Who we are
What we do
How we do it
Where we work
It works - results!

News

Vacancy 2 program advisors Mali and Burkina Faso
New staff Rwanda
Transparent pricing in Ethiopia
AMIR about SPM project

News

Vacancy 2 program advisors Mali and Burkina Faso

21 February 2012Terrafina Microfinance is looking for 2 program advisors for its team West Africa, to be stationed in Mali and Burkina Faso. The program advisors play an important role in the Capacity Building programs for the Terrafina Microfinance partners in the West Africa region. Applications can be sent to talentsplusmali@gmail.com before March 1, 2012.Download the full text of the job announcement with the requirements.

New staff Rwanda

06 February 2012Two new Program Advisors (Patrick Birasa and Therence Barabwiriza) have recently joined our East Africa team. They will be based in Rwanda to serve our program in the Great Lakes region.We consider it vital to position ourselves closer to our partners in the region to serve our purpose of promoting access to finance in rural areas best. With the appointment of these two Program Advisors we take a next step in our decentralization process and literally position ourselves closer to our partners.As of 2009 Microfinance Advisor Frank Bakx was already stationed in Rwanda.

Transparent pricing in Ethiopia

03 February 2012MFTransparency recently launched pricing data of microloans offered by microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Ethiopia. Six of the eight Ethiopian MFI partners of Terrafina Microfinance have participated. In total 16 MFIs, out of the 30 MFIs in the country, submitted their data. This includes the government affiliated MFIs, who serve 75% of the sector.The data shows that the participating Terrafina partners are operating in line with the industry’s averages. All partners have products with below average interest rates, but some also have more expensive loans.

AMIR about SPM project

06 December 2011The Rwandan microfinance network AMIR just launched its first microfinance newsletter. Part of the newsletter is about Terrafina Microfinance’s support regarding social performance management (SPM). We started this SPM project with AMIR in 2010 as a first identification of possibilities with SPM in Rwanda. We would like to work on both network level and microfinance institution level on SPM, and encourage collaboration with other parties experienced in SPM, such as MFC. Download AMIR’s newsletter to read more about the SPM project.

Partner Harbu in Zoom microfinance

23 November 2011SOS Faim spent an interesting issue of Zoom microfinance on describing a soybean value chain in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. An extensive part of the issue focuses on the role of our partner Harbu MFI, which is highly involved in financing the soybean value chain. Harbu does this through offering loans for farm inputs, working capital loans, and lease arrangements.Terrafina Microfinance has supported Harbu MFI in this from the beginning with advice and financial means.

Reader on value chain finance available now

02 November 2011Together with the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) Terrafina Microfinance published a digital interactive reader on value chain finance. This reader is the product of collaboration between various members of the Rural Finance & Innovation Action Group of the e-MFP in 2009 and 2010. It explores current practices of donors and financiers in the field of value chain finance on the basis of publications, as well as unpublished materials made available by the e-MFP members and their partner organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Ethiopia: African MF Week

26 September 2011Terrafina Microfinance's Technical Advisor Harm Haverkort, fieldpost Adis Abeba, participated at the African Microfinance Week. The conference created an interesting platform with various actors in the African MF sector. The subject was related to ‘inclusive finance'. Various speakers presented many experiences and especially the Ethiopian MF was highlighted many times. The cooperatives, the government and non government owned MFIs used the opportunity to promote their organizations.

CSR support Jobwave

26 September 2011Jobwave Careerservices owner Margo Scholtes was triggered by the photography of Terrafina's MFI partners and clients by Raymond Rutting, featuring at a major exposition at the Geldmuseum and on the Terrafina website. She is dedicated to entrepreneurship through microfinance and decided to support Terrafina Microfinance anually with a percentage of Jobwave's gross income. To support the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) vision of Jobwave she made a short movie for the homepage of her website.

Mali Mission Update

22 September 2011Mali mission update Lead Program officer Nadia Ouriemchi, Fund manager Cor Wattel and Monitoring Officer Fransien Wolters returned from a mission to Mali. Below a short update on their findings: Joint Planning 2012 2010 was used for mapping posibilities of joined Terrafina / ICCO / Oikocredit interventions in West Africa. The joint planning exercise that took place this September proved to be very positive and produced concrete ideas of collaboration. For 2012 we hope to realize the following activities in Mali;

Senegal APSFD

05 September 2011Grâce à l'appui de Terrafina Microfinance, l'Association Professionnelle des Systèmes Financiers Décentralisés au Sénégal (APSFD) est dotée d'un plan cadre de formation d'une durée de 3 ans.

