A32. Micro-businesses in Zambia
MaDAME Cecilia NALUMBWE – selling Munkoyo
Background
Social good
- The business has helped Mrs. Cecilia NALUMBWE to feed her family at home, pay house rentals as well as school fees for her children.
- She has also tried hard to pass on the Munkoyo making skill to others, including households with financial instability, as way of empowering them.
About the business
- Munkoyo it is a traditional beverage made of maize porridge which is enjoyed by many Zambian people regardless of gender and age.
- Mrs. Cecilia has been into the Munkoyo business for a number years.
- Munkoyo is fast selling product that a business will never regret to venture into.
Founder CEO
Mrs. Cecilia NALUMBWE
Outcome challenges
- CECILIA’S BUSINESS BEFORE GETTING the HR&S LOAN It becomes hard during rainy season to conduct her Munkoyo business. This is because during rainy season the price of maize bags increases, which in return affects the effective production of the Munkoyo beverage.
Activities
- Business loan
- Quaterly visits by the Branch Zambia team
Outcome
HOW HR&S LOAN HAS HELPED The loan from HR&S has helped Mrs. Cecilia in such a way that she has been able to buy maize fertilizer, which used for maize to grow well. She therefore assured that this coming rainy season would be the best for her to do Munkoyo business with nothing to worry about, as she is boasted to have enough bags of maize harvested.
- HR&S Loan has helped her to buy maize inputs.
- Mrs. Cecilia has enough maize bags she recently harvested to continue with her business even in rainy season.
- She appreciates the flexible interest rates.
- She looks forward to grow her business into a company as she enjoys the flexibility of HR&S interest rates.
- Registration of her munkoyo business with PACRA.
Finances, K.
First instalment of K2000 ($111). requested in xxx 2023. Loan paid.
Loan payment to start in xxx.
Second instalment requested of xxx requested in xxx.
Total request xxx EUR xxx
Lessons learned
Testimony ” GENERAL EXPERIENCE WITH HR&S Mrs. Cecilia shows that she is excitement over HR&S flexible interest rates which she points out to be outstanding among other loan giving companies she has visited. This has also massively drawn the attention of many other small business, men and women, in the area where she lives. Mrs. Cecilia also informed about that HR&S has come at the right time, when the government is calling for more entrepreneurs. The HR&S has seriously come to help the hopeless, and empowered small enterprises to be able to grow their businesses.
Cecilia is indeed a happy business lady who further appreciates HR&S as a “magnet” which is there to hold small businesses, including those on the verge of failing and to push them grow. HR&S also enables entrepreneurs to integrate other businesses as well. Mrs. Cecilia expresses her appreciation to the members of HR&S Zambia and of HR&S Sweden for the good agenda, she could only wish God’s blessings.”
REPORT
STORY OF CECILIA NALUMBWE SICHOMBA
By Finest MWAMBA
A BRIEF BACK GROUND
Mrs. Cecilia NALUMBWE is a married woman and a mother of four children whose main source of income is the selling Munkoyo. Munkoyo it is a traditional beverage made of maize porridge which is enjoyed by many Zambian people regardless of gender and age. Mrs. Cecilia has been into the Munkoyo business for a number years and the business has helped her feed her family at home, pay house rentals as well as school fees for her children. Interestingly enough, she has also tried hard to pass on the Munkoyo making skill to others, including households with financial instability, as way of empowering them. Notably, Munkoyo is fast selling product that a business will never regret to venture into.
CECILIA’S BUSINESS BEFORE GETTING the HR&S LOAN
Mrs. Cecilia informs about how hard it becomes during rainy season to conduct her Munkoyo business. This is because during rainy season the price of maize bags increases, which in return affects the effective production of the Munkoyo beverage.
HOW HR&S LOAN HAS HELPED
The loan from HR&S has helped Mrs. Cecilia in such a way that she has been able to buy maize fertilizer, which used for maize to grow well. She therefore assured that this coming rainy season would be the best for her to do Munkoyo business with nothing to worry about, as she is boasted to have enough bags of maize harvested.
