Greater Mbale field mission showcases community-led progress against child labour
The “Greater Mbale” field mission highlights a community-led approach to preventing child labour in Uganda’s Mbale region. Through local partnership, mobilisation and empowerment, including engagement with families, community leaders and civil society, the initiative is strengthening community resilience and reducing children’s vulnerability to child labour.
17 November 2025
MBALE (ILO News) - From 10–12 November 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO), through its ACCEL Africa project, together with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, conducted a field visit to project implementation areas in the Greater Mbale region. The visit showcased the project’s strong impact in strengthening tripartite collaboration toward the elimination of child labour in supply chains.
One of the most impactful areas of the visit was to the Kibuliyo Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) in Sironko District. Thanks to stronger financial management, members have been able to improve their household livelihoods and invest in their community. The VSLA has even established a community learning centre, a safe, nurturing space where young children can stay while their parents work on the coffee farms. This initiative is not only strengthening community resilience, it is also helping to reduce the risk of child labour.
“The community never had a sense of togetherness. Everyone worked individually, and the young children who couldn’t walk to school ended up on farms, exposed to different working conditions. Parents can now work on their farms without worrying about the well-being of their children. The learning centre has held us together, and our VSLA has grown, not only in numbers, but in savings, investment, and the financial independence of parents.” Mr. Francis Zewi, Leader of the learning centre.
The delegation also visited the Mt Elgon Agroforestry Communities Cooperative Enterprise (MEACCE) Ltd, a coffee processing cooperative in Mbale District. MEACCE shared how the project has strengthened their management practices and enhanced the way they operate. The cooperative has set up a dedicated childcare space for nursing mothers, fostering gender inclusion and allowing women to work with dignity and peace of mind. MEACCE has also introduced ergonomic working desks in its processing facility, marking an important step toward safer and healthier working conditions.
At the Mt. Elgon Organic Farmers Association Cooperative, members highlighted how financial education and cooperative management training using ILO COOP tools have transformed the way they work together. Equipped with stronger skills, the cooperative has been able to diversify its activities and recently launched a joint poultry enterprise to increase collective income and strengthen community livelihoods.
The programme wrapped up with a tour of a model farm where district labour and agricultural officers, trained with ILO support, are piloting Work Improvement in Neighbourhood Development (WIND) practices. This site is being developed as a hands-on learning space for farmers from across Mbale, helping them adopt safer, more efficient farming methods and strengthen occupational safety and health (OSH) practices.
“I never knew that I could improve my ways of work using the resources within my own community. We have been struggling with picking coffee while straining our backs, yet we can do better with what we already have. I was overjoyed to learn how simple the WIND practices are, and many farmers, especially those who pass by and see what I am doing, are now looking forward to learning and adopting these practices.” Mr. Mudasiru Wazemba, Model farmer.
The mission concluded with a meeting with Mr. Alex Asiimwe, Labour Commissioner of Uganda, where the delegation conveyed its appreciation for the Government of Uganda’s steadfast commitment to addressing child labour. They commended Uganda’s active engagement as a Pathfinder Country under Alliance 8.7, noting that this leadership continues to play a key role in advancing national and global efforts to eliminate child labour.
Overall, the visit underscored the meaningful progress achieved under ACCEL Africa, progress driven by empowered communities, stronger cooperatives, and tangible improvements in livelihoods. Each visit highlighted how locally led solutions are taking root and how collective action is creating safer, more resilient environments for children and families. The mission reaffirmed the project’s vital role in supporting communities across the region as they work together to eliminate child labour and build a more sustainable future.
Relevant projects
Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa)