skills development facility newsletter april newsletter_3.… · sdf monthly newsletter: issue no....

SDF Monthly Newsletter: Issue No. 016 | April 2020

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.

How it spreadsThe virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air, and quickly fall on floors or surfaces.You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within close proximity of someone who has COVID-19,

or by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth.Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FACILITY

1. Communication From The Executive Director In Regard To COVID-19.

3. Keeping Business Moving During The COVID-19 Lockdown.

CONTENTS

Newsletter

Welcome to our April edition of the monthly newsletter as part of channels to bring you news and updates on the activities and projects that happened in the month as we continue to mentor, empower and skill Ugandan youth all together.

In this section, we share with you several information in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic that took mostly the whole of April headlines and still continues to threaten the world at large.

We share with you the Skills Develoment Facility efforts and actions to fight and defeat this pandemic as well as keeping the trend of skilling and economic transformation to ugandans.

In the same edition, we reflect on the effects of the pandemic to the economy and private sector as whole.

Highlights of April 2020

Daniel Mugoya

Client RelationsOfficer, Skills DevelopmentFacility

2. Message From Head of Skills Development Facility COVID-19

COVID-19 PANDEMIC.


Amidst the COVID 19 pandemic, at Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Our

main focus now is to guard the people from any potential infections and ensure that our businesses do not collapse. The private sector is alsoplaying a key role in ensuring that food security, medicine to help challenge the pandemic are all available.

As ways of stepping in, PSFU has had several discussions with Government, in particular Ministry of Finance, the Prime Minister, various key players and partners to devise measures on how the economy can be revived during, and post COVID-19 pandemic.

We see it as an opportunity to rethink and restructure our economy for a dynamic and sustainable future for Uganda, the region and Africa. It is a definite challenge to change our mindset and understand how the economy of the world is organized.

Therefore, we are convinced that Government and private sector must work together in order to succeed. Some of the intervention

areas were proposed for Government’s consideration as listed below; Pay all domestic arrears (money owed by Government to companies & individuals in Uganda). This will increase liquidity in the economy.A list has been provided to Government.

Under Domestic Tax:• Deferment of Payroll Tax payments to ease business cash flows for the next 6 months• Payment of Outstanding VAT refunds by Uganda Revenue Authority• Proposal of Turnover-tax (for those companies who file losses to URA) in the current budget proposal should be postponed to next FY (21/22).• Tax on rental properties be frozen for six months effective April 2020 and no taxes should be increased on rental properties.• Lower taxes on products produced with locally sourced raw materials.

Financing:• Restructure Uganda Development Bank (UDB) to manage the new development bank dynamics• Capitalize UDB so that it can effectively support the financing requirements of Ugandan entities.• Support the tourism sector with a line of financing through UDB• Improve the Administration and structure of the Agriculture Credit Fund• Enact the NSSF (amendment bill) 2019 to increase the supply of long term financing for a cheap source of resources.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Executive Director of Private Secor Foundation Uganda Reflects on COVID-19Pandemic Lockdown

Gideon BadagawaExecutive Director, Private Sector Foundation Uganda.


Over the last five years, we as Skills De-velopment Facility under our implement-

ing body Private Sector Foundation Ugan-da, have managed to provide funds using cost-sharing mechanism to facilitate training activities in designated technical institutions;

The project which was to be initially im-plemented in a period of 5 years starting from 2016 to 2020 had to pause due to the world wide pandemic, we haven’t been able to reach out to our grantees to carry out anyform of skilling or funding but the paper work ensuring that everything is in order has been in going with our staff while at home.

The sudden emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country and the world at large is dealing what a severe blow to state economies, businesses and

workers. States are strengthening their health care capacity in the event that demand for medical services surge. Ensuring there are enough licensed health care profession-als is a key component in this preparation.

These unprecedented challenges are having economic ripple effects across the country as thousands of Ugandans will unexpectedly find themselves out of work with the poten-tial for significant increases in unemployment.

In a time like this there is likely to be an increase in an unemployment. The facili-ty aims at improving and narrowing the skills gap the country is experiencing.

We are very grateful to the government of Uganda and the World Bank for in-structing us with the management of this fund because without them we wouldn’t have achieved what we have achieved.

The pandemic is impacting global food systems, disrupting regional agricultural value chains, and posing risks to household food security,

As organizations, let’s do company evalua-tion, recycling and repurpose materials, en-gage in skilling more people so as to grow as a team. Look into the market and note out the needs and fill and solve them with products.

As the dust settles amidst COVID 19, let us continue following the presidents guide-lines. Staying home if you feel sick, wash your hands more often with soap and wa-ter. Stay away from crowds and stay safe.

Head Of SDF Highlights on The Measures and Response of Skills Development Facility Activities During Covid-19 Lockdown.

Mrs. Ruth Biyinzika MusokeHead Of SkillsDevelopment Facility.

COMMUNICATION FROM HEAD OF SKILLSDEVELOPMENT FACILITY ON COVID-19


• Find the opportuni-ties, it’s never nice to cap-italize on events such as this, but they can also be a wake-up call to reconsider how you have been doing business.

• -cial statements to be able to make the best possible de-

-ment, you need access to the most up-to-date information on the state of your business

Therefore, we recommend

statements up to date and keep them up to date.

• List possible impacts on your business, estimate

-velop mitigation strategies.

• Discuss with your staff, key suppliers and key customers what the likely impact of COVID-19 will be on your business. The im-pacts on a business will like-

following area

• Brainstorm Surviv-al Strategies, Call a virtual huddle with your team to brainstorm products, ser-vices or strategies your ‘/company might employ

to get by that go beyond what’s listed.

• Work at home if you can, it’s possible for employ-ees to work at home. “This virus may well be a game changer when it comes to remote work.”

• Talk to your suppliers about stretching payment. “Be open and explain the situation to them. Also talk to your lenders to see what you can arrange—banks

• Look at different ways to deliver your product or service to your customers.

KEEPING BUSINESS MOVING DURING THE COVID-19 GLOBAL LOCKDOWN.

It is Advisable to Shift The Mode of Your Business to Online and E-Commerce So That You Keep In Contact With Your Customers.


Regularly and thor-oughly clean your hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand san-itizer. If you use an alco-hol-based hand sanitizer, make sure you use and store it carefully and keep out of children’s reach. Teach them how to apply the sanitizer and monitor its use.

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance be-tween yourself and others because when someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain vi-rus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 vi-rus if the person has the dis-ease.

Avoid going to crowded places because when people come togeth-er in crowds, you are more likely to come into close con-tact with someone that has COIVD-19 and it is more difficult to maintain physical distance of 1 metre (3 feet).

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Why? Hands touch many surfac-es and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and infect you.

Stay home and self-isolate even with minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until

you recover. Have someone bring you supplies. If you need to leave your house, wear a mask to avoid in-fecting others. Why? Avoid-ing contact with others will protect them from possible COVID-19 and other virus-es.

If you have a fe-ver, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention, call ministry of health on 0800100066 or 0800203033 for assis-tance. You can also report any suspicious case.

Watch out for wrong information being spread about COVID which might be psychologically harmful.

SAFETY TIPS DURING THE COVID-19PANDEMIC.

Regular observation of safety measures and guildelines not only helps you and your businessBut also it keeps you out of physical contact with your customers.


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Skills Development FacilityPrivate Sector Foundation Uganda

Tel: +256312263849/[email protected] Nakasero Road,Box 7683 Kampala - Uganda

SDF is a Government of Uganda project funded by The World Bank and implemented by Private Sector Foundation Uganda.

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