GENERAL EXPERIENCE WITH HR&S
Mrs. Cecilia shows that she is excitement over HR&S flexible interest rates which she points out to be outstanding among other loan giving companies she has visited. This has also massively drawn the attention of many other small business, men and women, in the area where she lives. Mrs. Cecilia also informed about that HR&S has come at the right time, when the government is calling for more entrepreneurs. The HR&S has seriously come to help the hopeless, and empowered small enterprises to be able to grow their businesses.
Cecilia is indeed a happy business lady who further appreciates HR&S as a “magnet” which is there to hold small businesses, including those on the verge of failing and to push them grow. HR&S also enables entrepreneurs to integrate other businesses as well. Mrs. Cecilia expresses her appreciation to the members of HR&S Zambia and of HR&S Sweden for the good agenda, she could only wish God’s blessings.
FUTURE AMBITIONS
Mrs. Cecilia reiterates the need of continuous partnership with HR&S as she plans to register her Munkoyo business with Zambian PACRA. Also taking into account are the stickers or labels she designed to be put around the Munkoyo bottles. Cecilia has a vision of growing the business into a company, and not only that, but also desires to incorporate the fish business to supplement her plans. So far Cecilia does not have employees from outside, but only works with her children.
POINTS
Rainy season is a very challenging one for Mrs. Cecilia to do her munkoyo business as the prices of maize which she uses to make the said beverage go high therefore:
- HR&S Loan has helped her to buy maize inputs.
- Mrs. Cecilia has enough maize bags she recently harvested to continue with her business even in rainy season.
- She appreciates the flexible interest rates.
- She looks forward to grow her business into a company as she enjoys the flexibility of HR&S interest rates.
- Registration of her munkoyo business with PACRA.
MR MOSES KAPASA – selling female shoes AT MTENDERE MARKET LUSAKA and scaling with Airtel both
Background
Social good
- One person employeed 2023.
- Better education for his children according to him, the children were removed from government school to a privately owned school where he has to pay.
- Moses is a proud parent and husband as he is now able to do what appeared to be impossible.
About the business
- Selling shoes at marketplace
- Running a booth under one of Zambia’s network providers Airtel, a bank like popularly known as airtel money or mobile money
Founder CEO
Mr Moses KAPASA
Outcome challenges
Mr. Moses started his new business of selling female shoes in the year 2021. Even though he embarked on this journey, Mr. Moses still could not resist the pressure of his overwhelming needs both at home and outside responsibilities as this was the only main source of income. This posed a very big challenge to grow the business. The over dependence on the business, led to the partial collapsing of the business.
Activities
- Business loan
- Quaterly visits by the Branch Zambia team
Outcome
HOW HR&S LOAN HAS HELPED MR. MOSES
- After getting his first loan from HR&S, Mr. Moses business started booming.
- Subsequently, Mr. Moses was able to gather his muscles and went a step further to open a booth under one of Zambia’s network providers Airtel, a bank like popularly known as airtel money or mobile money. The approximated profit per month is k2000-k3500.
- HR&S loan is falling on good soil as its effects can purely be seen through our visionary clients.
Finances, Zambian Kwacha (ZMW).
First instalment of K2000 ($111) requested mid 2023 (month xxx).
Loan paid xxx.
Loan re-payment to start in xxx.
Loan repaid in xxx
Second instalment requested of xxx requested later in 2023 ( year xxx).
To boost both businesses
Total request xxx EUR xxx
Income / Profit
Aitel or both- approximated profit per month is k2000-k3500 ($111.11-$194.44)
Lessons learned
Testimony “Mr. Moses is still amazed with HR&S interest rates which he says has never seen something like this it’s the first of its kind. All in all, he thanks HR&S Zambia and Sweden for the good intentions they have to help marketers grow their businesses. Mr. Moses plans of leaving HR&S are not anywhere near the author observes. “
Even where things seem to be working well challenges can still be there, but only to a certain extent if proper measures are put in place.
Scaling
Testimony “Mr. Moses has the vision of opening another booth not only that, but also looks forward to opening a big shop which is going to incorporate many things including; Airtel, MTN, Zamtel and Zanaco services.”
