Post-Tsunami Microfinance Initiative

Transcription

1 Post-Tsunami Microfinance Initiative YKBS client Mrs. Mariani selling gasoline to neighbor and fellow YKBS client April 2006 Update Grameen Foundation 1029 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd. P.O. Box 248 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia www. alj.com

2 Background DECEMBER 26, 2004 TSUNAMI The December 26, 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean left an estimated 220,000 people dead. More than 1.6 million survivors were forced from their homes. Among those displaced were some of the world s poorest citizens. Other who had escaped poverty in recent decades were thrust back into it. GRAMEEN FOUNDATION RESPONSE In the weeks that followed the Tsunami, Grameen Foundation, in collaboration with the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, assembled a team of microfinance experts to perform an on-site, comprehensive survey in the four countries that were most affected by the Tsunami. The purpose of the study was to determine how Grameen Foundation and the microfinance community could best support the post-tsunami recovery effort. The team s findings suggested that tens of thousands of survivors were being held back in their efforts to recover because they lack investment capital. They also found that microfinance institutions stand ready to meet those needs, but require additional financial and technical support. Based on the study s findings, GF has developed a three-year plan that seeks to support six of the most promising projects in Indonesia and India highlighted in the report. The full report, entitled, Recovery From the Tsunami Disaster: Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development through Microfinance, can be downloaded from our website at: CURRENT STATUS Grameen Foundation has formed partnerships with five microfinance institutions in Indonesia and India. In addition to providing funding to our partners, we are helping them implement management information systems (MIS) and providing on-the-ground technical assistance. So far, we have provided $690,000 in funding to our partners, enough to support the first 6,500 of 21,500 clients we intend to reach over three years. This first round of funding is expected to impact the lives of 32,500 people. The one million dollar contribution from the Abdul Latif Jameel Company paved the way for over 100 donations from individuals, corporations and foundations, most notably from the Northern Rock Foundation of the U.K. To date, $1.25 million has been received in support of this plan, and another $280,000 has been committed and will be disbursed in May THE FUTURE After six months of operations the Post- Tsunami Microfinance Initiative reassessed its program and the overall microfinance environment in the tsunami-affected areas. We revised our targets to reach at least 21,500 tsunami-affected borrowers by mid-2008 through a $10 million initiative. To accomplish this goal, Grameen Foundation, together with the Jameel group and other partners, hopes to raise an additional $8.5 million and establish a partnership with one more microfinance institution in India. INSIDE THIS UPDATE Tsunami Partnerships 3 Partner Summary 3 Banda Aceh Update 4 Borrower Profile 5 Loan Officer Profile 6 2

3 Tsunami Initiative Implementation Partnerships Since the last quarterly update, an additional $285,000 has been disbursed to four PTMI implementation partners: ASA, ESAF, YKBS and YAMIDA. GF has also established a partnership with the Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), based in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. We are currently waiting for approval from the Indian Central Bank to disburse $115,000 to CCD to allow them to begin their microfinance program in Rameswaram and Kanyakumari districts of Southern India, providing loans to fish vending women, handicraft workers and beach vendors. As of early March 2006, the Management Information Systems (MIS) consultant finished his seven-month term in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after successfully implementing MIS and training YAMIDA and YKBS staff. The automation of our Indonesian partners systems has dramatically improved their ability to track information on clients and loans, keep accounting accurate and upto-date, and submit their financial and operating reports to GF in a timely fashion. CURRENT PTMI IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS INDONESIA: Yayasan Mitra Dhuafa (Yamida) Yayasan Karya Bunda Sejahtera (YKBS) INDIA: Activists for Social Alternatives (ASA) Covenant Centre for Development (CCD) Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF) Summary as of March 31, 2006 YAMIDA Indonesia YKBS Indonesia ASA India ESAF India CCD India TOTAL Funds Disbursed $200,000 $200,000 $145,000 $145,000 $690,000 Funds Obligated (to be disbursed)** Number of Active Borrowers Total Loans Outstanding (cumulative) Portfolio at risk (>30 days) $115,000* $115,000 1,149 1,015 ** 633 2,797 $105,696 $95,677 $83,221 $284, Note 1*: As of March 31, CCD is still awaiting formal approval from India s Central Bank (RBI) before it can receive the $115,00 in funds ($95,000 loan for on-lending and $20,000 for operating expenses). Note 2**: ASA received RBI approval in late February. Funds were released to ASA in early March and received on March 28. Their first report to GF will be due in May

