Promoting Recovery After War in Northern Uganda: Reducing Daily Stressors by Alleviating Poverty

Abstract

Findings from a representative survey of youth in northern Uganda suggest that former female child soldiers experience a range of distress symptoms, have initial problems reintegrating, and have fewer education and employment opportunities than males. Given the multiple layers of needs, the findings pose a question of where best to intervene. Would broad-based economic programs address this population's poverty while also indirectly addressing mental health symptoms by reducing stress and improving social capital? This article describes how these findings led to the development and evaluation of an economic and social program designed to reduce daily stressors and improve this population's economic, social, and psychological outcomes through livelihoods training, a cash grant for small business development, and follow-up support.

Keywords:

• child soldiers
• economic assistance
• empowerment
• human capital
• microenterprise
• postconflict
• psychosocial
• trauma

Notes

1. The impact of business skills training is not being tested in the WINGS evaluation. Program experience suggests that training is an important component to success, but other literature on business skills training and microfinance for women indicates that training does not increase revenue, profits, or employment (Karlan & Valdivia, 2011).