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Rural Microfinance
In 2000 MESO sought to begin a Revolving Fund program at the
Karatu branch office, yet the funds to do so never materialized. Toward
the end of 2004, however, MESO reformulated the Revolving Fund
program to offer a wider range of microfinance services, based partly
on the 'Solidarity Group' approach made famous by the Grameen
Bank in Bangladesh. In April 2005, MESO gave out its first set of loans to 11 groups of women in the village of Kambi ya Simba, Karatu
District.
MESO currently offers three
different types of loans, as well as voluntary individual and group
savings accounts [read more]. As of August 2005,
we have provided microfinance and business training services to roughly
800 community members and have acquired more than 300 active clients.
Our loan portfolio is equal to almost $35,000 with a 100 percent
repayment rate. Our next phase of expansion has been underway since 1 July, extending
services to two more villages in Karatu District. In doing so, we expect
to accommodate more than 200 new clients and to boost our loan portfolio
to over $50,000.
VIDEO!
A six-minute audio slideshow explaining
MESO Microfinance is now available. Right click on the link and
select "Save As" to download:
High Quality: 640 x 480 (Windows
Media Player)
Download
Low Quality: 320 x 240 (Windows Media
Player)
Download
High Quality: 640 x 480 (Quicktime)
Download
Low Quality: 320 x 240 (Quicktime)
Download
(Quicktime version is of
lesser quality, so if you
have a choice, view the Windows version!)
OBJECTIVES
Our mission is to provide a viable set of banking
services to address the
dynamic needs of poor people - particularly women - living in rural
areas of Tanzania.
In doing so, MESO seeks to alleviate poverty
in the following ways:
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Improving
the economic well-being of community members by enabling
them to invest in small businesses, giving them more
reliable sources of income. |
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Improving
the status of women by targeting them as the primary
recipients of microfinance. |
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Offering
credit to larger, existing enterprises that provide
community services, such as health and veterinary
clinics, tree nurseries and public transportation. |
And
indirectly:
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Enabling
clients to invest profits from their businesses into
education, health, housing and other social needs. |
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Promoting
a social and environmental agenda alongside responsible
use of microfinance. |
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Adding
diversity to the types of cash-income businesses run in
the area, creating a more competitive local economy. |
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Undermining the role of usurious, local moneylenders
whose services often exploit the poor. |
For more
information, read our...
You can also
forward any questions or comments to
micro.meso@gmail.com
MESO - The Multi-Environmental Society
mesotz@hotmail.com (C) Copyright 2004 |
2005
is the Year of
Microcredit
Seeking
to boost microcredit and microfinance programs around the
world, the United Nations General Assembly has designated
2005 as the International Year of Microcredit.
“The International Year of Microcredit 2005
underscores the importance of microfinance as an integral
part of our collective effort to meet the Millennium
Development Goals. Sustainable access to microfinance helps
alleviate poverty by generating income, creating jobs,
allowing children to go to school, enabling families to
obtain health care, and empowering people to make the
choices that best serve their needs. Together, we can and
must build inclusive financial sectors that help people
improve their lives.”
- Kofi
Annan
UN
Secretary-General
MESO
is proud to be an official partner in the Year.
www.yearofmicrocredit.org
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