Rwanda New Times on VCF conference

05 September 2011Read the Rwanda New Times report the the VCF conference that took place in Kigali, Rwanda on 26 August.

Rwanda Celine van Soest report

01 September 2011Celine van Soest has been assisting a Rwandese MFI for a period of 6 months, helping to improve the accounting and reporting routines and credit processes. Her report is in Dutch. For more information contact Celine or Terrafina Microfinance's Mariel Mensink. HET LOT VAN EEN MICROFINANCIERINGSINSTELLING

Rwanda VCF working conference

29 August 2011Press Release Working Conference on ‘Value Chain Financing in the Agricultural Sector' August 29th - 30th, 2011, Hotel Mille Collines, Kigali

Senegal merging process

29 August 2011Terrafina Microfinance is supporting a merging process in Senegal in the Louga region between 3 cooperative networks; MEC Fadec Njambur, MECAPP and Djomec. The merging consists of the creation of a Union called Consortium des Muruelles de la Region de Louga (CMRL), to which the 3 others cooperatives will become affiliated. The General Constitutive Assembly of the Union was successfully organized on 30 June 2011 under the presidency of the "gouverneur adjoint de Louga chargé du Développement.

Annual Update 2010

28 June 2011The Annual Update 2010 of Terrafina Microfinance is now available in English and in French at the IT WORKS! - RESULTS chapter of our website under Annual Updates.

MFI partners in board APSFD

26 May 2011New election of APSFD board members in Senegal It is a real pleasure for Terrafina Microfinance to congratulate the managers of our partner MFIs on their nomination to key APSFD positions, as we know the major importance that the National Network is expected to play in the coming years to strengthen the microfinance sector in the country.

Partenaires IMF élus a l'APFSD

26 May 2011Renouvellement des membres des organes de l'APFSD Sénégal C'est avec beaucoup de plaisir que Terrafina Microfinance prend acte de la nomination des dirigeants partenaires IMF à postes clés quand on sait l'importance majeure que l'Association professionnelle est amenée à jouer pour renforcer le secteur de la microfinance dans le pays. Le 18 mai 2011, l'APSFD a tenu son Assemblée Générale au cours de laquelle des élections se sont tenues en vue du renouvellement des membres des organes d'administration et de gestion.

Visit Princess to Mali

23 May 2011On 12 and 13 May HRH Princess Máxima of The Netherlands visited Mali in her capacity of UN Secretary General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance For Development. Her main focus was on learning how mobile banking through cell phone was organised by the telecom operator Orange. Besides that she had meetings with the president of Mali, the Ministeries, donor organisations and the private sector.

Terrafina in the news

19 May 2011Terrafina Microfinance appeared in diverse publications recently. See below for an overview; Interview Frank Bakx in Oikocredit Magazine Andersom Jaarmagazine Raboscoop Bankieren met een missie European Microfinance Platform Newsletter spring 2011, page 5 and 6, about partner Harbu MFI in Ethiopia winning the 3rd European Microfinance Award for its value chain - soy bean - initiative. Internationale Samenwerking IS Magazine May 2011 published a week in the life of Terrafina Microfinance advisor Bart de Bruyne at our fieldpost Mali.

Subscribe to Terrafina NEWS

19 May 2011If you want to subscribe to receiving automatic NEWS items at the Terrafina Microfinance website, you can subscribe here form email updates from our RSS feed.

Terrafina CPP signatory

19 May 2011Terrafina Microfinance is signatory of the Smart Campaign, promoting the Consumer Protection Principles for microfinance (CPP). With this step, we are formalizing our support for the CPP. In practice, Terrafina Microfinance was already actively supporting the CPP through its Social Performance programmes in Mali and Ethiopia and committed to promoting the CPP and to monitoring its partner MFIs' use of the CPP. For more information contact us at info@terrafina.nl.

Weblog Rwanda Celine van Soest

19 May 2011Keep updated about the work Celine is doing together with MFI Sager Ganza, Rwanda. If you want to receive an e-mail as soon as Celine posts a new item on her weblog, you can subscribe here.

Interview Frank Bakx in Andersom

15 March 2011Interview Frank Bakx in Andersom Oikocredit Frank Bakx is Terrafina's Senior Microfinance Advisor for the Great Lakes region, stationed in Kigali, Rwanda. Ronald Everts interviewed him about the microfinance situation in Rwanda and Burundi for the March edition of the Oikocrecit magazine Andersom.

