Project profile — Microfinance Services for Women

• Congo, Democratic Republic (100.00%)

• Government And Civil Society, General: Democratic participation and civil society (15150) (60.00%)
• Banking And Financial Services: Informal/semi-formal financial intermediaries (24040) (40.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (significant objective)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project aims to increase the capacities of microfinance institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to improve their ability to provide effective, year-round services that are able to meet the needs of the DRC's female population. By doing so, it also aims to increase the economic and decision-making power exercised by women. The Société de coopération pour le développement international (SOCODEVI) works with local non-governmental organizations to help develop the technical capabilities and management skills of institutions involved in microfinance.

N/A

Results achieved as of the end of the project (June 2010) include: strengthened financial management capacities of two micro-credit institutions; staff of the micro-credit institutions also received specialized training in financial management. Despite the economic crisis of the past year, the membership of the micro-finance institutions increased from 12,515 members in July 2009 to 16,023 members in March 2010.

• Proactive disclosure