Global Brigades GhanaPilot Business Brigades

William (Willy) Offei serves as the Microfinance Program Lead. In this role, Willy is responsible for managing relationships with our partnering communities. Prior to joining Global Brigades, Willy worked for Barclays in Ghana where he amassed a wealth of banking knowledge.

Ronnie Washington serves as the Microfinance Program Developer. In this role, Ronnie is responsible for developing brigade programming as well as defining the program strategy. Prior to joining Global Brigades, Ronnie worked as a Strategy and Operations Consultant for Deloitte Consulting based in Atlanta, GA.

Hellen Kassa is the Microfinance Program Advisor. In this role, she is responsible for managing communications with students and overseas student engage pre- and post-brigades. Prior to joining Global Brigades, Hellen attended The University of Denver where she majored in Economics and International Studies.

Isaac (Kojo) Acheampong is the Microfinance Coordinator. Working across community development, program development, and student engagement, Kojo is responsible for running brigades with students once they are in country. Prior to joining Global Brigades, Kojo attended Cape Coast Technical Institute.

MEET THE STAFF

MICROFINANCE AND BUSINESS IN GHANA

MISSION: To provide access to business consulting services to as many micro-

entrepreneurs throughout the Central region as possible To increase the average annual income and savings of households in

our partnering communities To build strong business skill sets throughout the community to increase

the long-term success of community businesses To promote community development through business expansion and

CDF sponsored social projects

HOW IT WORKS:The Microfinance team establishes Community Development Funds, informal rural banking systems that provide savings and loan services to community members, in various communities. Through these facilities, loans are able to be granted for the purpose of business expansion, working capital, and/or social projects. The Microfinance and Business Brigades support this mission throughout the various stages of the business lifecycle.

ROLE OF BRIGADERS

Identifying Micro-Entrepreneurs

DevelopingMicro-

EntrepreneursInvesting in

Micro-Entrepreneurs

Community Development

Providing financial literacy education to community members

Identifying potential entrepreneurs and social projects

Serving as pioneer investors for potential social and business ideas

Microfinance Brigade1

Delivering business training to potential entrepreneurs

Developing recommendations to improve the viability of businesses and social projects

Business Brigade2

Providing a $100 investment to fund identified projects

Selecting 1 of 5 strategically designed buckets for CIF contributions

Building on investments from previous brigades to complete projects

CIF Investment3

Brigade Groups

Focus

FocusFocus

Brigaders have the ability to be involved in every step of the process for addressing the economic challenges existing in our partnering communities including financial literacy, business development, and social investments.

IDENTIFYING ENTREPRENUERS

Microfinance Brigade Experience: Exposes students to the financial challenges faced by those living in developing countries. Perfect for individuals interested in Finance or Economics! 1

Day-to-Day Activities

Program Goal

Post-Brigade Involvement

Conduct door-to-door family visits to gain an understanding of the challenges families face

Work in teams to develop solutions to address some of the top financial challenges faced by families and their businesses

Deliver presentations on solution to financial issues utilizing materials from the GB Financial Literacy Curriculum

Identify community members with viable social projects and business ideas

Increase the level of basic financial literacy throughout the community

Develop a business plan on behalf of the micro-entrepreneur Solve real-life development cases Help fundraise on behalf of your partnering community and

micro-entrepreneur

DEVELOPING ENTREPRENUERS

Business Brigade Experience: Allows students to assess businesses and social projects for long-term viability. Perfect for people interested in Management Consulting or Entrepreneurship!2

Post-Brigade Involvement

Develop plans for business growth and development Solve real-life development cases Help fundraise on behalf of your partnering community and

micro-entrepreneur

Program Goal

Deliver business training to budding micro-entrepreneurs Validate the viability of investments identified by previous

Brigades Promote community development through the increased

number of businesses and social projects in the community

Day-to-Day Activities

There are 3 phases to the Business Brigade including: Assessing the business idea or social project Developing a solution for potential issues and/or opportunities Presenting your recommendations to GB staff and community

members

SAMPLE BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

PICTURE

Name Mary

Age 52

Profession Farmer

Status Married

Number of Children 6;12 grandchildren

Business Idea Soap Making

A Brigader’s Perspective: The Business Brigade Experience

Initiate Research(Day 3-4)

Develop Solutions(Day 5-7)

Propose Solutions(Day 8-9)

• Met with our community partner, Mary, for the first time to do introductions

• After building a good level of comfort, our team of 3-5 people began asking questions about her business

• Mary was interested in starting a soap business, but needs help understanding how to get it started

• After understanding Mary’s goal, the team began to document the approach they would take to offer assistance

• Over the course of the next few days, we met with other community members to validate some of our notes and gather additional information to help Mary

• Once all of the issues were gathered, the team bucketed the issues in a manageable way

• We then used a consulting framework to make sense of the core problems and to identify potential solutions

• The team finally came to a consensus on an idea and developed a proposal for Mary

• We introduced Mary to the proposal to see if she was comfortable with it. She had some thoughts so we decided to incorporate her feedback

• Once Mary was comfortable with the recommendations, the team developed an action plan to accomplish the proposal

• On the last day, the team presented the proposal and the action plan to Mary which she loved.

