|
|
Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! |  |
|
Grameen Foundation partners with local Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda to Relaunch Village Phone Initiative
| Guest post by: David Satterthwaite |
Article Overview: The Grameen Foundation, a non-profit organization that tries to replicate the Grameen Bank microfinance model around the world through a global network of partner microfinance institutions, is relaunching its Village Phone initiative in Rwanda in collaboration with MTN Rwanda (a telecommunications company). The project, called Village Phone Rwanda Tel’imbere has four local microfinance institutions (MFIs) as partners. The project was initially launched in 2006, after a successful pilot scheme had run for a year.
 |
Free Download - Ugandan Government to Set up Laws for Regulating its Microfinance Sector By David Satterthwaite |
Grameen Foundation partners with local Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda to Relaunch Village Phone Initiative
The Grameen Foundation, a non-profit organization that tries to replicate the Grameen Bank microfinance model around the world through a global network of partner microfinance institutions, is relaunching its Village Phone initiative in Rwanda in collaboration with MTN Rwanda (a telecommunications company). The project, called Village Phone Rwanda Tel’imbere has four local microfinance institutions (MFIs) as partners. The project was initially launched in 2006, after a successful pilot scheme had run for a year.
The four partner MFIs in Rwanda lend money to clients so they can buy the telephony equipment that allows them to start village phone businesses. They are Urwego, which began its operations in July 1997 as World Relief’s microfinance program in Rwanda and has grown to be one of the predominant MFIs in East Africa. According to the MixMarket, Urwego has Total Assets of USD 1.9million, a Return on Assets of -18.54% and a Debt to Equity Ration of 16.82%. The others are The Vision Finance Company, part of World Vision, with over 23,000 clients in Rwanda, CARE Rwanda and, Duterimbere, which began partnering with the Grameen Foundation in early 2007.
Once the equipment has been purchased, Village Phone Rwanda Tel’imbere provides special airtime rates to the Village Phone Operators (VPOs), who can set up their services in areas where electricity is unavailable. About 50 Rwandans took part in the one-year pilot program and operators will soon be available in 14 of Rwanda's 30 districts.
Village Phone initiatives in Bangladesh and Uganda have already proved successful. The phone service becomes an economic and social lifeline to villages and the income from running the phone also enables the VPO to repay the original loan and establish a viable business for their family, often giving them an income three times in excess of the national average. There are now 293,000 VPOs in Bangladesh and Village Phone Rwanda expects to create 3,000 new operators and businesses in Rwanda over the next three years.
Technology Innovations at Grameen Foundation USA
Grameen Bank - Alternative Microfinance Approaches
Overcoming HIV and Building Her Community
Increasing Microfinance’s Reach with Integrated Services
Enhancing Microfinance Efficacy through Integrated Services
|
About the Author: David Satterthwaite RSS for David's articles - Visit David's website Click here to visit David's website   The National Microfinance Bank of Tanzania helps Bail out the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Tanesco with a USD 56million Loan KfW Entwicklungsbank Development Arm of German Bank Lends $147m to Moroccan Microfinance Institution MFI Fondation pour le Developpement Local et le Partenariat FONDEP Nigerian Government Creates $426m Microcredit Development Fund JPMorgan Launches Social Sector Finance Unit to Bring Financial Services to Microfinance and Social Enterprises AfriCap Microfinance Fund Attracts Notable Investors Including Nordic MicroCap BlueOrchard and Gray Ghost Raises Capital to $50m |
Related Forum Posts
How do i answer the phone?
- I learned this technique from a successful businessman who earns over a million dollars a year. He just uses his name like this...
Phone rings... " This is Dwayne..."
It kind of throws people off who have a preplanned script and gets right into it.
Phone rings... " This is Dwayne..."
No Hello, no good morning/afternoon/evening
Phone rings... "This is Dwayne..."
Re: Marketing to Wealthy Consumers
- [quote="RussellWebb":1n1qzdoc]Any other tips on marketing to wealthy prospects?[/quote:1n1qzdoc]
Well I think in order to gain wealthy customers' trust and show your credibility, you need to reach them on their own stomping grounds. For instance, in Toronto there's a shopping mall called Bayview Village and the majority of its stores cater to a high end market (and even the parking lot is loaded with luxury cars as well). Moreover, Bayview Village also holds art, jewelry and antique shows on occassion, so it might be worth your while to rent a space at your own local high end mall to reach that market.
Furthermore, what if you offered a fancy/expensive restaurant one of your rugs for free or at a discounted price in exchange for some form of advertisement so that the restaurant patrons would take notice?
Re: Can you read body language and convert it into a sale?
- I can definitely read their mood by how they speak on the phone. You can usually also tell by the way they respond to the things you are saying. Phone sales aren't as easy as when you see them in person, but I still believe their tone can tell a lot.
Its About the Right Money Option
- Having the right partners and financing are so important. Locking yourself into a deal with the wrong partners can easily drag you and the business down. Also, great points about finding financing and other partners who understand the goals you have for the business and can help you work toward those. I've been amazed over the years to find the ways to network and to help others. Your financing partner can not only bring money to the table, but connections, information and the background to take the business to the next level. And, since they have money involved, its in their interest to help you make the business a success.
ChrisH
Partnership questions
- I am working on the project which is in its pre beta stage. This is a web based service that allows to distribute some content in a printed format. I got several offers from investors and printing companies regarding partnership and funding. Since I have a pre-beta version yet I have a lot of questions on how to deal with partners/investors.
1. what can I offer to my partners? for example, 20%, 30%, 40% share is the future business? how many present should it be?
2 should we sign any agreement to legally regulate the partnership? if yes, how does this agreement look like?
3. how to make these partners/investors involved into development of this business? I need someone to review the content/website, I also need help with organizing the infrastructure, legal things, etc
Thank you.
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
by: 
4 Building Blocks of an Effective Talent Management System
Simon Fuller Quotes
Lesson #3: “Tell ‘em quick and tell ‘em often”
Searching for the Stars: How Yang and Filo Took Their Business to New Heights
Salesperson Wimp-Out: I Need Help 
Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Emotional Intelligence in Business
TOP Level Selling
Clues to Increase Sales -- Listen to the Buyer
Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.