Program mission
to develop strategies as well as support all possible means to foster sustainable income-generating activities as well as other sustainable ways of livelihood improvement.
1. Genesis and rationale
The program is implemented mainly in groups that we call Community Livelihood Improvement Groups. Elsewhere, these groups are called VSLAs (Village Savings and Lending Associations) or SILC (Savings and Internal Lending Communities). We, however, find that these groups do not only simply save and advance credit. They do quite a lot of other activities to enhance their livelihood. Even a certain group was not doing that, that is exactly what they are geared toward. That is the reason we call them COLIGs as earlier elaborated. Within these groups, we take the philosophy of enabling people to help themselves. We think that sustainable development requires the embracement of the right-reasoned ways of life while preserving the local/indigenous values and practices as well as being inclusive in consorting efforts from a diversity. In this same respect, we also work with other institutions to support the constitution of an institutional socio-welfare fund and related opportunities. We believe that the employees therein indirectly help to reduce societal vulnerability. Specifically, we have (but are not limited to) the following specific objectives:
- establish, assess, and adopt existing financial community and/or institutional structures for economic empowerment.
- strengthen the capacity of the established and adopted financial structures.
- strengthen networking and partnerships with the already existing structures.
- establish Income Generating Activities (IGAs) or projects for the formed COLIGs.
- conduct periodic reviews of the livelihood program activities.
2. Operationalization of COLIGs in communities
2.1 Scope – who are we reaching out to?
We will reach out to women, youth, and men who have attained the age of majority. We assume that at that stage they have at least a source of income from where they can afford to save at least an agreed amount on an agreed regular basis.
2.2 Naming
The established groups name shall bear the name COLIG: e.g., Kahungabunyonyi COLIG, MMU COLIG. Flexibility may be allowed (especially for groups that are already formed).
2.3 TOR for membership to COLIG
- Age bracket
- Common locality
- Common/Related enterprises
- Commonality in interest
2.4 TOR – obligations for COLIGs
| Item | TDF formed groups | Adopted groups |
| – #members | 7 (min) | 7 (min) |
| – Constitution | Template developed by TDF, TDF as BOT | Existing constitution |
| – Registration (min) | LC1 level | LC1 level |
| – Membership fees | 10,000 per member | 50,000 |
| – Subscriptions | N/A | N/A |
| – Saving Against Risk | Defined by members | Defined by members |
| – Regular savings | Optional/Defined by members | Optional |
2.5 TOR – obligations for TDF (summary)
| Item | TDF formed groups | Adopted groups |
| – Lobbying and fundraising | All | Selected ones |
| – Access to all TDF services | All | Selected ones |
| – Facilitate networking and linkages | All | Selected ones |
| – Capacity building | All | Selected ones |
| – Support IGAs | All | Selected ones |
| – Offer a profit or dividend to COLIGs | All | Selected ones |
2.6 Benefits of COLIGS from TDF
- Capacity building in various aspects of livelihoods improvement. These are, but are not limited to, Financial literacy training which includes saving & loaning, proper financial record keeping, statutory registration among others.
- Lobbying and fundraising for COLIGS with writing proposals and networking with government structures that support development.
- Networking with other TDF partners; the established and adopted groups shall have the opportunity to interact and benefit from TDF partner services for as long as they have fulfilled all the set rules and obligations.
- All members of a COLIG shall have access to all TDF services such as Financial Services, Livelihoods, Health, and Environment management.
- Mobilizing assistance or relief to the COLIGs in times of disaster. This assistance will depend on the SAR and/or SYE amount that a COLIG has with TDF.
3. Operationalization of COLIGs in the formal institutions
In the formal institutions, COLIGs shall be referred to as partner organizations or institutions. An MOU must be developed and signed in this case.