A West African Diary

Feedback on local stakeholder consultation about the “Save for a stove” project

2012-01-06T15:22:00.012Z

Some weeks ago, we announced the organization of a local stakeholder consultation in Ouagadougou about the “Save for a stove” project. On December the 6th, some stoves users, improved cookstoves producers, NGO working on environmental issues, microfinance institutions and technical partners met during a morning in order to discuss about the project impacts on sustainable development and about the best way to monitor these impacts. We were very pleased to receive some representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, from the Ministry of Mines, Quarries and Energy, from Ouagadougou City Council and from a Foundation founding the project.

After a presentation of the “Save for a stove” project and carbon credit mechanisms in French and local language Moore, participants asked some questions and made some suggestions to improve the project. Then, we made an exercise in order to determine the project impacts – both positive and negative – on sustainable development. The meeting ended with a discussion about indicators to monitor in order to assess impacts.

Participants showed a good impression on this relevant consultative method, the effective implication of everybody and the richness of exchanges between participants. Entrepreneurs du Monde is also very glad of the quality of the debate and is sure that they will contribute to improve the activities in the following years.

Reports are available in French and English on the following links:

http://carbonium.fr/EdM_projects/EdM-StakeholderConsultationReport061211.pdf

http://carbonium.fr/EdM_projects/EdM-CR_ReunionDesPartiesPrenantes061211.pdf

All participants and general public is invited to comment the reports of the meeting within the two coming months writing at claire.lester@entrepreneursdumonde.org.

Monday, December 5, 2011, Global Volunteer Day

2011-12-06T18:53:00.008Z

Wherever you are, you can join us!

The team is welcoming volunteers with all sorts of talents, and flexible on the time they can commit, a few hours or days a month, a one-off consultancy….

Whether you are an accountant, a marketing manager or a Morris dancer, you can help us by getting involved with one of our projects or organising a gig for the benefit of one of our programmes!

Ankur Thapa, Nepalese and volunteer for Entrepreneurs du Monde

“I am currently doing a study abroad program of Hollins University in London for one semester.

This program gives students internship opportunities. This is how I got to work for EdM UK. I worked for the French NGO as a volunteer/intern from early September to early December.

As a major in Economics and wanting to go to graduate school on developmental economics, the experience I got from working with EdM is astonishing.

Not really having studied about microfinance yet, I learnt a lot about the concept and why it has gained popularity in the last few decades. The 3 months I worked with EdM has helped enhance my analytical skills and has enriched my professionalism that is vital in every other field today.

Ankur reviewed the Trusts Directory and listed the foundations that could support our programmes, and looked into the possibility of developing social microfinance institutions in Sierra Leone and Liberia...”

Just a few ideas… Seize them, while you can! And do not hesitate to volunteer YOUR skills!

Currently, Entrepreneurs du Monde is seeking a volunteer who will help us to provide a localised web-based service to our UK supporters; more information can be obtained from Laetitia Raginel via email: laetitia.raginel@edmuk.org

For our programmes in West Africa, we are also looking for artists / illustrators / graphic designers to enrich our training and communication materials.

We also need more bilingual English-French translators wishing to join our dynamic team of helpers currently operating from as far as Singapore or Glasgow!

For more information, please contact Thibaut Mary: thibaut.mary@entrepreneursdumonde.org.

Regional Workshop - Entrepreneurs du Monde

2011-11-30T13:28:00.008Z

This year Entrepreneurs du Monde held a specific event on MIS & Finance with its West African partners, in order to help them to overcome issues they might face to finalise their annual budget and activity projections for 2012.

From November 15^th to 18^th, almost 35 participants, mostly Finance and MIS managers, representing 11 organisations from 5 different countries shared their experiences.

Several management tools already in use by some partner MFI, thanks to Entrepreneurs du Monde’s technical and financial support, were presented.

The organisers of the workshop also hosted dynamic training sessions tackling accounting principles or financial and social indicators to be used in their monthly reporting. In addition, both individual and group counselling sessions on budget process and budget follow-up were held every day to support each partner according to its needs and facilitate the dissemination of good practices.

Other topics such as LPF8.0 software update, the new WAMU accounting referential, the SMS software (Social Monitoring System) - developed by EdM and to be deployed in the course of 2012, were presented in plenary sessions.

To best support its partners, Entrepreneurs du Monde also provided training on the improved 2011 version of the in-house software Microlight.

Taking advantage of each other’s experiences, as well as getting direct support from Entrepreneurs du Monde, the participants discussed on how to implement or enhance the use of these management tools in their respective structures.

As is customary for EdM events, participants also went on field to visit local MFI Micro Start Action des Femmes pour le Développement to better understand their activities and management system.

Entrepreneurs du Monde would also like to extend its thanks to all participants for their enthusiasm and active involvement, but also to everyone who worked behind the scene and contributed to making this first edition of an EdM Regional Workshop a success, and especially the Agence Française de Développement for its financial support.

Entrepreneurs du Monde – Regional Meeting 2011

2011-10-25T09:09:00.025Z

For 5 days, Entrepreneurs du Monde and its Caribbean and West African partners met in Accra, Ghana, around the theme “Putting the Social into Microfinance”.

From September 12^th to 16^th, almost 40 participants representing 12 organisations from 6 different countries have been presenting their latest developments and innovations.

This year, Entrepreneurs du Monde organised the Regional Meeting jointly with ID Ghana, a partner of the French NGO since 2007. It was also an opportunity to share experiences and see the progress made by each programme during this seminar full of presentations, field visits and practical workshops.

