In my country Kenya, though I dont have extensive numbers to support my observation, community based organisations are doing a better job perhaps for the first time in many years of microfinance participation in the empowerment field. In a small baseline I did in a rural district, I discovered that out of 139 economic groups registered as community based organisations with individual membership of 3,168, they had savings of $82,352 and group investments of $105,882. Most of the groups had being active for between 1 and 4 years. All the group members were peasant farmers with hardly more than half a hectare of farmland combining subsistence farming with small scale coffee farming. What touched me is that they had not experienced any support from banks or microfinance institutions. They were just doing what they knew how at their own capacity. One of the questions I asked in the survey was how they would want to be assisted to grow to the best they think they can get. What they stated as their growth financial needs for the 139 groups was just about $1.5m. This amount covered group projects and village projects such as water. That amount was their dream capital. The 139 groups were picked as sample from the entire district with a population of 259,560 in 27 villages.
The groups had defined growth paths and they were curiously excited that finally a person had shown interest in what they do. I thereafter formed a community based organisation whose role was to seek direct support for this economic groups to help them get to the best growth level. I found their needs basic and their commitment touching. To the microfinance institutions within the district, could be that such villagers did not make economic sense but in the game of empowerment, as Lisa has said, these people make a lot of sense.

My point in this contribution is that what lisa is recommending is workeable and the new partnerships should be with those who are on the ground with the people who need help and are willing and ready to help in empowerment without putting profit first. I funded the baseline with my own resources and I continue to do so because to me, empowerment is actually an end worth pursuing.

Lisa, if you are reading this, the model I have developed in empowering the people in groups is easy to implement and to me would have dramatic impact. My goal is to finally replicate the model in all districts in he country of Kenya. I am ready to share the model with others willing to support empowerment without asking ‘what is in it for me’ question.