So far the only challenge Mr. Moses is facing with his businesses is that they are too competitive ,but due to his vast experience in the business he is always trying to make his services and products unique by introducing new and attractive or fashionable shoes at a slightly reduced price.
REPORT
MAN OF THE MOMENT
MR MOSES KAPASA OF MTENDERE MARKET LUSAKA ZAMBIA
By Finest MWAMBA
Brief background
Mr. Moses is a happily married man and father of two. Moses business experience started way back in 2006 to 2019 when he first worked with his uncle who owned a very big shop within mtendere market. After parting ways with his uncle in 2019 he stayed 2 years without doing anything, Moses could not hide how life changed colours and eventually became his enemy, this forced him to look for capital for his new business of selling female shoes.
MOSES BUSINESS BEFORE GETTING the HR&S LOAN
Mr. Moses started his new business of selling female shoes in the year 2021. Even though he embarked on this journey, mr. Moses still could not resist the pressure of his overwhelming needs both at home and outside responsibilities as this was the only main source of income. This posed a very big challenge to grow the business. Thanks to HR&S which he regards as a reliever in his own words for coming through with good intentions in 2023, and because of that Mr. Moses did not wait to apply for their loan an amount of K2000 ($111).
HOW HR&S LOAN HAS HELPED MR. MOSES
After getting his first loan from HR&S, Mr. Moses business started booming. Therefore, as the saying goes not all days are Sundays, his business had to experience some unfriendly times and because of the over dependence on it, led to the partial collapsing of the business. Thanks to God things came back to normal. Subsequently, mr. Moses was able to gather his muscles and went a step further to open a booth under one of Zambia’s network providers airtel, a bank like popularly known as airtel money or mobile money. The approximated minimum profit per month is k2000-k3500 ($111.11-$194.44) respectively.
Additionally, in the same year 2023 he again applied for another loan which was used to boost both businesses, this saw also the introduction of one employee and because he wants better education for his children according to him, the children were removed from government school to a privately owned school where he has to pay. In his smiling mood mr. Moses is a proud parent and husband as he is now able to do what appeared to be impossible. This also is an indication enough to show that HR&S loan is falling on good soil as its effects can purely be seen through our visionary clients.
GENERAL EXPERIENCE WITH HR&S
Mr. Moses is still amazed with HR&S interest rates which he says has never seen something like this it’s the first of its kind. All in all, he thanks HR&S Zambia and Sweden for the good intentions they have to help marketers grow their businesses. Mr. Moses plans of leaving HR&S are not anywhere near the author observes.
FUTURE AMBITIONS
Mr. Moses has the vision of opening another booth not only that, but also looks forward to opening a big shop which is going to incorporate many things including; Airtel, MTN, Zamtel and Zanaco services.
It can therefore, be brought to the attention that even where things seem to be working well challenges can still be there, but only to a certain extent if proper measures are put in place. So far the only challenge Mr. Moses is facing with his businesses is that they are too competitive ,but due to his vast experience in the business he is always trying to make his services and products unique by introducing new and attractive or fashionable shoes at a slightly reduced price. However, as HR&S Zambia we will continue monitoring our client’s progress in their businesses and offer solutions where necessary.
Company name
About the business
CEO
xxx xxx
Outcome challenges
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Activities
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Finances, K.
First instalment of Kxxx (EUR xxx) requested mid 2023 (month xxx).
Loan paid xxx.
Loan re-payment to start in xxx.
Loan and interest re-aid xxx.
Second instalment requested of xxx requested in xxx.
Total request xxx EUR xxx
Finances, K.
First instalment of K2000 ($111). requested in xxx 2023. Loan paid.
Loan payment to start in xxx.
Second instalment requested of xxx requested in xxx.
Total request xxx EUR xxx
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Annual reports
2023
PREAMBLE
This report covers the period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The report highlights the main activities of the HR&S Zambia Branch.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
SIER Human Rights and Science is a subsidiary of Human Rights & Science (HR&S), a social enterprise registered in Sweden. Human Rights & Science has 20 years of experience from supporting scientific research, advanced laboratories, social enterprising and sustainable development in Sub-Sahara Africa, and have developed management strategies which have been translated into training and coaching.
