Gender smart innovation and digital transformation During our panel discussion on Wednesday 16th March, it was encouraging to review some of the main opportunities presented by digital solutions and to discuss the impactful work that MicroLoan Foundation, CGAP, UN Women and FSD Zambia are doing to ensure women are not left behind. Key takeaways There is a significant opportunity to improve financial inclusion through digitalisation, and it is critical that solutions are developed with women’s needs in mind. Online savings platforms, microinsurance and mobile money loan disbursements are ..read more

Dadirai was in an abusive relationship, and the actions of her husband created a stigma for her whole family. She had no friends or family to offer help when her marriage ended, and she had three young children to provide for. Without this network of support, and in a very traditional and patriarchal society, life as a single mother is extremely challenging. Juggling childcare and household responsibilities whilst trying to earn an income was a daily struggle for Dadirai. For five long years, her family often went hungry and she had no choice but to pull her children out of school. At the begi ..read more

It is with deep regret that we relay the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Ana in the last few weeks. Roads and bridges have been washed away, communities have been displaced and thousands of homes have been destroyed. These images were taken by MicroLoan’s team in Southern Malawi which was hard hit by the deadly storm. Our branches most affected are Nsanje, Chikwawa and Mulanje. More extreme weather is expected to hit Malawi in the coming days. We do not know what the future holds, but Tropical Cyclone Batsirai is set to compound the already dire situation. Click here to see the current s ..read more

We reached over 96,000 women and their families during 2021 With small loans, training and mentoring, hardworking women entrepreneurs were able to provide food, clothes and healthcare for their families. They could afford to send their children to school. Last year the total value of loans disbursed was over £10.8 million. We were able to reach 96,263 women in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and we saw some phenomenal results: On average, our clients are increasing their business profit by 218% after joining MicroLoan. 8% of our clients have one or more paid employees. Clients who stay with Micr ..read more

This footage was recorded by the MicroLoan team on 20th January 2022 as the rainy season takes hold in the Southern Province in Zambia. The flooding has meant that an estimated 15,000 people from 3,500 households have been affected by flooding in the last few days. The current conditions are extremely challenging for farmers in our network. The MicroLoan team have been unable to reach some communities and some meetings have been cancelled due to the dangerous roads. Read more from ReliefWeb Donate today to help women to rebuild The post Severe flooding in Zambia appeared first on MicroLoan ..read more

Come with us to Malawi New year, new challenge? Join us for the trip of a lifetime to Malawi in May 2022. We are heading to Malawi to meet the inspiring women MicroLoan support. These are the women that have had the chance to build a business with support from MicroLoan.  We’re climbing Mount Mulanje, the highest peak in Malawi. The exhilarating four day trek will take you through challenging terrain but will reward you with some breathtaking views along the way. Often shrouded in a picturesque mist, Mulanje is aptly named the ‘Island of Sky’ and is achievable for those looking to di ..read more

It is with great pleasure that we launch The Kuyamika Reward and Recognition Program in Malawi. The “Thank You” Awards recognise hard-working and high-achieving members of staff that go above and beyond to reach and serve women entrepreneurs facing poverty. Regional Meetings were held in the Southern and Northern Regions of Malawi in December 2021 to celebrate and recognise the incredible efforts of our team throughout 2021. Thanks to them, we have seen impressive growth in the past year. We currently have over 200 staff in Malawi who, at year end of 2021, were actively supporting over 58,000 ..read more

Three years ago, Newsless started a new journey with MicroLoan. At the time, Newsless was struggling to pay her children’s tuition fees. On top of this, she was unable to provide a balanced diet for her family as they survived on mostly vegetables. Her daughter constantly suffered from stomach pains and had to be treated in hospital. Furniture is expensive, and Newsless was unable to afford beds for her and her family to sleep on. Every day she, her 12 year old daughter and her husband had to sleep on the floor with the hope that their life would soon change for the better. Newsless and her fa ..read more

“Even before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, hunger was growing at an explosive rate in southern Africa… 8.4 million children face acute malnutrition – roughly the population of London” World Food Programme, August 2021 Kudzanai’s son almost died at the age of three. The family of six lived in extreme poverty and often went for days without food. Her son fell ill with meningitis. Miraculously he survived, but the illness left him deaf. Good nutrition and good health are inextricably linked. Malnutrition can make you more vulnerable to infections like meningitis, an all too painful memory ..read more

A resounding success Thanks to this phenomenal fundraising total, 830 women will get access to a start-up loan and business training. As she flourishes as an entrepreneur, she can generate a steady income to feed her family, pay for healthcare and send her children to school. An estimate 3,323 children will have a better future thanks to this transformational coaching extravaganza. On this page, you can find the recordings from the WLA Coachathon Live sessions. We ran some thought-provoking and insightful events on the hour, every hour of the Coachathon day, Wednesday 17th November 2021.  ..read more