CONCEPT NOTE
FINANCIAL LITERACY AND BASIC RECORD KEEPING TRAINING FOR PDM GROUPS
1. Project Title
Strengthening Financial Literacy and Record Keeping Skills among PDM Group
Members in Dranya Sub County, Koboko District
2. Implementing Organization: VOICE Organization (Volunteers Organisation for
Innovative Community Empowerment)
3. Project Location: Dranya Sub County, Koboko District, Uganda
4. Project Duration
2 days (initial training)
Follow up mentorship: 3-6months
5. Background and Rationale
The Parish Development Model (PDM) is a flagship Government of Uganda initiative
aimed at transitioning households from subsistence to a money economy. However,
evidence from a Training Needs Assessment conducted by VOICE Organization
(Nov–Dec 2025) in Dranya Sub County reveals that most PDM group members lack
the basic financial skills required to effectively utilize PDM funds.
5.1 Key findings from the assessment include:
90% of respondents lack budgeting and financial planning skills
85% do not keep financial or production records
80% have weak saving culture
Only 20% have received any prior financial training
Only 15% maintain any form of business records
As a result, many PDM-supported enterprises suffer from poor financial
management, misuse of funds, lack of transparency, low savings, and limited
business growth. Without foundational financial literacy and record-keeping skills,
investments under PDM risk failing to achieve intended economic transformation.
This concept proposes a practical, localized Financial Literacy and Basic Record
Keeping Training as the first capacity building intervention, directly responding to the
highest ranked training priority identified by PDM group members.
6. Project Goal: To enhance financial management capacity, saving culture, and
basic record-keeping practices among PDM group members in Dranya Sub
County.
6.1 Specific Objectives
1. To equip PDM group members with basic financial literacy skills for effective
income and expense management
2. To strengthen budgeting and saving practices at individual and group levels
3. To build capacity of participants to maintain simple, low-literacy-friendly
financial and production records
4. To improve transparency and accountability in group financial management
7. Target Beneficiaries
PDM group members (men and women)
Group leaders (Chairpersons, Treasurers, Secretaries)
8. Expected participants
20-25 per training session
Indirect beneficiaries: Household members and entire PDM groups
9. Training Approach and Methodology
The training will adopt a participatory and practical approach, including:
Local language facilitation
Group discussions and experience sharing
Practical exercises using real enterprise examples
Role plays and demonstrations
Use of pictorial and simplified record books for low-literacy participants
This approach aligns with participants’ preference for hands-on and demonstration-
based learning as identified in the TNA.
10. Training Content Summary
Basic financial concepts (income, expenses, profit, saving)
Budgeting for farming and small enterprises
Saving culture and financial discipline
Simple record keeping (income, expenses, production, savings)
Group financial management and accountability
11. Expected Outputs
PDM members trained in financial literacy and record keeping
Simple budgets prepared by participants
Record books introduced and practiced
Improved understanding of saving and financial discipline
12. Expected Outcomes
Improved financial decision-making among PDM group members
Increased savings at individual and group levels
Better utilization and accountability of PDM funds
Improved enterprise performance and sustainability
13. Monitoring and Evaluation
Pre- and post-training knowledge assessments
Observation of practical exercises
Follow-up mentorship visits
Tracking adoption of record keeping and saving practices
14. Sustainability Strategy
Training group leaders as financial management champions
Integration of record keeping into regular group meetings
Continuous mentorship and peer learning
Gradual linkage to SACCOs and formal financial services
15. Alignment with Development Priorities
This intervention aligns with:
Uganda’s Parish Development Model objectives
Financial inclusion and poverty reduction strategies
Community economic empowerment and resilience building
TRAINING AGENDA / TIMETABLE
Training: Financial Literacy and Basic Record Keeping for PDM Groups
Venue: Community training venue (Dranya Sub County)
Participants: 20–25 PDM group members
DAY ONE
Session 1: Opening and Introductions
Time: 9:00 – 9:45 AM
Registration
Opening prayer
Participant introductions
Training objectives and expectations
Overview of PDM financial responsibilities
Session 2: Understanding Money and Financial Management
Time: 9:45 – 11:00 AM
What is income, expense, profit, and loss
Difference between business money and household money
Common financial mistakes in farming and group enterprises
Method: Group discussion, real-life examples
Health Break
Time: 11:00 – 11:15 AM
Session 3: Budgeting for Farming and Small Enterprises
Time: 11:15 AM – 1:00 PM
Meaning and importance of budgeting
Budgeting for crops and livestock
Seasonal budgeting (planting to marketing)
Practical exercise: Preparing a simple enterprise budget
Lunch Break
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Session 4: Saving Culture and Financial Discipline
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM
Why saving is important under PDM
Individual vs group saving
Managing group savings and revolving funds
Avoiding misuse of savings and loans
Session 5: Day One Reflection and Wrap-Up
Time: 3:30 – 4:00 PM
Key lessons learned
Questions and clarifications
DAY TWO
Session 6: Introduction to Basic Record Keeping
Time: 9:00 – 10:30 AM
Why record keeping matters
Types of records (income, expenses, production, savings)
Addressing low literacy challenges
Health Break
Time: 10:30 – 10:45 AM
Session 7: Practical Record Keeping Exercise
Time: 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Demonstration of simple pictorial record books
Hands-on practice using sample data
Peer support and correction
Lunch Break
Time: 12:30 – 1:30 PM
Session 8: Group Financial Management and Accountability
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM
Roles of leaders in financial management
Transparency and accountability
Simple financial reporting during meetings
Managing PDM funds responsibly
Session 9: Action Planning and Commitments
Time: 3:00 – 3:45 PM
Group action plans
Individual commitments
Next steps and follow-up support
Session 10: Evaluation and Closing
Time: 3:45 – 4:30 PM
Post-training assessment
Participant feedback
Closing remarks
TRAINING BUDGET
Training: Financial Literacy & Basic Record Keeping for PDM Groups
Duration: 2 Days
Participants: 20
Facilitators: 2
Cost item Description Unit cost Quantity Total
amount
Facilitation fees 2 facilitators x 2 days 25,000 4 100,000
Training venue Community hall 10,000 2 20,000
Training materials Flip charts, markers, manila, masking 100,000 1 100,000
tape, note books, pens etc
Break fast Tea and escort 4000 50 200,000
Lunch Food and refreshment 6000 50 300,000
Transport refund Participants (local travel) 10,000 40 400,000
M & E monitoring Pre/post tests, reporting 20,000 1 20,000
and documentation
Contingency - - 60,000
Total 1,200,000