SIER Human Rights and Science was registered in 2022 in Zambia, as a RISE Branch with the key aim of empowering local researchers, innovators and social entrepreneurs to implement poverty reduction programmes.
Our Vision
A world without extreme poverty.
Our Mission
To empower scientific research, innovation and enterprising in Zambia through equal partnership. Within our mission lies transparency, accountability, truth, trust, harmony, equity and resilience, as well as sustainable economies and institutional capacity.
2.0 TEAM OVERVIEW
The following are the team members who provide the requisite services on a voluntary basis: Name Role Existing Team Members
Evelyn FUNJIKA
Team-leader and evaluation planning
Sylvia MUTALE
Deputy Team-leader, business management, empowerment, accounting
Ian CHISENGA
Visibility and social media, Loan repayment management
Finest MWAMBA
Communication and Public Relations
Viera FUNJIKA
Adviser New Team Members
Pamela CHANSA
Record Keeping and Secretarial
Jada KABWATA
Online Platform Management and Visibility
4
3.0 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS – 2023
The following highlights the activities that were undertaken by the Branch:
1.
Recruitment of loan recipients – Officially registered the HR&S Zambia Branch under the name SIER Human Rights and Sciences Centre Zambia Limited and acquired a ZRA taxpayer identification number 2000225369.
2.
Tax returns filed and payments made accordingly. Withholding tax rate is at 10%, and this is on the interest received from the loan repayments.
3.
Biweekly local team meetings held on Sundays (records of meetings available)
4.
Members attended monthly meetings with HR&S Sweden.
5.
Action talks – Rise Zambia gave a talk at the March and September action talk. Members attended several of the action talks.
6.
Members conducted sensitization talks to the market communities in Mtendere and Ngombe compounds. These two areas were identified and agreed upon by the RISE team based on a set of criteria developed.
7.
Members conducted 3 Financial Literacy trainings with the potential loan recipients in Mtendere and Ngombe Compounds in Lusaka.
8.
Members conducted 4 monitoring visits (quarterly) to the loan beneficiaries to further assess business performance after the loan provision.
9.
Resource mobilisation activities undertaken with a partnership emanating with WASAREC, an NGO that is focussed on WASH interventions.
10.
Business Plan developed to establish a RISE Centre, working in conjunction with WASAREC on encouraging innovations in the WASH sector.
4.0 FINANCIAL SUMMARY
4.1 Finances
The RISE Centre keeps its financial records in a way that shows accountability and transparency, reconciling funds received from Action 10, loans distributed to the members, as well as loan and interest repayments. The table below is a description of the movement and activities of funds for the year 2023.
Table 1: Action 10 support summary
Description
Amount, ZMW
Balance carried forward from 2022
12,982
Balance from Action 10
41,332.08
Bank charges
294.95
Amount in bank (after loan cycle 1 given out)
10,516.90
Amount available
51,554.03
Loans given (loan cycle 2)
17,140.00
Amount left
34,414.03
Funds
Bank account
32,500.00
5
Airtel
18,927.70
Total funds
51,427.70
Expenses
venue
200.00
talk time
180.00
stationary/printing
300.00
water
137.00
Loans (loan cycle 3)
53,045.00
transport
300.00
Petty cash (Aug, Sept)
720.00
ZRA tax
54.63
Fuel
300.00
Total expenses
55236.63
Balance
-3,682.60
Total loan recovered
41880.00
Balance
38,197.40
4.2 Loan Recipients
3 cycles of loans were implemented. The breakdown of the loan recipients, nature of business, amounts given, and amounts paid back are provided below.
