• Zambia
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  • Access to Finance
  • VSLAS (Village Saving & Loan Associations)
  • VSLAS (Village Saving & Loan Associations)

Village Savings and Loans Associations

Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) are groups usually formed by the underprivileged in society to offer sustainable micro-finance services such as micro savings and micro credit among others in places with no access to prescribed financial services. VSLAs are self-managed initiatives and normally do not receive any external capital. They provide members with a safe place to save their monies and acquire small loans from among themselves.

VSLAs focus on building savings and assets as well as providing credit proportionate to the needs and repayment capacities of the borrowers. Groups are usually low cost and simple to manage, which allows women and youths to reach a formal and wider array of financial services. VSLAs raise the self-respect of individual members and help to build social capital within various communities, particularly among women.

angle-left Christian Entrepreneurs Women Network

Christian Entrepreneurs Women Network

Overview:

  • CEWN was established in June 2017 and registered under the registrar of Society Act on 6th June 2017. It was established to address the challenges faced by women and youth entrepreneurs. Its vision is “a Zambia, where women and youths are empowered Spiritually, Economically and Socially.”
  • CEWN has got 300 women in urban and more than 200 in the rural in Village Savings and Lending Groups (VSLAs) – who have cycles of savings and borrowing of loans; at the end of the cycle they share out and begin other cycles of savings and borrowing
  • The VSLA schemes are done in partnership with Cavmont Bank to provide security and credibility.

How women entrepreneurs can leverage CEWN:

They need to become affiliated members of CEWN and become part of the VSLA groups.

Contact details:

CEWN President
Reverend Evelyn Chama
SEDB House (Government Building), Along Cairo Road – Opposite Findeco House, Lusaka Zambia

Telephone: +260 977827289 or 0963098954

Email Address: cewn2017@gmail.com

Kind of Training Offered:

  1. VSLA formation
  2. Financial literacy
  3. Skills training – e.g. tomato processing, flower arrangement, mushroom growing etc. 
  4. Leadership training
  5. Mentorship and coaching

The Enrolment Criteria/Requirements:

  • Enrolment is open to all women and youths who are interested in joining.

Fees:

  • They usually pay annual membership fee – K100 annually.

Frequency:

  • Trainings are done in rural and urban settings to CEWN members.

Additional services beneficial to women entrepreneurs are provided:

  • Business networking and linkages
  • Continuous mentorship and coaching

Kind of events organized by the institution/organization:

Organizes business networking meetings bringing together SMEs, government and other cooperating partners - also takes part in showcasing/exhibitions of products sold by women and youth entrepreneurs.

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