4 Indonesia Partners Cross The 2,000-Client Mark Grameen Foundation s PTMI implementation partners in Indonesia, YKBS and YAMIDA, have experienced tremendous growth in client outreach since it began disbursing loans to clients in November At the start of our partnership, GF worked with YKBS and YAMIDA to determine operational targets for outreach. We set the lofty target of 1,000 clients each by the end of March In light of the ambitious goals set, YKBS and YAMIDA staff worked diligently, with incredible fortitude and determination. In just five months of operation, both YKBS and YAMIDA exceeded their outreach targets: as of March 31, 2006, YAMIDA had 1,149 clients, and YKBS had 1,015. Banda Aceh Update The Staff staff of Grameen of GFUSA Foundation, Post-Tsunami YAMIDA and Microfinance YKBS on a retreat in Banda, YAMIDA Aceh, Indonesia and YKBS on a team-building Initiative retreat off the coast of Banda Aceh, Indonesia While most NGOs in the area are still in the planning phase of their microfinance operations, YKBS and YAMIDA are establishing a strong presence in Banda Aceh and meeting a still largely unmet need for financial services among the poor. These achievements would not have been possible without the support and expertise of Ahsan Habib, our Technical Advisor based in Banda Aceh, who brings with him over 20 years experience at Grameen Bank and Grameen Trust. Together with Dr. Gene Octavio, PTMI Regional Advisor, and Liam Collins, Manager of Special Projects, the Tsunami Initiative senior management team has over 58 years of combined microfinance experience. GROWTH IN CLIENT OUTREACH November March 2006 Number of Clients November December January February March YAMIDA YKBS ESAF 4

5 Borrower Profile Rising Above Poverty in Banda Aceh, Indonesia: Mrs. Mariani Mariani is a junior high school graduate, born and raised in Aceh province. She lives with her husband and three children. Before the tsunami hit Aceh in December 2004, Mariani s husband worked as a driver while Mariani stayed at home. As a driver, her husband made $5 a day, but work was not consistent. Mariani lost her mother and daughter in the tsunami. Her husband s work as a driver often took away from home for long stretches of time. Not wanting to be away from his wife during such a difficult time, Mariani s husband quit his job and with a personal loan, opened up a small kiosk selling dry goods outside of their house. Profits from the kiosk average about $2 a day. This decrease in income made it very difficult for the couple to make ends Mrs. Mariani standing proudly in front of her gasoline stand meet. Mariani heard about YKBS from a neighbor of hers who had accessed a loan from YKBS. Mariani took out a loan of $100, and with it set up a stall outside of her home to sell kerosene, gasoline and diesel. Mariani s new business brings in an average profit of $5 a day, over twice as much as her husband s kiosk. Together, Mariani and her husband make more now than they did before the tsunami, and Mariani says she now feels very comfortable and happy that she and her husband can work closely together. When asked about future plans for her business, Mariani said that she hopes to some day open a shop where she can sell all of her goods.

6 An Interview with a Loan Officer As featured in Grameen Connections Spring Newsletter Muslim works in the villages of Lampisang, Lam Kruet, Keuneu, Lam Paya and Nusa in Indonesia, serving 255 clients. GFUSA: What do you do as a loan officer? MUSLIM: My main duty is to survey and select new villages and gather women affected by the tsunami to start a microfinance program in their community with the help of the microfinance institution s (MFI) branch manager. In meetings with the women, we explain our mission, vision and Muslim visiting with one of his YKBS clients procedure of disbursing loans. After the gathering, we form a new center, organize borrowers into groups, give basic training on the Grameen methodology, disburse loans, check on loan utilization, attend center meetings to collect loan installments and savings, and deposit the money. GFUSA: What is the need for microfinance in the area you serve? MUSLIM: Now I am working for the microfinance institution YKBS in three sub districts (Pekun Lohokgna and Darul Imarah) of the Aceh Besar district. These three districts have been totally destroyed by the tsunami. Most families need financial help to restart their livelihoods. Although they are getting aid from other organizations, my thinking is that [the survivors] need long-term financial help and YKBS can give it through microfinance. GFUSA: What are some of the popular businesses clients take on? MUSLIM: The clients in Aceh start a variety of businesses but most use their loan to buy and sell dried fish, vegetables, and cakes. Other popular businesses are handiwork, tailoring, dress making, raising ducks and chickens, and opening a small grocery store. 6