Cycle 1 Name Business Loan Summary Payment Summary Loan obtained Total to be paid paid Balance due
Mr. Kapasa Moses – Female shoes
2250 2317.5. 2153. 164.5
Mrs.Nalumbwe Cecilia – Fish & Munkoyo
1000 1030 1030 0
SUM. 3183
Cycle 2 Name Business Loan Summary Payment Summary Loan obtained Total to be paid Weekly payment paid Balance due
Ruth Tembo – Paint & Food
500. 515. 128.75 565. -50
Mary Siwelwa – Salaula & Food
1250 1287.5. 321.88. 1288. -0.5. 6
Mutinta Miyanda
1750 1802.5. 450.63 1802.5. 0
Cecilia Nalumbwe – Fish & Munkoyo
2000 2060 515.00. 2060. 0
Rabecca Chirwa
1440. 1483.2. 370.80. 1482. 1.2
Magret Nakaonga – Bottles & charcoal
2000 2060 515.00. 2060. 0
Maggie Siabwazonja
1000 1030 257.50 0 1030
Joseph Kasongo – Baobab fruits & Handbags
1200 1236. 309.00 1236. 0
Elika Chisenga – Vegetables
1000 1030 257.50 1030. 0
Edinah Kapya – Airtel money
3000 3090 772.50 1000 2090
Moses Kapasa – Female shoes
2000 2060 515.00 2060 0
SUM. 14583.5 3070.7
CYCLE 1 balance b/d 3183
Less: Application Form -60
Less: Talk Time (Units). -200
TOTAL 17567
Cycle 3 Name Business Loan Summary Payment Summary Loan obtained ZMW Total to be paid paid ZMW Balance due
Ganizani Kambele – Vegetables
2000 2060 2080 -20
Mary Siwela – Salaula &Food
1500 1545 1445 100
Ruth Tembo – Paint & Food
2000 2060 2060 0
George Zulu – Airtel money & Charcoal
2000 2060 2060 0
Margret Nakaonga – Bottles & Charcoal
2000 2060 2060 0
Agnes Lubingu Tembo – Salaula
2000 2060 2060 0
Rocky Sakala – Auto spares
1000 1030 1030 0
Jackson Ngoma – Apparel
2000 2060 0 2060
Georgina Kabwita – Airtel money
1000 1030 0 1030
Mary Zulu – Fritters & Samoosas
2000 2060 1500 560 7
Agnes Phiri – Salaula
1500 1545 1500 45
Ruth Nkoloto – Saloon & Botique
2000 2060 1000 1060
Rainford Phiri – Potatoes & Groundnuts
2000 2060 0 2060
Alinjavwa Sichomba – Photography
1500 1545 700 845
Poline Nalumbwe – Tailoring & shoes
2500 2575 2000 575
Memory Mwale – Saloon (Chitenge materials & wigs)
1000 1030 1030 0
Cecilia Nalumbwe – Dry fish & Munkoyo
5000 5150 2470 2680
Stephen Lungu – Carpentry
3000 3090 3090 0
Levenia Coetzee – Rice & charcoal
2000 2060 2100 -40
Luckson Njobvu – Stationery
1500 1545 1545 0
Sarah Nakaonga – Zanaco, Airtel & mtn
1500 1545 1545 0
Petitcious Mwila – Fish
1500 1545 1545 0
Joseph Kasongo – Baobab fruits & Handbags
3000 3090 3090 0
Elika Chisenga – Vegetables
1500 1545 1350 195
Solomon Phiri – Glocery
1000 1030 1030 0
Catherine Mukubulo – Salaula
1000 1030 1030 0
Moses Kapasa – Female shoes & Airtel money
2500 2575 2560 15
Total 53045 41880 11165
5.0 LOAN RECEIPIENT STORIES
5.1 Joseph Kasongo, Mtendere market
Business: Baobab fruits, resale of handbags and fish (dried sardines)
Joseph has benefited from HR&S loans twice and has proved to be a consistent client. However, his business of selling Baobab fruits is seasonal, hence when the baobab fruits are scarce, he switches to selling dried sardines. This diversification method works well for him as he can mitigate some business risks, hence recording positive outcomes. However, when asked which he prefers to sell, he is quick to point at the baobab fruits! At time of report writing, Joseph indicates he has plans to further grow his business by increasing his stocks, hence intends to apply for another loan in 2024.
