Tiyanjane 15 Group

Tiyanjane 15 group is located in Dedza district. The group has 5 members and all of them are married except 1 who is divorced. The women have 15 children that they support, most of which go to school. The members of the group are engaged in Irish potato farming and the profits they get after selling their harvest enables them to provide for their families. They have requested a loan to buy farm inputs.

Florence is 40 years old and she is a member of Tiyanjane 15 group. Her husband is a farmer and together they have 5 children. Florence has been growing Irish potatoes for a year. She sells the harvested potatoes to earn an income to cover the financial costs for her family and the surplus potatoes are used for family consumption. Florence and all of the members will use their shares of the group loan to buy farm inputs like pesticides and fertilizer. In a couple of years’ times. The women want to grow their crops on a larger piece of land.

The Microloan Foundation in Malawi lend to female entrepreneurs using the ‘centre’ model. A centre is typically made up of 3-4 sub-groups and these sub-groups almost always have five members. Each centre has its own name and the sub-groups within the centre share the same name. Each person within the group of five women is responsible for repaying her loan but the members support each other and if a member is unable to repay her loan on time, then the group assumes responsibility for repayment. Loan officers provide training to the groups, although it is expected that centre leaders will eventually assume responsibility for providing some of the basic training.

If you are lending, please be aware that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic your repayments could be at greater risk of delay or default.