In 1999 Lutheran World Federation / Department for World Service (LWF/ DWS) developed guidelines for implementation of microfinance activities in all the LWF country programs in the Southern Africa. This was followed by a workshop organized in Bangladesh in 2001 where Evangelical Lutheran Development Program (ELDP) then was represented. At this time Lutheran Development Service (LDS) in Zimbabwe was already implementing micro-finance projects using the Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) approach. Another exposure workshop was then organized in Bulawayo where some staff from various LWF country programs ware invited to get exposed in order to initiate similar projects in their various country programs.
This was also followed by a SALDAN consultation workshop in Lilongwe Malawi in March 2003 where a decision was made to initiate one pilot SACCO or microfinance project in each country program in the Region. In September 2003 a regional microfinance workshop was organized in Lusaka Zambia and ELDP was also represented. After this workshop ELDP submitted a budget to Church of Sweden and ELDP was supported with USD 30,000 which was used to initiate the microfinance project. Needs assessment, sensitization and mobilization meetings then started in Karonga and a pilot project was initiated.
Other Regional workshops were also conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Maputo Mozambique, Mbabane Swaziland and Lilongwe here in Malawi respectively. In such workshops participants update each other of progress of microfinance projects in their respective country programs and also share experiences. Church of Sweden provides financial support to such workshops and also hires consultants to facilitate trainings during the course of the workshops on specific areas of interest to the participants.
During the regional workshop in Malawi participants made a recommendation to have another workshop where consultants would train participants in microfinance strategic planning for the programs and for the SACCOs.
This was also followed by a SALDAN consultation workshop in Lilongwe Malawi in March 2003 where a decision was made to initiate one pilot SACCO or microfinance project in each country program in the Region. In September 2003 a regional microfinance workshop was organized in Lusaka Zambia and ELDP was also represented. After this workshop ELDP submitted a budget to Church of Sweden and ELDP was supported with USD 30,000 which was used to initiate the microfinance project. Needs assessment, sensitization and mobilization meetings then started in Karonga and a pilot project was initiated.
Other Regional workshops were also conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Maputo Mozambique, Mbabane Swaziland and Lilongwe here in Malawi respectively. In such workshops participants update each other of progress of microfinance projects in their respective country programs and also share experiences. Church of Sweden provides financial support to such workshops and also hires consultants to facilitate trainings during the course of the workshops on specific areas of interest to the participants.
During the regional workshop in Malawi participants made a recommendation to have another workshop where consultants would train participants in microfinance strategic planning for the programs and for the SACCOs.
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