Beyond its implication in the event’s logistics, this Ghanaian MFI was able to present its activities, and more specifically the Onipa Nua lending methodology ("mutual care" in local language Twi), that staff and beneficiaries alike quickly became adept of, specifically because of its social impact.

Several tools used for the social performance management (SPI, satisfaction surveys, PAT), that some partners are already using, thanks to Entrepreneurs du Monde and its technical and financial support, were presented.

Finally, other topics such as the mutual funds set up by Inter Aide in India and

Madagascar

and inclusive microfinance were presented in plenary. Moreover, new tools have been tested (such as the SMART Campaign’s questionnaire).

In addition, participants took part in field visits to better understand the Onipa Nua methodology. And a training fair was also held during the week, so that each programme could discover and test topics and materials used by other MFI in the sector.

Taking advantage of each others’ experiences as well as getting direct support from Entrepreneurs du Monde, the participants discussed how to implement or enhance the use of these tools in their respective structure.

For example, in order to support its partners better, Entrepreneurs du Monde was presenting during the week a software developed by the French NGO that will be deployed in the course of 2012 to facilitate the encoding of the PAT and the monitoring of the MFI’s social mission.

In addition to thanking all the participants, Entrepreneurs du Monde would also like to thank everyone who participated, directly or indirectly in the organisation of the Regional Meeting: especially the Agence Française de Développement for its financial support, and ID Ghana and our volunteer translators and proof-readers based in the United Kingdom and Singapour.

They also played an instrumental role in ensuring that the event was a success.

ID Ghana took an active part in the organisation of the 4th AMT Summit in Accra!

2011-10-20T12:18:00.002Z

More than 130 people attended the African Microfinance Transparency Forum’s (AMT) fourth annual Microfinance Investor’s Fair on the 13th and 14th of October in Accra, Ghana. The event brought together 54 rated African MFIs hailing from 20 different countries with 24 microfinance investors and several MIS providers.

The fair was inaugurated by the special advisor to the Ghanaian Minister of Finance, Professor Kusi, who urged that “transparent practices and efficiency will help microfinance institutions to secure funding, both local and international, which in turn will support the growth of their portfolios and reach a larger number of clients”, he continued that “open and transparent microfinance institutions must therefore be the industry standard.”

The purpose of this unique event is to facilitate and optimise contact between MFIs and investors and alternated between a series of organised speed dating sessions and a selection of presentations concerning the African microfinance sector. In fact, more than 500 individual meetings were organised.

This year’s event reached record levels in terms of the number of sponsors and investors present and once again MFI participation was strong. As is tradition, the Fair took place during the same week as the AMT General Assembly which was followed by a training course for MFIs on how to manage social performance, provided by the Social Performance Task Force.

Entrepreneurs du Monde’s partner and AMT member ID Ghana also played an instrumental role in ensuring that the event was a success.

AMT is an organisation supported by ADA asbl in Luxembourg whose objective is to develop the market for external performance evaluations (assessment/rating) of African MFIs so as to support their growth, their development and their professionalisation. For this reason, the fair was an “invitation only event” for African MFIs that had already had, or who were committed to undergoing a rating in the near future.

Further information can be obtained via the website www.amt-forum.org.

ONIPA NUA

2011-05-06T10:30:00.009Z

Or "mutual care" in the local Twi language.

ID-Ghana is a Ghanaian microfinance institution that uses the ONIPA NUA methodology.

Because of its social impact and the benefits for the communities involved, staff and beneficiaries alike quickly became adept of this new lending methodology.

Does the name “ONI PANUA” ring a bell?

Maybe if you read about it in the French press this week. ID-Ghana is quoted in Le Monde dated 2 Mai 2011!

Click here to read this article.

This is for us a great opportunity to broadcast our actions to a wider audience of course, but it is also a way to show the great work ID-Ghana’s team is doing on the field! And to inspire others!

“Le Monde” is a prominent French daily newspaper.

The first Nubian Vault AVN EdM is out of the ground!

2011-04-27T09:10:00.001Z

From an awareness session...

Benoît SOME has been working for more than a month for Entrepreneurs of the World (EoW), in Burkina Faso. Coming from the south-west region of the country, he speaks “Dagara”.

Benoît Somé (on the left) and the beneficiary family

In the Dano, Koper and Dissin regions, teams from Entrepreneurs of the World and the Association of the Nubian Vault (AVN) worked with the beneficiaries of the AsIEnA MFI to make them aware of a ‘microcredit Nubian Vault’. They explained its terms of access and how to manage the reimbursement, before Benoit took over managing the project.

This microfinance product has been developed under the project ‘1 Femme, 1 Toit, des Droits’ (which means ‘1 Woman, 1 Roof, Rights’) launched in South West Burkina Faso, by EoW’s Burkina Faso team. They are working in partnership with AVN, with funding from the PPR Foundation (Foundation for the Dignity and Rights of Women).

The woman of the family, Sophie, is checking the amount of the credit with Benoît.

Benoît also does training for women from AsIEnA. At each meeting he educates them about the benefits of the Nubian Vault construction.¹ It was during one of these awareness sessions that Benoit met Sophie SOMDA. Sophie quickly became interested in the benefits of the project "1 Woman, 1 Roof, Rights", such as literacy lessons. These are provided by trainers employed by the MFI and under the control of the Provincial Directorate of Basic Education and Literacy (DPEBA). In addition, Benoit does the same awareness training and follow up with beneficiaries of Entrepreneurs of the World’s MUSO project "A Woman, a Stove, a Forest", providing information on benefits of using improved, environmentally friendly stoves.

