Spark MicroStory: What You May Not Know About Goats

We believe development can be done better. As part of our commitment to that progress, our new series, Spark MicroStories, aims to share authentic snippets of news about the communities we partner with in East Africa. Because every village has its own story. Every time.

Uganda is home to the largest refugee settlement in Africa. More than four in five refugees are women and children. Since 2018, Spark has partnered with local organization CEFORD to build self-reliance, develop business opportunities, and improve the lives of the refugee community in Rhino camp in Northern Uganda.

Through Spark’s key innovation, the FCAP (Facilitated Collective Action Process), Spark and CEFORD have supported communities to develop their own sustainable businesses. Many chose to start goat rearing businesses knowing that goats, like rabbits, are particularly prolific animals.

Since the Rhino camp communities first purchased their initial stock of goats, the total value of the communal asset has increased more than fifty percent. While these communities must regularly deal with theft and disease, their stock of goats has almost doubled. Today it is valued at more than $60,000.

The Rhino camp communities are working to raise enough goats so that each participating household owns at least one animal. If successful, the families in these communities would be able to capitalize on their assets to do more: school, health care, purchase more food.

It’s a process, but one that each community chose. With support from Spark and CEFORD, the Rhino camp families are using their collective power to advance their shared prosperity. That’s something worth celebrating.