What happens when practical business training in Africa is paired with Christ-centered community and small-scale financial services? 

That question lies at the heart of a recent evaluation we completed of Plan for a Better Business (PBB), a curriculum developed by the Chalmers Center and implemented by Seed Effect to help refugees and host community members build flourishing businesses that provide for their families. This evaluation examined the impact across our eight branches in Uganda, offering clear insights into what’s working, what’s challenging, and where the program can continue to grow stronger.

From Knowledge to Action

Nearly 700 savings group members, who completed PBB, participated in the evaluation. Their responses showed that participants weren’t just learning new concepts; they were applying them in real ways.

• 90% of participants said the training was easy to understand.

• 75% found it directly relevant to their business needs.

• 35% started a new business, while many others strengthened their existing businesses—making concrete changes to how they served customers, priced products, and tracked profits.

One participant from Rhino Camp refugee settlement shared,

“I used not to inquire what customers need. I am now in a better position because I am able to meet customer needs.”

Strengthening Businesses that Already Exist

While Plan for a Better Business helped many participants launch new enterprises, the evaluation also showed a meaningful impact on existing businesses. More than 70% of participants reported changing how they run their businesses as a result of the training, including those who owned businesses before PBB.

Participants described making practical adjustments such as improving customer care, planning costs more carefully, diversifying products, tracking profits, and organizing their work more intentionally. Many connected these changes to higher sales, increased profits, and greater financial stability, including a stronger ability to pay school fees.

These findings highlight an important insight: PBB is not only an entry point for entrepreneurship but also a tool for helping existing businesses become more resilient, profitable, and sustainable over time.

The Power of Pairing Training with Savings

One of the strongest findings from the evaluation was the link between PBB and Seed Effect’s Savings for Life groups. Among those who started businesses, 58% used loans from their savings group as start-up capital.

This confirms something we’ve long believed: training alone isn’t enough. When knowledge is paired with access to financial tools and supportive community structures, people are far more likely to act on what they learn.

Several participants also noted that improved business performance strengthened their ability to save. One participant in Rhino Camp shared,

“Savings in the group have increased from 2,000 ($.50) to 10,000 UGX ($2).”

While this evaluation did not formally measure changes in savings levels, these reflections point to a reinforcing cycle between business growth and financial resilience.

This integration of training and savings reflects Seed Effect’s broader approach, combining knowledge, capital, and community to support lasting economic resilience.

Time Matters

The evaluation also revealed a powerful insight about training duration. Training length explained nearly half of the variation in business start-ups across locations.

Seed Effect Uganda’s MEAL Manager, Sharon Aol, reported,

“Seed Effect field offices, Omoro and Adjumani, conducted trainings that lasted 5 to 6 days and recorded a higher proportion of individuals who went on to start businesses. In contrast, the other field offices delivered the same number of sessions over a condensed time period of 1 to 3 days. These offices reported fewer participants starting new businesses. This pattern suggested that extended training duration may enhance participants’ ability to internalize and better apply the content.” 

This reinforces the importance of protecting space for learning, especially when participants are absorbing new concepts, testing ideas, and building confidence.

Sustainability and Spillover

Six months after starting, 86% of businesses were still operating, and 92% of participants planned to continue applying what they learned. Even more encouraging, participants shared their knowledge widely, reaching more than 2,300 people beyond the original training group.

That ripple effect matters. It shows that practical, effective training can reach far beyond the initial trainees.

Plan for a Better Business Impact – Key Insights

Business Growth
• New businesses launched and existing businesses strengthened
• 71% improved how they run their businesses

 Income & Stability
• 67% reported higher income
• 86% of businesses are still active after six months

Savings Make It Possible
• 58% used savings group loans as start-up capital

What We’re Improving

Participants were also honest about challenges, including language barriers, limited start-up capital, hunger during training, lack of notetaking materials, and gaps in mentorship. These insights are shaping how we adapt PBB going forward. Our hope is to translate materials, ensure that all participants receive the extended training time, strengthen follow-up, and continue integrating faith-based and practical learning.

Looking Ahead

Plan for a Better Business is helping people move from survival to strategy, equipping them not just to start businesses, but to steward them well. As we refine and strengthen the program, this evaluation gives us confidence that we’re building on a strong foundation and learning how to make it even better.