CONFIANCE Group

Confiance is a VSLA group of 30 members, most of whom are women, set up in 2024 with CARE. The members save money every week and apply for their first loan to expand their businesses: cosmetics, condiments, fabrics and fish.

Confiance is a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) established in 2024 with guidance from CARE. The group brings together 30 members (the majority of whom are women) who meet every week to save money, support one another, and access vital financial services that would otherwise remain out of reach.

At each weekly meeting, members contribute to their joint savings and solidarity funds. These pooled savings enable members to access three-month internal loans, helping them invest in their small businesses and manage day-to-day household expenses. The group's shared savings distributed at cycle-end have grown impressively, rising from 5.38 million XOF (around £6,800) in their first cycle to 6.84 million XOF (around £8,700) in their second.

The group is well-structured and follows clear, agreed-upon bylaws that encourage consistent attendance and strong financial discipline. There have been zero dropouts since inception, and the members, all long-term residents of the village for several decades share deep mutual trust.

Having successfully managed their internal loans with a flawless repayment record and zero delays, the group is now applying for its very first loan from Lendwithcare's local development partner, Advans, to help members scale up their enterprises. Fifteen members plan to use their share of the loan to expand their operations, primarily in general retail and fish trading.

Here are two examples of how members plan to invest their share:

Sali sells cosmetics, including makeup, skincare, hair products, and perfumes. She plans to use her portion of the loan to buy inventory from wholesale suppliers and cover transportation costs, allowing her to diversify her range and ensure continuous stock of her customers' favourite products.

Madjate, a long-standing grocery shopkeeper, plans to invest her share of the loan into building up a substantial stock of rice, cooking oil, sugar, and soap ahead of the back-to-school season.

Other group members trade in seasonings, traditional cloth (pagnes), and bedsheets, or engage in livestock farming and food crop trading. Additionally, all members maintain cocoa and rubber plantations, agricultural activities they have successfully managed for years.

Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) empower communities, especially women, to take control of their finances by saving together and lending to one another. For over 30 years, CARE has championed the life-changing impact of VSLAs as a pathway to financial inclusion. As members’ ambitions grow, partnerships built by Lendwithcare can help connect these groups to formal financial institutions—unlocking access to greater investment, stronger businesses, and brighter futures.