.... to the construction.

Firstly, the construction materials had to be gathered, before the masons can begin constructing the 8x3.20 meter vault. The vault construction lasted 10 days. During this period, Benoit worked with AVN to monitor and co-ordinate the construction site.

Armel Guenguere, in charge of the social entrepreneurship dpt. for EoW-Burkina Faso (on the left) shaking hands with beneficiaries

The Entrepreneurs of the World artisan is proud of this first experience and he hopes to repeat it quickly, before construction stops during the rainy season.

A familiar voice on radio

2011-04-26T10:12:00.005Z

Marguerite is the Program Assistant of Entrepreneurs of the World in Burkina Faso. One Sunday morning she was awakened by the sound of radio in her courtyard. At this time, Horizon FM was broadcasting a show, recorded on February 1^st 2011, fully funded and organized by the FAFASO project (Foyers Améliorés au FASO) of the GIZ [1]. The officer for the business and institutional cook stoves from FAFASO, Mrs. TRAORE Léocadie, was taking part with 2 bricklayers of the Central Region, and 2 dolo [2]producers.

"What?! That’s the voice of my colleague on the radio!"

Indeed, Marguerite’s colleague, Armel, Social Business Manager at Entrepreneurs du Monde in Burkina Faso, had answered the invitation of FAFASO and was therefore also taking part in the radio show.

Since 2009, 264 bricklayers have been trained, in Burkina Faso’s two major cities (Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso) and in the priority areas of the GIZ / FAFASO for the construction of Roumdé large size adobe stoves for dolo.

This stove helps fight deforestation by reducing the need for fuel by up to 80%, while respecting the local customs and preserving the health of its users, because of reduced smoke emissions.

The dolo producers are an interesting target on more than one account, as more than 50% of all timber that arrives in Ouagadougou each day is used to prepare dolo!

The aim of the radio show was to broadcast a special offer introduced by the bricklayers and the GIZ / FAFASO with a discounted price on improved cook stoves to all dolo producers of the Kadiogo province around the capital city of Ouagadougou.

Armel also took this opportunity to inform women, they can ask local microfinance institutions supported by Entrepreneurs du Monde for a loan, if they need to finance this purchase.

The price ranges from FCFA 10,000 to FCFA 30,000 (between 15 and 30 euros), but, the saving done on the daily wood or coal budget allows women to breakeven within 2 to 4 weeks of using the new stove.

Armel is showing the impact of the project "Save for a Stove" by Entrepreneurs du Monde in partnership with the project FAFASO (Foyers Améliorés au FASO) by the GIZ (German Cooperation). With the sale through the EdM network of MFI of nearly 1,750 improved cook stoves and gas stoves in 2010 (including 1750 Roumdé), it is estimated that more than 100 timber trucks will be saved over the next three years.

[1] Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit: German cooperation.

[2] Dolo is a traditional beer in Burkina Faso made from millet.

Success story - Ghana: RAPHAEL wants to give back by building a school.

2011-04-06T10:46:00.002Z

The entrepreneurial career of Raphael Asiedu, 34 years old, is exemplary. His wife and business partner, Janet Npene, and their son can be proud of him. Their journey started in a shanty (a very small wooden hut) and is continuing in a two room apartment. The future looks bright for the entire family.

He gave up microcredit until he met ID-Ghana!

When Raphael settled in the Accra suburb of Sodom and Gomorra, he initiated a second hand shoe business, with capital of GH¢15 (€ 7). Then he started a second, more lucrative coconut business. He was able to rent a room at the timber market with his profits and even acquire decent accommodation.

Raphael was dreaming about growing his income and so he needed money to invest in his business. But his first experience with micro lenders was unsuccessful and he gave up until he met our partner ID-Ghana in 2007.

Three weeks after a friend introduced him to our local partner, he got his first loan of GH¢100 (€ 45) Even if the amount was small, the profit from this loan allowed him to buy a kiosk for his shoe business. Then he turned into grocery, for a better turnover.

A regular growth:

This was just the beginning of an unexpected growth in his business. With 6 loans, from Gh¢ 250 to Gh¢1,300 (€115 to €596), Raphael expanded his business and became a group leader for the Dansoman Branch of ID-Ghana. Raphael has never defaulted in his loan repayments. He now operates his business in a cement store, leased for ten years, working from 7am to 10pm, for average daily sales of Gh¢120 (€55). His equipment includes three freezers valued 900 Gh¢. The capital base of the business was raised to Gh¢ 2,000 (€917) and his savings are Gh¢266 (€122).

High but feasible hopes:

Raphael has also benefited from training relating to customer care, record keeping, and social subjects such as domestic violence. He also took advantage of the campaign for National Health Insurance Scheme registration and benefited (with his family) from the subsidy offered by ID-Ghana. Raphael’s main goal is to build a school in his village, for underprivileged children and then a house for his family on a plot of land that he owns. He plans to open a wholesale outlet at Glefe for groceries too. Raphael’s hopes are high, but feasible with ID-Ghana.

Credit on Wheels: How to provide microfinance services anywhere.

2011-03-29T09:10:00.009Z

The Association Inter-institut Ensemble et Avec (AsIEnA), our microfinance institution (MFI) partner in Burkina Faso, is using a methodology called Mutual Solidarity (MUSO) that allows members to contribute to their development by pooling some of their money through regular and uniform contributions.