5.2 Luckson Njobvu, Mtendere compound
Business: Stationery
Got a K1500 loan for the first time of the third cycle, he has been tested and responded positively. Like Memory, Luckson has also benefited from HR&S financial literacy lessons, he is now able to manage everything he makes at the end of the day well and this also helped him to pay back on time. The loan assisted him to buy a computer monitor and some materials for printing. The profit made allowed him to purchase a new television set (TV) he always admired to buy.
5.3 Memory Mwale, Ng’ombe market
Business: Salon (chitenge materials & wigs)
Memory is a first-time loan beneficiary who has repaid her loan and interest in full. The loan applied for was K1000 and her repayment terms was to repay within one month at 3%. As such, her total repayment was K1030. She sells chitenge materials and wigs on both cash and credit. The loan that she applied for was directed into buying of more chitenge materials and wigs.
The financial literacy lessons HR&S Zambia conducts before issuing the loans have really helped her to have financial discipline, as she is now more aware on how to save and pay herself monthly.
She testifies how the loan and the lessons have helped her increase the purchasing power because she makes more money and saves more now. The purchasing power has increased from k200- K700 ($7.7-$27) used to buy chitenge materials, k400-k1000 ($15.4-$38.5) for wigs and initially she used to go for holders once a month now she goes twice a month.
5.4 Elika Chisenga, Mtendere market
Business: Retailing in fresh vegetables
Elika is a two-time beneficiary of the loan empowerment provided by the RISE Centre. In the first loan cycle, she received a loan amount of K1000 and repaid with interest, a total amount
of K1030 within the stipulated repayment period. Unfortunately, her loan performance the second time was not as good, along the way she slowed down as the records show still has a balance of K195.00 Her loan application was K1500 with a stipulated repayment of K 1545 at interest of 3 %.
Elika, a single mother has several dependants who she is responsible for, and unfortunately, one of her dependants fell seriously sick and was hospitalised, thus causing a challenge to meet her loan repayment obligations.
In addition, at the time that she received her loan, prices of vegetables went up, hence causing another challenge. She has since indicated she will repay the balance as soon as her business stabilises and is keen on getting another loan in 2024 to boost her business.
Despite her challenges, Elika operates her vegetable business proudly as she loves what she does and based on her records, her business is slowly increasing on revenues. The picture was taken few months after getting the loan which was used to boost the business. As shown in the picture above all the two stands on both sides are hers.
5.5 Rocky Sakala, Ng’ombe compound
Business: Auto spares
Rocky got the loan of K1000 for the first time of the third cycle. He was granted the loan after he participated in the Financial Literacy workshop. The loan obtained was directed into designing of a flyer and printed more copies as way of advertising his activities.
The remainder was used to buy few more products. Unfortunately, the loan provided could not buy him all the stocks he needed as he had planned to buy in bulk, based on the loan application. Rocky’s enterprise is performing very well and has indicated that HR&S loan empowerment to him has made a great difference.
He attributes this to his marketing and advertising strategy he uses (with the stickers) which provides information about his business. He indicated to the team that he will apply for another loan as soon as the application window is open, so that he is able to stock more auto spares
6.0 CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNT
6.1 Challenges faced and Strategies Employed:
As HR&S Zambia, we did face several challenges during the 2023 operations as outlined below, and have provided for strategies employed to address them:
•
In Cycle 3, the loan repayments were at 80%, with the 20% attributed to non-compliance by the loan recipients who raised several differing factors as to why they were failing to repay. This has resulted into a loss of K11,165.
o
Some of the strategies that had been deployed included having the team leaders for either township to guarantee the loanees, as well as having the recipients sign legal contracts. Unfortunately, despite these interventions, the money has not been repaid even at time of report writing.
•
Delay in opening the bank account for the centre has weakened the accounting system as the bank statements cannot be printed out to reconcile movement of money.
o
The strategy used is that all expenses pertaining to HR&S in Evelyn’s bank account (being used as a stop gap measure) have been recorded in the Accounts Excel spreadsheet.
o
Another strategy is that of sharing the accounting information in the biweekly meetings by Evelyn, as a way of keeping to the value of transparency.