Chairperson Terrafina

14 March 2011Terrafina Microfinance is happy to present Mr. Ben Beuming as chairperson of its Board of Governors. The last 20 years, Ben Beuming has been associated with the Wageningen University and Research group, in the management of international education and capacity development programmes at Wageningen International, the Centre for Development Innovation (former IAC) and Larenstein International Agricultural College. In the period 1976-1989, Beuming worked abroad for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in rural development programmes in West Africa and Asia.

Congo DRC transition

14 March 2011Based on strategic choices of Terrafina Microfinance and its mother organizations Terrafina will stop its partnerships in Congo DRC before end of 2011. Harm Haverkort travelled to Congo DRC for a last regular visit to our MFI partners Hekima and Paidek and the network GAMF.

Burundi BRS factsheet

14 March 2011The BRS factsheet has been introduced to MFI partners in Burundi. This tool assists the MFI in their financial and operational monitoring. It is a relatively simple tool that provides the organization with relevant key data that are in line with the international standards (CGAP). 4 of the 7 MFI's will be able to use the factsheet without any backup support in the near future. The rest will require further support.

Ethiopia local banks funding microfinance

14 March 2011Harm Haverkort and consultant Chales Ruys succesfully discussed new loans for MFIs from local commercial banks, guaranteed by Terrafina Microfinance through the ICCO guarantee fund. Up to 2005-6, it was really difficult for Ethiopian MFIs to find loans to expand their microfinance portfolios. Foreign lenders cannot operate in Ethiopia, and local banks were not familiar enough with the microfinance sector. After a long preparation process, Terrafina started in 2008 with the first guarantees on local bank loans.

Président Conseil de Gouverneurs

14 March 2011Terrafina Microfinance est heureuse de vous présenter M. Ben Beuming à titre de président du conseil des gouverneurs. Les 20 dernières années, Ben Beuming a été associé à l'Université de Wageningen et le groupe de recherche, dans la gestion de l'éducation internationale et les programmes de développement des capacités à Wageningen International, le Centre pour le développement innovation (IAC ancien) et College agricultural.Larenstein International

Congo DRC Transition

14 March 2011Basé sur les choix stratégiques de Terrafina Microfinance et de ses organisations mères Terrafina arrêtera son partenariat au Congo RDC avant la fin de 2011. Harm Haverkort s'est rendu régulièrement au Congo RDC pour une dernière visite à nos IMF partenaires : Hekima, PAIDEK et le réseau GAMF.

Burundi BRS fiche d'information

14 March 2011La fiche d'information BRS a été présentée aux partenaires IMF au Burundi. Cet outil aide les IMF dans le suivi financier et opérationnel. C'est un outil relativement simple qui permet à l'organisation des données clés qui sont en conformité avec les normes internationales (CGAP). 4 des 7 IMF seront en mesure d'utiliser la fiche d'information sans aucun soutien de sauvegarde dans un proche avenir. Pour le reste, il faudra un soutien supplémentaire.

Ethiope financement banques locales

14 March 2011Ethiopie microfinance banques locales de financement Harm Haverkort et le consultant Charles Ruys ont discutés avec succès au sujet de nouveaux prêts les IMF provenant des banques commerciales locales, garanti par Terrafina Microfinance à travers le fond de garantie ICCO.

Oikocredit chiffres de 2010

14 March 2011En collaboration avec ICCO et Rabobank Foundation, Oikocredit est l'un des fondateurs de Terrafina Microfinance. Les chiffres de 2010: Oikocredit aiguise le rendement financier et social en 2010

Oikocredit 2010 figures

03 March 2011Together with ICCO and Rabobank Foundation, Oikocredit is one of the founders of Terrafina Microfinance. 2010 figures: Oikocredit sharpens financial and social return in 2010 Amersfoort, 2 March 2011 - In 2010, concerns have accompanied successes in the development finance sector. For Oikocredit - one of the world's largest private microfinance financiers - the year was one of solid social and financial performance and further innovations in the field of social performance management.

PIIF signé

28 February 2011Le 27 Janvier Oikocredit, partenaire du consortium de Terrafina Microfinance et 40 autres investisseurs en microfinance a signé les Principes pour les investisseurs dans la Finance Inclusive (PIIF). En signant les principes, les investisseurs affirment leur engagement à un traitement équitable et la protection des intérêts du ultime final dans la finance inclusive.