When people are performing the same activity and / or live in the same area, they can be organized in mutual solidarity, with the support of AsIEnA. MUSO members meet each month to deposit their contributions, which are then redistributed between them as microcredit.

The Mobile Branch before being set up

These MUSO groups, which can be made up of 15, 25 or even 75 members, are sometimes formed in areas where AsIEnA doesn’t necessarily have the staff available to organize the monthly group meetings. This is why the Mobile Branch was created. The goal is to facilitate access to financial and non-financial services (eg. savings, training, awareness) to anyone who wishes to incorporate a MUSO.

The installation of the branch

Alfred Ilboudo, the head of the Mobile Branch drives the vehicle that contains everything needed to organize a meeting, regardless of where MUSO members live. Indeed, beneficiaries don’t necessarily have a vehicle to get to the branch, and cannot afford a taxi. So, AsIEnA goes to them through the Mobile Branch.

The beginning of the meeting with the MUSO of car mechanics from Bassemyam

First, awareness is created about a MUSO. This is to explain the operations and the benefits of this methodology which are self care, solidarity among members, and the fact that the members set the terms of the financial services.

Once the mutual solidarity is incorporated, Alfred Ilboudo visits them with the Mobile Branch to form a committee that will manage the MUSO. A president, a secretary, a treasurer, a treasurer assistant and two different people who will keep the keys of the box in which the deposits of the members will be kept, are elected by members of MUSO.

The signature of the secretary of the meeting, board member of the group, and Alfred Ilboudo.

Once the office is set up, members define the modalities of financial services. They define the mandatory monthly deposit for all members, the minimum amount of cash in the box and the interest rate for loans given between them.

The MUSO methodology is a model of autonomous development for the poorest people and the Mobile Branch is a very good way to extend it to any area on the outskirts of Ouagadougou.

Reviewed by Carolyn Kennedy.

« BARKA WOUSGO! » (Thanks a lot! in Moré)

2011-03-23T11:01:00.005Z

We would like to thank you for your support during the operation « 1 fan = 1 € » launched on March 8^th for the International Women's Day and ended on March 16^th. The operation was implemented by the Foundation L’Occitane in partnership with Entrepreneurs of the World - Burkina Faso (EoW – BF) and the project FAFASO (Foyers Améliorés au FASO) by the GIZ (German Cooperation).

Many of you supported this initiative and thanks to you we were able to collect € 6976! This amount accounts for XOF 4,575,956 and it will enable us to fund training sessions on the fight against deforestation to 1380 women in Burkina Faso as well as subsidizing improved cook-stoves at 50% for these same women.

This amount has been achieved only thanks to clicks on the Facebook’s fan page of the Foundation l’Occitane without taking into account the generous donors who made donations online on EoW’s website for a total amount of more than € 300. Thank you very much to them also!

The success of this operation is yours and once again: BARKA WOUSGO!!!

The team EoW-BF.

Celebrating Women's Day in Ouagadougou

2011-03-13T13:13:00.004Z

In Europe, the 8^th March has a symbolic importance, but it rarely arouses real passions. Awareness raising events might take place, on violence against women. But if some media mention it, few events really stand out.

In Burkina Faso, it’s a completely different story! March 8th is a bank holiday. Festivities take place all around the country, ladies offer gifts to each other, while men go to the market and prepare meals for their wives.

On the day, we passed by the eponymous 8^th March Garden in central Ouagadougou to take part in this National event. Music and skewers attracted people and fresh drinks allowed us to endure the sweltering heat (42 ° C!). Spirits were high, the Burkinabè wore clothes specially sewn for the day and made out of the specially printed loincloth or “pagne”.

Many associations took advantage of this event to raise awareness and communicate about this year’s international cause: preventing mothers dying when giving birth.

Watch a FESPACO film, directed by the NGO Tostan, on the topic:

“Futa, Saha miijtagol - Futa, it's time to talk” is a collection of testimonies of men and women on these traditional practices.

To learn more about NGO Tostan: www.tostan.org

By: Samy ASSAAD, translated by: Thibaut MARY

-----

DO YOUR PART FOR WOMEN’S DAY!

Before the 16th March, for just one click from you on its Facebook page, the Occitane Foundation will give 1 euro to our projects in Burkina Faso!

CELEBRATING WOMEN’S DAY

2011-03-07T21:36:00.018Z

In partnership with Fondation L’Occitane, just one click helps women in Burkina Faso !

Between the 8th and the 16th March 2011,

the Occitane Foundation will donate 1€ to Entrepreneurs du Monde for each new fan of the Occitane Facebook page.

Thanks to this one-off promotion, Entrepreneurs du Monde, in partnership with the project FAFASO (Foyers Améliorés au FASO) by the GIZ (German Cooperation), will be able to support the shea butter producers wishing to acquire an improved cookstove*.

With your help, these women will take part in training to preserve the environment and be able to buy the stoves at half price.

Click to become a fan and invite all your friends to join too!

* The Roumdé improved cookstove (RRP Eur 4.50) was vulgarized by the project GIZ/FAFASO and reduces wood consumption by a drastic 30-45%, enabling significant savings for the women, who can in turn improve the lives of their families.

The 3 stone improved cookstove, a tool to fight deforestation that respects local customs and improves the health of our beneficiaries!

