The SUUBI Program: Asset-Ownership for Orphaned Children in Uganda

• Savings and asset-accumulation [ Time Frame: baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  past experience, current savings, and attitudes toward saving
  
  

• Sexual risk taking [ Time Frame: baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Sexual risk taking behavior (history and onset of sexual intercourse), Intentions to engage in sexual risk behaviors
  
  
• Educational outcomes [ Time Frame: baseline, 10-month, and 20-month post-intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  School enrollment, School attendance, School grades, Educational aspirations
  
  
• Mental health [ Time Frame: baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Self-esteem, depression, hopelessness, helplessness
  
  
• Social and family support [ Time Frame: baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Emotional support from caregivers, practical assistance, financial assistance and advice/guidance, and family communication
  
  

Behavioral: Children's development account
Children in the experimental condition (the SUUBI program) received, in addition to the usual care, an economic empowerment intervention aimed at promoting asset accumulation for families—and consisting of three major components: 1) workshops focused on asset-building and future planning; 2) a monthly mentorship program for adolescents with peer mentors on life options; and 3) a Child Development Account (CDA), dedicated to paying for secondary schooling, vocational training and/or a family small business. The CDAs were matched savings accounts, with a match rate of 2:1 as an incentive for participants to save, but with a limit on the maximum savings that could be matched (the match cap, in this case, was equivalent to $10 a month).
Other Name: Children's savings account

The AIDS epidemic and a 20‐year civil war have had a devastating impact on Uganda. The events have led to population displacement, worsening living conditions, exacerbation of poverty, and disruption of already weakened social service systems. As implemented, the Suubi Project goes considerably beyond the usual care, which primarily consists of institutionalization and reactive strategies (involving food and material aid). Specifically, the intervention promotes children's savings accounts, also known as children development accounts, for postprimary education and microenterprise development (i.e., development of small income‐generating businesses).

The Suubi intervention is grounded in asset theory (Sherraden 1990, 1991), which holds that assets (e.g., savings, educational opportunities, and economic opportunities in the form of income‐generating activities or microenterprises) have important economic, social, and psychological benefits for individuals and families. Asset building is increasingly viewed as a critical factor for reducing poverty, improving psychosocial functioning, and positively affecting attitudes and behaviors.