MILELE FOUNDATION - Tanzania

Quick information guide

Importance of VSLAs

Village Savings and Loans Associations play an important role by:

Providing a nearby trustworthy financial institution that allows members to save and borrow money for their small businesses
Helping women entrepreneurs to learn from peers when it comes to doing business
Allowing members to instantly respond to emergencies

How can VSLAs be leveraged on for economic growth?

For VSLAs to be profitable, members need to:

Invest in capacity building such in financial literacy, mentorship, etc
Ensure good leadership for financial and behaviour control
Explore and invest into profitable income generating activities

Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) in Tanzania

Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) are groups of people (maximum 30) commonly formed by poor target communities to provide sustainable and profitable micro finance services such as micro servings, micro-credits, micro insurance and many others.

In Tanzania, the VSLAs started in 2000 and ever since they have been evolving. To date the VSLAs have become popular in the remote areas of Tanzania where they constitute alternatives to formal financial services.

Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO)

SIDO runs capacity building programmes aiming to enhance women's capacity in a number of areas

World Vision International Tanzania (WVT)

WVIT provides capacity building in different areas that include VSLAs formation, record keeping, entrepreneurship etc...

MILELE FOUNDATION

ABOUT MILELE

Targeting the remote and underserved areas, Milele Foundation is working closely with government agencies and other partners to support provision of education, health and livelihoods in different constituencies in Zanzibar. The Organization also has been able to deliver the large-scale infrastructure, capacity building projects and developmental programs.

SERVICE PROVIDED

Kind of training supports Provided

Financial Management
Savings
Leadership
Soft skills and technical skills

Enrollment criteria

Must be a member of a VSLA women group reaching a maximum of 20 members
Community Resource Personnel in every shehia assists women in the formulation of VSLA groups before enrolling them into the programs
Payment: Is free of charge but they need to follow the VSLA loaning scheme that allow them to contribute the least amount of money (from 1000/- shillings every month).
The frequency: the training provided once the formation of group completedAdditional Services

Livelihood Programs

Fursa Kijani (Green Opportunity): is a youth program that empowers young Zanzibaris with sustainable livelihood skills through the approach of Permaculture (Natural Farming and Regenerative Design). The general objective of the youth empowerment program is to increase formal employment and income generation opportunities of female and male youth in the agriculture sector in general and in green jobs in particular.
Milele Innovation park: This project aims to empower youth and women by opening up opportunities in agribusiness industry and seaweed through encouraging innovation and value addition. The focus will be on developing demand driven “Made in Zanzibar” products to be sold in local and international markets.
Revolving Fund: Zanzibar Technology and Business Incubator (ZTBI) together with Milele Zanzibar Foundation (MZFN) initiated a joitn program called MZFN-ZTBI Revolving Fund” to support startup entrepreneurs who are incubated at ZTBI. This fund is expected to strengthen their business. The joint ZTBI - MZF Guarantee Fund is for startup entrepreneurs dealing in three categories of Business; Agribusiness, ICT and Tourism.

Events Organized

Connect the VSLAs women group to attend SABA SABA and NANE NANE exhibitions in Dar es Salaam.

Contacts

Address: P.O. Box 933 Mbweni, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Email: info@mzfn.org
Phone: +255 772 229997
Website: www.mzfn.org