2011-01-28T08:48:00.005Z

Deforestation in Burkina Faso is a major and always more pressing issue. Wood is an energy source used in large quantities by people from Burkina Faso. Over 90% of the energy consumed in households is from wood or its derivatives such as charcoal.

Accordingly, there is a problem of sufficient supply of wood and a price increase due to the inverse relationship between supply and demand. A conventional cookstove consumes a large amount of wood and emits a lot of smoke which damages the health of users. Improved cookstoves are an easily accessible solution for our beneficiaries to use less wood and preserve their health.

In Zaka, a village near Tenkodogo in the south-eastern region of Burkina Faso, Entrepreneurs of the World, in partnership with the Association Nong Taaba Zaka (ANZ) and the NGO newTree, has trained several women to teach them how to build 3 stone improved stoves.

The 3 stone improved stoves almost built.

The training lasted two days. During the first day there was an awareness raising session on environmental issues, the making of the banco needed and the construction of stoves. The second day was devoted to the opening of the "doors" where the wood is later placed, the consolidation of the stoves built the day before and a presentation of maintenance techniques.

Awareness raising session by the trainer of newTree using a story board.

The banco that serves as insulation for the stove is developed using natural ingredients available to trainees without any expense and with easy access. Water, soil from termite mounds, cow dung, straw and 3 stones which will be used as a solid basis, are needed to build the stove. In addition to the main materials, participants of the training have to provide tools such as shovels, a wheelbarrow, machete, ashes, pots and corn stalks.

Cut straw into small pieces (banco preparation).

These three stones are components of the traditional stove to represent the union of marriage during construction and in case of divorce, its destruction symbolizes the separation. This type of improved stove keeps this local custom, which in addition to the economies of timber and the preservation of health, facilitates the transition and convinces beneficiaries to use it.

The 3 stones around which the improved stove will be built.

The effectiveness of the 3 stone improved stove is its insulation. The heat generated by burning wood is preserved, which makes cooking faster. Thus, for the same dish with the 3 stone improved stove, less wood is required, users can even make up to 50% savings on wood consumption, the time spent cooking is reduced, less smoke emanates from the stove and marriage can last!

S.A.

A weekly granting session with Initiative Development - Ghana (IDG) in Kaneshie branch.

2010-12-20T08:36:00.004Z

An article to give you more details about our actions on the field

Stephen Dugbazah, IDG General Manager, checking the presence of the two group leaders.

2 "Onipa Nua" groups ("mutual solidarity" in Twi) were given an appointment in the meeting room of Kaneshie market for their loans granting.

First, the Training Officer, Eva Ankrah, opened the meeting with a speech on the loan terms and the conduct of the meeting, the beneficiaries have already received extensive training on how to manage a loan and about the Onipa Nua methodology, it is just a reminder.

Then the General Manager of IDG, Stephen Dugbazah, told them that respecting their commitment is essential to continue to evolve with IDG. Then, Agnes Osei, MIS assistant, announced the identity verification and explained the contract and repayment schedule.

Animation techniques help keep the attention of the beneficiaries during these meetings. For example, one trainer says “Hello?” and all beneficiaries must reply to continue the meeting. The speaker can make it two successive times to be sure to interrupt the private discussions of partners.

Agnes Osei checking partners ID cards with loan form.

After the presentations and reminders of procedures, credit applications already filled with an ID picture and approved by the operation department are distributed to group members while Agnes checked with the ID card that it is indeed the right person. Partners are then asked to join the desk so that the loan officer can take their thumbprints as well as the group leader’s (1 Onipa Nua partner is appointed by other members as a group leader) on this same form and to give them the amount granted.

Credit officer, Charles Ampaw, taking the thumbprint of the group leader and the partner.

Money is recounted by the credit officer before being given to the partner who checks once again, that the amount is the same as the one on the form. For some who are unsure about counting correctly, it’s one of the staff members who do the check, teaching them along the way.

Agnes checking the amount granted under the eye of the General Manager.

When the amount is received, partners go back to their income generating activities. Once a week, they will have to assist to the group meeting located near their residential or business area to repay the credit. They can also deposit savings with ID-G (remunerated at 5% p.a.) and they all receive training on various topics such as registration to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) or the importance of saving.

S.A.

Project "Spriulina, Microfinance & Health”: Time to take stock and reward...

2010-12-16T09:45:00.014Z

• Bicycles for the best Nakoglbzanga and Yã-baarυ-nir

This month of December marks the 2nd anniversary of the Spirulina & Microfinance Project in Koudougou and the end of its first semester in Diébougou. Entrepreneurs of the World, with the support of its financial partners, has undertaken to encourage the best participants of the project and also to promote a friendly competition between them. It was on December 16^th in Dano and Koper, and it will be on December 24^th, 2010 in Poa Ralo, Koudougou and Zoula (intervention zone of Asiena, MFI partner of the project).

For the sellers, the gold palm goes to NIKIEMA Jeremy who steals the show to Justine OUEDRAOGO (both from Poaike him) whose activity is temporarily interrupted for reasons beyond her control with 18.375 Kg against 14 Kg. Two other first class seelers were rewarded in Koudougou. In Dano, DABIRE Nathalie is the leader with 5.050 kg sold in five months. With her, three other women vendors received awards including one from Dano and two from Koper (Lopal & Kpaï). Smiles and emotion were naturally present for these prize receipients when they received their green "Spirulina = Health”bicycle.