•
Record keeping has been a challenge, as without a central workspace, some physical (hard copy) records are with different team members.
o
A strategy that has been used to reduce on records being everywhere is that one member has been tasked to collect hard copies after any intervention and passed on to Evelyn as the Team Leader.
o
Another strategy has been to bring on another team member – Mrs Chansa who has been tasked to maintain all HR&S records, as well as minute taker in all meetings.
o
We also update loan information on a shared google platform which keeps all members updated. Other information is also stored as soft copies – minutes, accounts, etc.
•
There is an increasing demand for loans in the two communities we are currently working in, and because of limited funding received from Action 10, we can only manage a few applications at a time.
o
We employed a criterion to have as many people to benefit as possible by scrutinising each applicant’s business and reconcile with the amounts being requested. Hence some loan applications had to be reduced.
o
Another strategy was that we put an application ceiling to beneficiaries only applying for 2 cycles in a year. (There was an exception to the rule for the top performing and compliant applicants – granting them to benefit from 3 cycles.)
6.2 Lessons Learnt:
Some of the lessons learnt include:
Working out team dynamics has helped to position team members to conduct certain roles, such as monitoring, distributing, and collecting application forms. This strategy helped to keep operational costs down.
That the HR&S loan empowerment program has gained and continues to gain momentum among the marketeers in both townships, as it is seeming to be the lowest cost loan product available.
It has been important to conduct Financial Literacy workshops before giving out the loans, to ensure financial discipline among the entrepreneurs.
It is important to keep proper records of both administration and the loan recipients, as this has helped to keep track of the beneficiaries’ repayments, interest collected, ultimately helping us to remit the correct amounts in taxes to ZRA.
There is need to quickly open a bank account for HR&S monetary activities to maintain a proper accounting system.
There is need to bring on board 2 team members – one to be responsible for visibility and online platform management, while the other will be to maintain the accounts and conduct all monthly tax remittances and other tax related obligations.
7.0 FUTURE OUTLOOK – 2024
7.1 Vision for the upcoming year:
SIER HR&S Zambia envisions more empowerment activities in 2024, with an increased level of activity. The following are the planned growth and sustainability activities:
❖
Partnerships: Currently, HR&S Zambia are enjoying collaborations with WASAREC at partnership level in the WASH sector. The partnership scopes on innovations in water and sanitation, providing for support in research, empowerment and stop gap measures (the case of cholera outbreaks). Based on this, the following are the collaborative activities:
➢
Mobilize resources as a partnership to conduct skills training (making of soap and other hygiene products as community income generating activities), and Financial Literacy workshops for the women marketeers in George/Matero townships.
➢
Establish a youth WASH Resource Centre and Innovation Hub – This centre will be a platform to access information, entrepreneurial training, innovations on water purification technologies, eco-friendly sanitation solutions, to providing practical solutions to the challenges faced in the communities on access to safe drinking water.
❖
Community Empowerment – Based on the lessons drawn from 2023, the branch will endeavor to expand its outreach to include another township (George/Matero). In addition, the Branch may revisit the maximum number of loan beneficiaries per township, for purposes of marked success stories, ease of monitoring and showing of impact.
❖
Resource Mobilization: the branch intends to mobilize resources from other interested stakeholders to grow the empowerment and the research components of HR&S.
❖
Accounting and Administration: for a sustainable branch, we endeavor to put in place a filing and accounting system that will utilize both soft and hard copy systems.
7.2 Key Ambitions:
As a centre, we intend to achieve the following in 2024:
1.
Introduce the RISE membership fee – this implies that only paid-up members will have access to. HR&S loans and other benefits.
12
2.
Increase social media visibility on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. We envisage conducting free Webinars as a way of imparting information about HR&S.
3.
Have additional sponsorships for the different components in HR&S. We intend to identify partners/grants and apply for grant funding.
4.
Form beneficial partnerships with at least 2 organisations.
5.
Develop a proposer management plan for the RISE centre.
8.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, 2023 was generally a year of growth for the RISE centre. We welcomed new team members and successfully gave trainings in financial literacy and loans with positive impact stories. We also formed beneficial partnership with WASAReC that we hope to build upon. We will make use of the lesson learnt over the year to improve our organisation planning and strategies in order to minimize risks as well as to gain more visibility and partnerships.