and established linkages for 15 farmers Field School/VSLA to agricultural loans, while fostering private sector and local government partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability.

Conducted 04 Project Monitoring and Learning events with the stake holders to identify gaps, Lesson Learnt and best practices for quality improvement

Provided day-to-day managerial oversight and leadership for a diverse team, including Project Officers, Field Assistants, M&E staff, and Community Based Trainers.

Served as a primary signatory to project bank accounts, ensuring all transactions align with donor regulations and organizational policies.

Provided budgetary Control, reviewed, verified, and approved financial requests and expenditures, ensured funds are utilized effectively, efficiently, and within approved budget lines.

Monitored project spending against the budget to prevent variances and ensured 100% compliance with financial reporting standards.

Set clear tasks and schedules for project staff and community structures (Farmer Field School Facilitators), ensuring all team members execute their roles to a high standard.

Identified staff training needs and lead capacity-building initiatives to enhance the technical and administrative skills of field teams.

Developed and maintained detailed Implementation Plans and create custom tracking tools to monitor project progress and context changes in real-time.

Organized schedules and manage task details to ensure project milestones are met on time and resources are allocated appropriately.