Women's Projects in Uganda

Foreign Minister Mrs. Sverrisdottir has put women's issues on the top of her agenda since taking office. She says that in her recent trip to Africa she enjoyed greatly discussions that centred on the role of women in Africa.

"ICEIDA has started a three year collaboration with the Ugandan investment agency that aims to support local entrepreneurship. I met with women that would like to participate but they are having trouble getting access to capital to fund their projects. Syda Bbumba, the Ugandan Minister for Social Affairs, suggested we should work together to ensure that women get the necessary funds to be able to form their own companies."

On March 8, the International Women's Day, the Association of Women in Business (FKA) in Iceland announced it wanted to take on the role of working with female entrepreneurs in Uganda.

On her return, Mrs. Sverrisdottir signed an agreement in Reykjavik between the Icelandic government and UNIFEM-Iceland, with the aim of increasing public interest in the work of UNIFEM and ensuring equality in all government work. The agreement runs for three years and stipulates that the foreign ministry will support UNIFEM-Iceland with five million Icelandic Kroners per year (75,000 USD).