Transparence MF aux pays cibles

28 February 2011L'organisation MF Transparency favorise la transparence dans les taux d'intérêt effectifs pour le client, et peut se rencontrer dans les pays ouTerrafina exerce à voire : Sénégal, Burkina Faso et le Rwanda.

E-MFP énoncé sur chaînes de valeur

28 February 2011Un large soutien international pour des leçons de politique sur le financement des chaînes de valeur". La Plate-forme européenne de la microfinance a publié un énoncé de politique sur la chaîne de valeur des Finances. En tant que chef du groupe de finance rurale de l'e-MPF, Terrafina Microfinance a pris l'initiative de rassembler les enseignements tirés et les meilleures pratiques des praticiens du Nord financement de la chaîne de valeur. GTZ, la FAO, le FIDA et la Banque mondiale ont suivi cette initiative.

VCF statement by e-MFP

03 February 2011"Wide international support for policy lessons on value-chain finance" The European Microfinance Platform published a Policy Statement on Value Chain Finance. As lead of the Rural Finance Group of e-MPF, Terrafina Microfinance took the initiative to assemble lessons learned and best practices of Northern value chain finance practitioners. GTZ, FAO, IFAD en World Bank followed this initiative. The lead of the e-MFP Rural Finance group was transferred in November 2010. Topic: Rural outreach and innovation Experts: Mariel Mensink for Terrafina Microfinance,

PIIF signed

01 February 2011On the 27th of January Terrafina's consortium partner Oikocredit and 40 other microfinance investors signed the Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance (PIIF). By signing the principles, investors state their commitment to fair treatment and protection of the interests of the ultimate client in inclusive finance.

MF Transparancy

01 February 2011The organisation MF Transparency promotes transparency in effective interest rates for the client, and can now also be found in Terrafina countries Senegal, Burkina Faso and Rwanda. Country per country, they collect data about nominal rates, fees, compulsory savings and other conditions, to publish the APR and EIR data for all the MFIs in a given country. This is a powerful tool to strengthen the clients' bargaining power vis-a-vis the MFIs.

January Great Lakes visit

31 January 2011Three Terrafina colleagues visited The Great Lakes Region in January. Fund Manager Cor Wattel and Programme Officers Mariel Mensink and Harm Haverkort are travelling Rwanda, Harm is winding up Terrafina business in Congo DRC and will travell to Burundi and Ethiopia the first week of February. Updates on Congo, Burundi, Ethiopia will follow. Uganda Cor Wattel and Mariel Mensink renewed their acquintance with the staff of the ICCO field office in Kampala. Rwanda

Silver Camera for Rutting

31 January 2011Terrafina congratulates her 'house photographer' Raymond Rutting with winning The Silver Camera competition 2010 in two categories: Daily News - single In April 2010 the dune area around Bergen aan Zee went up in flames. Domestic (Dutch) News - series 25 Year old Luc Janzen was killed in the Afghan province Uruzgan and is remembered by Kamp Holland before being repatriated.

Update Senegal

27 January 2011For the Senegal programme consultant Ellie Bosch is involved in; 1. Capacity Building Program; coaching/supervising the first phase of the Capacity Building Programme for 6 MFIs/cooperative networks in northern Senegal A - First phase B - Second phase Trainings for 1000 persons 2. Coaching a fusion process between cooperative networks. Ad 1.

€ 10.500 Photo Auction

20 January 2011 € 10,500 were the proceeds of the benefit aucition held on 13 January at the Geldmuseum Utrecht. For more information see the press release. In collaboration with Terrafina Microfinance and The Art of News Foundation - Geldmuseum organized a benefit auction of 27 portraits photographer Raymond Rutting. The images figure proud microfinance entrepreneurs in Senegal, Ethiopia and Rwanda all of whom are clients of Terrafina's MFI partners.

Support Sager Ganza Rwanda

18 January 2011During 6 months - February to August 2011 - Celine van Soest will work with MFI Sager Ganza Microfinance in Rwanda. She will support the MFI to professionalise their financial reporting and credit and savings related processes and procedures. Her first task is to carry out an organisational analysis in order to make an inventory of the required improvements.