• Food and Roumdé improved cook stoves for Health Parents & Yã-baarυ-sãa/Yã-baarυ-mãa

Health Parents, who have the mission of promoting on a volunteer basis the consumption of Spirulina within their Mutual Solidarity Group, have not been forgotten! Food (bags of local Bagre rice) and local improved cookstoves called "Roumdé" (products vulgarized with the support of the project FAFASO (Foyers Améliorés au FASO) by the GIZ (German Cooperation) have been given to these actors, who operate behind the scene, to stimulate them in the support they give to their MUSO. Beyond the Health Parents being rewarded, it is the effort of the entire MUSO to eat this nutritive and beneficial alga that has been recognized. One more time, many smiles during this ceremony, timely held as a nice introduction to Christmas and New Year festivities.

By these expressions of support, Entrepreneurs du Monde wants to empower the best actors of the Spirulina Project to go further and boost concerns for healthy lifestyles in their communities. Thank you to everyone who helped us to help these tireless health promoters! We wish that spirulina will spread always further to alleviate malnutrition and disease!

Note: In the two years of the projection of these two pilot areas, approximately 275 Kg of spirulina were sold to people!

Reported by W. Modest SOUBEAGA
EdM-BF Program Manager

Spirulina is gaining ground in Dano and Koper: the 2nd promotion of distributors is born!

2010-12-08T16:36:00.005Z

And it makes two! The second promotion of Health Parents (Yãabarυ-saa / Yãabarυ Maa-menaing Health Papa and Health Mama in the local language “Dagara”) and sellers of spirulina (Yãabarυ-ne to mean "health person") is formed and operational since November 10^th 2010.

The network of twenty spirulina distributors of Dano and Koper, Asiena’s areas of intervention, our MFI partner, is thus reinforced by twenty six new actors. They, as their predecessors of the first class formed in June 2010, followed four training modules that are "Spirulina and Nutrition", "Role and responsibilities within the project", "Communication skills”, "Marketing/sales skills for spirulina" provided by the trainer of Entrepreneurs of the World, before being integrated into the project network.

Their mission is to contribute to improve the health of the communities in which they live through direct spirulina sales to people and discounted sales to their Mutual Solidarity (Muso) Group on social grounds.

As a follow-up as well, the Health Parents and Spirulina Sellers of the first promotion have benefited of a refresher session on 11^th and 12^th November. During this meeting, all forty six members of the network were also equipped with transparent plastic jars to store their stock (against mice attacks!) and to transport spirulina for sales. With this new "battalion", spirulina is actually gaining ground in Dano and Koper! Good luck to this new promotion of the project "Spirulina Microfinance and Health” for a world without hunger!

Reported by W. Modest SOUBEAGA

(EdM Program Manager-BF)

Xetic.org: Allowing everyone to finance a project in a few clicks.

2010-11-03T17:51:00.005Z

Internet is currently marking a turning point in the world of microfinance. Anybody can by now be an actor of the microcredit and finance beneficiaries' projects in every corner of the globe by connecting on portals of financing while staying at home.

Xetic.org is a French website created in 2008 which links microfinance and social networking. Indeed, beyond financial services, you can meet other members, create your community of loaners’ friends and finance projects of bigger scale together.

It is not any more about giving but lending money to the beneficiaries. The Institutions of Microfinance partners of Xetic.org, present on the field, guarantee the follow-up of the project as well as the collection of the repayment. Precise information on the needs of the beneficiaries is detailed on the website and you can lend from €20 to €688 (USD 963,47) to realize a project, alone or with others.

Xetic.org is a non-profit association. That is why 10 % of the money lent is attributed to the functioning expenses of the website. For example, for a 20€ loan, it is 18€ which will be paid off to you unless you lent them again for another project. Other financial sponsors such as the Rhône-Alpes department, the Grand Lyon or the Mérieux Foundation allow the association to spread its networking area.

I was lucky to meet this summer in Ouagadougou in Entrepreneurs du Monde’s office in Burkina Faso, Jeremy Camus, creator of the Xetic.org website. At first, internal auditor, it is while he was travelling over the world that he decided to change his life and to create Xetic "to gather people and create new links of solidarity ".

He was looking for new projects to finance so we presented him Laafi Sira Kwieogo and several selected projects from LSK are now on-line and wait only for you to become reality!

(Search for projects by country: Burkina Faso)

More information on www.xetic.org

Some projects in Burkina Faso :

Zénabo SAWADOGO – Selling shoes and cereals.

Sana Issouf NIKIEMA – Trader of itinerant hardware.

Pierre ZOUNGRANA – Dress designer.

M. Dambre (LSK) Partner of Xetic.org in Burkina Faso.

S.A.

2010 Regional Meeting of Entrepreneurs du Monde in Cotonou

2010-10-13T15:57:00.009Z

Last year in Burkina Faso, this time in Benin, MFI partners of EdM in West Africa met together from 20th to 25th September to share their projects and plan the future.

The goal of this Regional Meeting on the theme "Microfinance and Social Performance" was to allow experience sharing about tools used by partner MFIs and debate on the microfinance sector evolution.

Togteher within the West African and French EdM team were 8 MFIS, Laafi Sira Kwiéogo, AsIENa and Microstart from Burkina Faso, Wages from Togo, ID-Ghana and Village Exchange Ghana and IDM Haïti.

One theme a day allowed participants to talk about Strategic orientations ; Transparency, Governance and Microfinance ; Social Entrepreneurship and rural microfinance ; Social performance management: PAT, SPI, Satisfaction survey ; Training. Beside plenary sessions and practical workshops, people also went on field both in Cotonou and in Allada to witness the work of ALIDé in urban and rural areas.

