Council for Economic Empowerment for Women of Africa - Uganda Chapter (CEEWA- U) - Uganda
- Uganda
- Resources
- Capacity Building
- Mentors
- Council for Economic Empowerment for Women of Africa - Uganda Chapter (CEEWA- U)
Quick information guide
To choose a good mentor:
- Identify areas that need strengthening: what skills do you need to learn immediately?
- Assess your mentor: are you likely to clash with him/her? Do you have the same values? Is he/her a good listener?
- Accept challenges: are you encouraged to learn/try something new?
- Get ready to return the favour: what can your mentor learn from you?
For mentorship to succeed, both mentor and mentee should mind:
- Timing
- Clarifying expectations
- Logistics (management)
- Respecting their energy
- Accepting feedback
- Personalising mentorship
Types of mentorship and benefits
1. Outside the company
This is an informal linkage with suitable experts, these mentors are generally neutral and objective. The mentee gets a chance of being connected to:
Benefits
- wider knowledge and experiences
- business owners (especially for senior business managers)
- wider network and contacts
2. Within the company
This is a formal, structured employee learning through linkage with senior experienced people in a given Organisation/Company. This type is generally used as a way of nurturing an internal pool of good employees and leaders for succession.
Benefits
This type of mentorship helps to:
- Build strong organisational culture and employee morale
- Plan for succession easily
- grow the company in a focused and measurable way
Mentorship in Uganda
"The key to success is your commitment, both to your business and to your mentoring relationship" - Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
This is an invaluable support and learning tool but for the mentor/mentee relationship to work, both parties have to receive positive benefits from it.
In Uganda, organisations that support women in business usually provide mentoring services.
4 steps to creating a structured company mentoring programme
- Define programme objectives (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timed - SMART)
- Create structure to deliver
- Train participants on mentorship and launch
- Continuously assess and improve
Tips for a successful mentorship
- Timing
Mentors: Find a mentee - it's never too late
Mentees: express your need clearly - Clarify expectations
Mentors: Why?
Mentees: What do you want out of this? - Manage logistics
Mentors: How and where and regularity of meetings
Mentees: Be proactive with scheduling - Respect their energy
Mentors: Invest in your mentee's success
Mentees: Your mentor's time is valuable - treat it that way - Embrace feedback
Mentors: Give open, honest input - even when it's hard
Mentees: View feedback as a gift - Personalise mentorship
Mentors: invest yourselves in the success of your mentee
Mentees: Build trust with your mentor
Council for Economic Empowerment for Women of Africa - Uganda Chapter (CEEWA- U)
About the (CEEWA- U) | The Council for Economic Empowerment for Women of Africa - Uganda Chapter (CEEWA- U) is a registered non-government, not-for-profit and women membership organization working to promote economic empowerment of women in the development process. It was legally registered in 1997 Registration No: S.5914/1947 - 1881). Its vision is “A Uganda in which women’s economic aspirations, rights and productive potentials are fully recognized and mainstreamed in the framework of equitable and sustainable human development”. The mission is to promote the economic empowerment of women in the development process through gender disaggregated research, advocacy, training, information dissemination and documentation. |
Areas covered by Mentorship |
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What is the enrollment procedure and what is required from mentees? | CEEWA-Uganda conducts mentorship programs for its beneficiaries especially women in business and groups, based on the available resources who have attended capacity building programs. Mentees are usually visited and monitored on a periodic basis depending on the duration of the running project. Mentees/ beneficiaries are required to be women farmers, women entrepreneurs and women groups in areas where CEEWA Uganda operates and beneficiaries of previous programs. |
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What is the enrollment procedure and what is required from mentors? | Mentors apply and submit their CVs to CEEWA and are selected based on their professional backgrounds and experience in business development. CEEWA members and staff with different professional background in Banking & Finance, agriculture, gender development, business or entrepreneurship are also encouraged to apply and serve as mentors.
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Links to E-Learning resources | The resources are not available online but exist in both hard and soft copies at CEEWA Uganda office. |
Additional services beneficial to women |
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Events organised that can be beneficial to women entrepreneurs | Formation of partnerships with other institutions like Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (UWEAL), TECHNOSERVE, Action for Rural Women Empowerment (ARUWE), Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT Uganda) |
Contacts | Council for Economic Empowerment for Women of Africa - Uganda Chapter (CEEWA- U) |