Update Great Lakes Region

18 January 2011An update on activities in Rwanda and Burundi from June-December 2010 by Frank Bakx, Technical Advisor at our fieldpost Kigali. June Value Chain Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, with TMF, AMIR, IPER and MinAgri. August Mission Rabobank/AMIR for vision development on the microfinance sector in Rwanda. September Training sessions for the small Clecams on the development of a vision and mission and the writing of short term actionplans with the assitance of MDF Goma. October

5 years Terrafina!

10 January 2011On the 6th of December Terrafina Microfinance celebrated her first lustrum with the team, the colleagues from ICCO, Oikocredit and Rabobank Foundation, and some external guests from organizations with whom we are closely cooperating. Just to mention a few; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eureko, Microned and Agriprofocus. The presence of many colleagues from our founding partners ICCO, Rabobank Foundation and Oikocredit symbolized the fact that Terrafina is a co-production of three organizations, and not an organization in itself. Interesting exchange

Photo book

10 January 2011To mark her first lustrum, Terrafina Microfinance published the photo book ‘The potential of rural microfinance'. Terrafina's marketing communication advisor Marie-Catrien Goddijn organized three photo journeys to partner MFI's and their clients in Senegal, Ethiopia and Rwanda and she invited Dutch prize-winning / Volkskrant photographer Raymond Rutting to join her. Together they set out to to capture in images and in words the phenomenal energy of entrepreneurship through microfinance in Africa. In fact; the potential of rural microfinance.

Photo auction 13 January

10 January 2011On 13 January The Geldmuseum Utrecht - in collaboration with Terrafina Microfinance and The Art of News Foundation - organizes a benefit auction of 27 portraits of Volkskrant photographer Raymond Rutting. The images will be auctioned by Sothebys and figure proud microfinance entrepreneurs in Senegal, Ethiopia and Rwanda all of whom are clients of Terrafina's MFI partners. Revenues to irrigation

Happy New Year

01 January 2011Terrafina Microfinance wishes all its partners and relations a Happy New Year full of accomplishemt and promise. Terrafina Microfinance souhaite à tous ces partenaires et relations une bonne année pleine de reussite et de promesses!

Harbu wins European MF Award

14 December 2010Terrafina Microfinance is very happy to congratulate Harbu MFI in Ethiopia on receiving the European Microfinance Award 2010! Terrafina Microfinance was involved with advise and finances from the start of the soybean value chain. Stichting Bomen tot in de Hemel - a foundation of Jumbo Supermarkets, was involved in the financing of this project.

Photo expo Geldmuseum Utrecht

14 October 2010One of our most talented prize-winning Dutch photographers, Raymond Rutting, travelled with Marie-Catrien Goddijn to Ethopia, Senegal and Rwanda. His comission: ‘'portray the core business of Terrafina Microfinance which is ‘'energizing entrepreneurship through microfinance''. Rutting photographed the African entrepreneurs who received microcredits from MFI's, supported by Terrafina Microfinance. All photographs can also be seen on the Terrafina Microfinance website.

Photo exposition Hogeschool Utrecht

14 September 2010Photo exposition Microfinance and Climate Change Commissioned by Terrafina Microfinance, photo journalist Raymond Rutting from the Art of News Foundation took some beautiful and energizing images of microfinance clients in Senegal, Ethiopia and Rwanda. For ICCO Rutting travelled to Mali to picture the results of the climate change. The photos will be on display from 21 September to 12 October 2010 in the Faculty of Economy of the Hogeschool Utrecht, Padualaan 101, at ‘de Uithof'.

Burkina Atelier 'IMF en mileu rural'

31 May 2010Le 12 mars 2010 un atelier sur la portée des IMF en milieu rural a été organisé à Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou par Terrafina Microfinance en partenariat avec l'UTE, la DMF et l'APIM.

Mise à Jour 2009

18 May 2010Curieux au sujet des déboursements annuels, l'affectation des subventions, des défis et des points culminants pour Terrafina Microfinance en 2009 ? Notre Mise à Jour Annuelle 2009 vous amènera à jour au sujet des dernières figures. Also available in English.

Annual Update 2009

18 May 2010Curious about the disbursements, grants allocations, challenges and highlights for Terrafina Microfinance in 2009? Our Annual Update 2009 will bring you up to date about the latest figures. Aussie disponible en français.