An excellent and informative time, this Regional Meeting highlighted the the speicificities of EdM partners resolutely promoting social microfinance in Africa and the Caribbeans. Everyone promised to be around for the 3rd edition, due to be held in Ghana in 2011.

Samy Assaad.

Discovery of the “Tovi Nonvi” methodology, an adaptation of EdM group methodology

2010-10-05T15:08:00.010Z

In Cotonou, economic capital of Benin, exists a lakeside village on the lake of Toyoyomé. Houses on stilts are only reachable by boat. The living conditions in this village are very bad. The water is unhealthy and vehicles a lot of diseases.

To reach this population excluded from the development that Cotonou is currentlyundergoing, the MFI ALIDé opened a branch near the lake and pilots since 2009 the “Tovi Nonvi” methodology.

It consists in gathering between 10 and 20 people in a group and in granting them an individual credit, depending on their means, either about 20 000 XOF (30 €), refundable in 5 months without interest (“Coup de pouce” in French, a.k.a “Kick Start” loans in Ghana) or the classic “Allodo” loans for richer beneficiaries (there amount and period can vary between 25 000 and 450 000 XOF for the amount and the period can be between 7 and 12 months, with a 2 % interest rate). These loans allow the beneficiaries to start an IGA (Income Generating Activity) or to develop it. This IGA can be the itinerant sale of fruits and vegetables, of fishes, of cooked meals. It can be also a small informal, sewing or doing laundry.

To these services, ALIDé adds a health training component. During the bi-monthly meetings, the loan officer checks presence and collects money, while the social worker conducts the training.

For example, during my visit, the trainer presented the AquaTab product, which makes the water drinkable in a cheaper way than buying it in sachets. Water is the cause of the majority of the diseases in the village, either because it is contaminated during the transport from the pump or during the storage. A ten tablet box costs XOF 125 and 1 tablet can purify 20L of clear water, 2 tablets if it is muddy. One 33cl water sachet costs XOF 25. So, with water sachets, for XOF 150 we have 2L of water and with Aquatab, for the same amount of money, we have 200L. Not to mention the environmental impact, as using AquaTab stops water sachets consumption.

The only downside to this methodology is the absence of some beneficiaries during these group meetings, people who only came for the loans and do not yet value the importance of health training.

Samy Assaad.

Poverty Assessment Tool (PAT) & Social Performance Indicator (SPI)

2010-07-09T20:09:00.008Z

Two complementary tools for a better targeting of the poor and a better follow-up of the social performance.

For its various programs, Entrepreneurs du Monde uses two instruments to estimate the level of poverty of the users and to follow the microfinance institution social performance in an operational and cheap way: the PAT and the SPI.

The PAT:

The Poverty assessment tool is based on a reduced number of indicators taken from national inquiries about standards of living. These indicators are selected according to their capacity (statistics) to determinate poverty level of a household. Not financial indicators concern criteria that we can easily identify, and allow to establish the probability that a person is poor. These criteria are relative to the house, the composition of the family, the health, the education, the finances, the food and the access to the information.

By applying it to all the beneficiaries or just to a representative panel, we can deduct the proportion of beneficiaries who are in situation of poverty. Generally these tools take into account one or two poverty lines:

Extreme poverty line: threshold of $1 US a day a person. Sometimes, this line is fixed to the median of the national threshold of poverty.

Poverty line: threshold of $2 US a day, or national threshold of poverty.

Using this tool before and after loaning a microcredit allows us to notice the

poverty evolution of the person and his family and also to deduct the possible impact of the microcredit.

The SPI:

The tool SPI is a questionnaire intended to estimate the social performance of an IMF. It estimates the principles, the actions, and the corrective measures operated by an IMF to realize its social mission. It consists in three main elements:

• The IMF identity which allows it to be fixed among peers groups. It also gives important data about the finance to balance the social performances results.

• The first part of the questionnaire presents the context and is essential to analyze the institution results with regard to its own mission and its social strategy.

• The second part estimates, with several indicators, the organizational processes based on four dimensions:

1) Targeting the poor men and the outcasts.

2) Adaptation of products and services to the target.

3) Improvement of the economic and social situation of beneficiaries and their families.

4) The social Responsibility of the institution.

In Burkina Faso, Entrepreneurs du Monde helps its partners LSK and Microstart for the implementation of the SPI in July 2010. Asiena, the other IMF partner of Entrepreneurs du Monde in Burkina Faso has already used the SPI in 2009.

Related by Samy Assaad

Source : the SPI Cerise questionnaire, the PAT questionnaire, Cerise

Welcome to the Health Guardians!

2010-06-22T11:44:00.004Z

Here comes the second intake of spirulina sellers and health parents! At the same time, it means that the project ‘Microfinance, spirulina & health” piloted in Koudougou is now being replicated by this new team in the South West of Burkina Faso, in partnership with the MFI Association Inter-Institut Ensemble & Avec (AsIEnA).

The 10 Yã-baaro-nir (the one who brings health and peace ! in local language Dagara), or spirulina sellers and the 10 Yã-baaro-sãa et Yã-baaro-mãa (Father spirulina and Mother spirulina) or spirulina promoters for social sales to the members of the microfinance solidarity groups MUSO have been fully trained and are now ready to be active partisans of the healthy virtues of this green algae.