New book on Value Chain Finance

10 May 2010On Thursday 22 April, the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam presented a new book on Value Chain Finance , 'Value chain finance: Beyond microfinance for rural entrepreneurs'' and hosted 3 'break out sessions' on the role of local banks in Value Chain Finance. Terrafina Microfinance expert Mariel Mensink chaired one of those sessions. The aim of the event was to bring together different areas of expertise to discuss innovative ways of delivering financial services to rural producers and agribusinesses, and the challenges that are involved.

Princess Máxima visits Rwanda project

13 April 2010Early April HRH Princess Máxima of The Netherlands was in Rwanda for a short working visit in her capacity as UN Secretary General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. She had discussions with some MicroFinance Institutions, and with the microfinance network AMIR, on Client Protection issues and access to agricultural credit. During her two-days' stay she also visited the savings and credit cooperative ITI in the Northern tea region. ITI is partner of Terrafina Microfinance and technically supported by our local technical advisor Frank Bakx.

Joint planning West Africa programme

12 April 2010Coordinator Cor Wattel and senior staff Nadia Ouriemchi and Bart de Bruyne spent two full days in Mali on planning with Oikocredit and ICCO for the West Africa programme for 2011-2015. ‘' I just came back from a short but very satisfactory mission to Mali, jointly with Nadia and Bart. We reached good conclusions and the meeting reinforced the spirit of joint action and synergies with Oikocredit and now also with ICCO's regional office (established in 2008)." (Cor Wattel)

Planification conjointe Afrique de l'Ouest

12 April 2010Le Coordinateur du programme, Cor Wattel et les cadres Nadia Ouriemchi et Bart de Bruyne ont passés deux jours au Mali avec Oikocredit et ICCO dans le cadre de la planification du programme Afrique de l'Ouest pour 2011-2015 ."

Micro View flight for Ethiopian MFIs

11 April 2010Micro View is a spectalulair flight of 20.000 kilometers in two 'microlights', small airplanes with open cockpits. With their flight Thom de Wit and Merle Pijlman want to draw Dutch attention to microcredit as a tool to help develop local economies and for poverty reduction. Another objective is to raise funds for a.o. Terrafina Microfinance's partners Busaa Gonofaa and Harbu in Ethiopia.

Expo at Africa Day 24 April

06 April 2010At the Afica Day on April 24 in The Hague, Terrafina Microfinance founder ICCO will be present with a stand and two workshops in line with their campaigns on 'Woman stand stronger' and 'Fair Climate'. During this day Terrafina Microfinance will present its work with the photo exposition "Microfinance entrepreneurs in Africa". Commissioned by Terrafina, photographer Raymond Rutting portrayed microfinance entrepreneurs in Senegal and Ethiopia. This resulted in a beautifull coverage of which 10 photos will be shown with each its own story to tell.

L'initiative PUCA pour le PPI

01 March 2010L'initiative PUCA visant à promouvoir l'outil de mesure de la pauvreté PPI a été annoncée par une coupure de presse le 18 Fevrier 2010 par la Fondation Grameen. PUCA (Coalition des Utilisateurs du PPI TM en Afrique) est une approche multipartite pour la mise en œuvre du PPI, qui regroupe les organisations de soutien aux Institutions de Microfinance (IMF) tels que Terrafina, PlanetFinance, Oikocredit, CRS, et Grameen Foundation en collaboration avec les Associations Professionnelles au Mali et au Senegal.

PUCA initiative for PPI

18 February 2010The PUCA initiative to promote the Poverty Assessment tool PPI, was announced in a press release by Grameen Foundation on 18 February 2010. PUCA (PPI Users Collaborative in Africa) consists of a joint approach of Terrafina Microfinance, Oikocredit, Catholic Relief Services, Planet Rating and Grameen Foundation together with the national microfinance networks in Mali and Senegal to implement the PPI.

Co-financing opportunities Rabobank Foundation

16 February 2010Rabobank Foundation sees opportunities for more co-financing in Ethiopia In February Rabobank Foundation's Albert Boogaard and program officer Mariel Mensink visited Terrafina Microfinance projects together. Rabobank Foundation was an enthusiastic participant researching the possibilities for co-financing rural saccos and coffee cooperatives.

Rwanda: Système de marquage crédit

08 February 2010Rwanda: Système de marquage crédit Dans l'année 2009, avec l'arrivée de premier Conseiller Technique de Terrafina Microfinance sur le terrain, Terrafina a introduit un système de marquage de crédit dans trois coopératives d'épargne et de crédit. L'objectif est de systématiser l'analyse des demandes de crédits, tant productifs que de consommation, et rendre la prise de décision plus objective.