After an orientation meeting of the solidarity groups organised by AsIEnA, our local partner on this project, Sonia, the local trainer from Entrepreneurs du Monde taught them all the 4 modules. There were as wide ranging from Spirulina and malnutrition and The Roles and responsibilities of spirulina sellers and promoters on the 25th and 26th May to Sales and Marketing techniques and Communication techniques on the 8th and 9th June 2010.

We wish this new group well, as flagship sellers of spirulina in the area of Dano and Koper, so that local people’s health improves!

From Modeste W. SOUBEAGA, Program Manager Entrepreneurs du Monde, Burkina Faso.

Green Gold

2010-01-16T17:28:00.004Z

Published in the January issue of Interdépendances, here is an article (in French) written by Raphaëlle Birot, agricultural engineer and member of the project team that initiated the project of rural sales of spirulina in Burkina Faso.

In 2009, 25 beneficiaries of the MFI AsIEnA distributed over 120kg of spirulina in the villages around Koudougou, we can be hopeful that in 2010, even more malnourished children and adults will be able to add this powerful nutrient to their daily meal...

TresorVert.pdf

Visit of the new FSD Coordinator

2009-09-14T08:12:00.006Z

Today the Chorkor branch received the visit of the new FSD Coordinator, Miss Elise Ponson. As some of you may remember, the FSD (Fund for Social Development) is a fund managed by the French Embassy which aims at bringing a direct support to local NGOs.
In our case, we are receiving this support for the second time, for the development of our 0% interest loan aiming at the most deprived micro entrepreneurs that we call "Kick Start loans".
Elise came on field to discover our methodology and she met with the Mokosane group, made of 13 Kick Start loanees. 2 of them got their loan in June, the rest in July. The average amount they got is GH¢ 44, which they all used in their business, like Rosemary Mensah (see photos below) who purchased Nigerian soap with it, which she sells in her community. In addition, most of the group is now saving GH¢ 1 to GH¢ 2 per week, while before they joined ID-Ghana almost none of them was saving. This kind of behavioural change is made possible thanks to the training the Social Mission team (in this case the Kick Start loan project manager, Godknows Kporha). He gives such trainings on a weekly basis to our Kick Start partners. After all, one could say that the Kick Start loans project is more of a financial education programme than a financial scheme. For rather sooner than later, our ambition is to see these special product beneficiaries be empowered enough to be able to manage a loan on their own, and access greater capital through our "standard" products...

Proud to be a Nakolbzanga!

2009-09-13T11:45:00.003Z

(Narrated by Adelaide Gros)

It’s nearly a year since the spirulina project in partnership with the MFI AsIEnA started in Koudougou, Burkina Faso. The time has therefore come for a first evaluation and it’s an opportunity to discuss with the Nakoglbzanga* and know their feelings and motivations about the project.

I wanted to share with you the conversation I had with Georgette Kansono, Nakoglbzanga from Goundi a nearby village. What struck me most when meeting her is Georgette’s pride. When we mention spirulina, she smiles and immediately launches in a detailed explanation about the benefits the green powder has on people’s health if consumed regularly. She is all the more convincing that she experienced it herself. Since taking 5 grams of spirulina with her daily bowl of rice or to, she sleeps better and feels stronger.
Everybody in the village knows she sells spirulina in the village. And she adds that the recognition she gets from being a Nakoglbzanga is very important. She displays her Nakoglbzanga badge proudly, and head high definitely looks like she is very aware of the responsibility that rests on her shoulders. She surveys the crowd the alleys of the market, shouts with great conviction "spirulina, spirulina" and walks around selling the green and yellow sachets of spirulina. She also explains that she combines the position of Nakoglbzanga, which is a new income-generating activity for her with that of Mama Health, a benevolent role in which she handles the sales that take place within her MUSO ** to the members of the group and their families.

It is now usual that some villagers might come knocking on her door asking for a word of advice, as they have some health issues. Georgette speaks of spirulina with passion and is undoubtedly a great ambassador of this food supplement. But she remains realistic: Yes, spirulina can brings health and is good for everyone, children, adults and elderly alike, but it’s not a drug, it can never replace a chemist or doctor’s prescription. And to enjoy the benefits of spirulina, it must be consumed regularly, not as a one-off like some tables but for at least two or three weeks per year. Sadly at the moment in Burkina Faso, during the lean period, when granaries are empty and fields not yet ready to be harvested, families who live in the countryside can no longer afford to pay for spirulina. At the price of 500 FCFA francs per sachet, even loyal clients can not find the cash and have to wait until next month to resume their treatment. Georgette laments about this situation not because her profits decline during the winter season, but because she really cares about the health of its neighbours and there does not seem to be an easy solution to this pricing problem, local spirulina farms are already selling under margins.
All 25 trained Nakoglbzanga in Koudougou currently face a real challenge to fulfil their task, because customers have less money, but the cost of spirulina remains the same. But the priority remains for Georgette and the other Nakoglbzanga of the project to inform people about the benefits of spirulina and to try by all means to make it accessible to people living in the bush. In the meantime, EdM and AsIEnA are also talking with the farms to see how to possibly reduce the costs and selling prices, while not impacting on the sustainability of the project or the viability of farms ... A fine balance to strike...

* Spirulina sellers and counsellors, they are all members of the MFI AsIEna and belong to different MUSO. The name means 'the one who looks after the well-being of all' in the local dialect Moré.
** MUSO, Mutuelle Solidarité, a solidarity group of men and women who belong to the MFI AsIEnA.