Burundi: études pour épargne et marketing

08 February 2010Burundi: études pour épargne et marketing

Congo: renforcer coopération stratégique

08 February 2010Congo: renforcer coopération stratégique Les provinces de Nord en Sud Kivu du Congo RDC resteront dans une situation de manque de sécurité et carences de respect de la législation et règlementation. La soutenance des IMF est menacée par les échecs de quelques opérateurs faussés et corrompus.

Financial projections tool MicroVision

11 January 2010How to make financial projections? In November 2009, Terrafina Microfinance organised a workshop about financial projections. Nine MFIs and nine consultants - all from Senegal and Burkina Faso - were trained in using MicroVision, a new tool for making projections. The participants considered both the MicroVision tool and the workshop as a great success.

Ethiopia Photo impression

07 December 2009Marie-Catrien Goddijn took top photograper Raymond Rutting to Ethiopia to portray microfinance clients. Have a look here! On the road we also encountered severe drought problems caused by climate change.

Introducing MFI Factsheet

09 November 2009The BRS / MFI Factsheet will be introduced to partner MFIs in West Africa and the Horn as a performance monitoring and management tool. The Great Lakes region will follow gradually. Contact Nadia Ouriemchi.

Ethiopia: SPM

06 November 2009Next to Buusa Gonofaa and Wasasa, a third MFI called Methemamen is now participating in the SPM programme supported by Terrafina. All MFIs have used the QAT analysis developed by MFC (link) to asses possible interventions in the field of social performance monitoring. Two more MFIs will follow. Contact Mariel Mensink.

Rwanda: Warehouse Receipt Financing

05 November 2009CAF Isonga developed the Warehouse Receipt Financing product with a loan from Rabobank Foundation. Talks about extension of funding are ongoing with Banque Populair. IFDC is actively promoting the product to other MFIs in the region. The unions will receive systematic training and follow up for a period of 3 years, and will be provided with some capital (grants and loans) to improve operations and apply lessons learned. Contact Frank Bakx at the Terrafina fieldpost in Kigali.

Ethiopia: local bank guarantees

04 November 2009Successfully following the first steps taken in 2008, Terrafina pioneered in linkages between MFIs Wasasa, Busaa Gonofaa and SFPI and local banks to facilitate a commercial loan of local banks for the MFIs with the current guarantees of 600.000 EUR. Ca 25.000 additional clients will be serviced. The guarantees are now totalling four and have been provided in collaboration with BRS (Belgium) Ada (Luxembourg) and Cordaid. Contact Mariel Mensink.

West Africa cooperation

03 November 2009A joined visit by Rabobank Foundation, Oikocredit and Terrafina to West Africa resulted in strengthening the basis for a shared loans programme for coops and CVCAS by Oikocredit and Rabobank. Contact Nadia Ouriemchi.

Update 2008 English/French

02 November 2009An annual program Update 2008 can be downloaded in English and French.

Burundi: Group Lending

30 October 2009In close collaboration with the national MFI network of Burundi, RIM a 2 year training program about Group Lending Methodologies started mid September. Prior to trainings for MFI personnel an extensive inventory was held of the present situation in group lending within MFIs, their needs, wishes and possibilities. The Dutch Embassy considers participation through the FORCE II program. Contact Ellie Bosch.

AMIR visits Rabobank NL

30 October 2009With reference to the planned extension of the network of SACCOs in Rwanda, a delegation of AMIR has visited Rabobank Foundation to gain information on the developments of the network of the local Rabobanks. Contact Frank Bakx.

Rwanda: Cooperative Strengthening project

30 October 2009Three unions, of 35 loan- and credit coops, and three autonomous coops are participating in a Cooperative Strengthening project. A first step was the design of a simplified chart of accounts for the rural coops and the introduction of a standardised book keeping system with 27 forms. Also a national project co-ordinator has been hired (on contract of AMIR) for a period of 28 months. Contact Frank Bakx at the Terrafina fieldpost in Kigali.

Financial services for farmers

30 October 2009In April Terrafina Microfinance was partner in a dialogue with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Department of Economic Development on the interface of microfinance and rural development. The meeting is part of the discussions around the joint policy paper on "Agriculture, rural entrepreneurship and food security", launched in 2008 by the Dutch Ministers of Agriculture and Development Coop., and linked to track 2 proposed in the paper ("Enabling environment, public services and institutions").

Subscribe to automatic updates through e-mail.