• In the end, we were able to help launch a business and recommend Mary for a loan from the CDF

CIF INVESTMENT CIF Investment: Allows both Microfinance and Business Brigaders to invest into the same micro-entrepreneurs that were identified and trained. The Microfinance team has designed 3 strategic areas that these funds can be used for, leaving the option ultimately to the group. Great opportunity for future Social Investors!

3

Goal: Identify, Develop, and Finance Micro-entreprenuers

Goal: Identify, Assess, and Finance Social Projects

Microfinance Brigade CIF Investment – Become the pioneering investor in a community social project or micro-entrepreneurs’ business

Business Brigade CIF Investment –After performing business assessments, invest in the most viable social projects and micro-entrepreneurs’

business plan

Post-Brigade Investments –Support your partnering community’s CDF and/or micro-entrepreneur through one-time or regular contributions through the GB Membership Portal

DESCRIPTION OF CIF BUCKETS

General Loans

Used to extend loans to community members to undertake such projects as hiring hands, expanding their businesses, and purchasing machinery and equipment. The average loan size is between $50-$200 and can be life changing for many families. By investing in this option, you will be investing in people across all of our communities. Note, recommendations can be made for investing in specific projects and businesses.

Every Brigader’s program fee includes an amount of $100 that can be used to invest in the community. The group has the ability to choose any of the following 3 buckets to use the their CIF:

Social ProjectUsed to fund such social projects as identified by Brigaders and the GB Microfinance team including libraries, schools, community centers, etc.. A longer term investment, this option allows students to help community members in their pursuit of growing and developing their community.

Community Education

Used to fund continued training, including facilitating trainings delivered by professionals. Every community visit and training held by the MF team has a significant cost component. Without funding, communities may not have access to business and financial education. By investing in this option, you will be able to help facilitate trainings led by experts on various specific topics such as agriculture, marketing, accounting, etc.

1

2

3

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10

PHASES Intro Research Issues Develop Solutions Propose Solutions Depart

7:00am Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast

8:00amTransport to Community

Transport to Community

Transport to Community

Preparation for Market

Transport to Community

Transport to Cape Coast

Transport to Community

Transport to Community Goodybye’s

9:00am

10:00amOpening

CeremonyIntroduction to the CDF

Trip to Mankessim

Market

Project Work

Project Work

Project Work

Project Work

Final Presentation

Transport to Accra11:00am

12:00pm Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch

1:00pm

Tour of community

Introduction with

Community Partner

Project Work

Project Work

Project Work

Project Work

Project Work

Tour of Cape Coast

Transport to Airport

2:00pm

3:00pm

4:00pm

5:00pm Transport to lodging

Transport to lodging

Transport to lodging

Transport to lodging

Transport to Lodging

Transport to Lodging

Transport to Lodging

Transport to lodging Check In

6:00pm Intro to MF and Ghana Relax Relax Relax Relax Relax

Cultural Activity Relax

Departure

7:00pm Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner

8:00pm Reflection Reflection Reflection Reflection Reflection Reflection Reflection

Party!9:00 pm Group Arrives

Next Day Prep

Next Day Prep

Next Day Prep

Next Day Prep

Next Day Prep

Next Day Prep

Next Day Prep

ITENARARY

RECOMMENDED READING

Recommended Readings on Microfinance/Business• Banker to the Poor• Due Diligence• Dead Aid• Case In Point• Stanford Social Innovation Review

History of Ghana• Ghana, 4th (Bradt Travel Guide)

Past Brigade Contact Info• Ronak ShahL ronak.shah.09@gmail.com • Nat Banyatpiyaphod natbanyat@gmail.com• Sandra Chua sandra.chua@st-annes.ox.ac.uk

**Please contact team for additional recommendations.**

Please feel free to use any of the following resources to prepare for your Brigade experience in Ghana. We look forward to meeting you!

Pack light, yet remember the essentials.*Please dress appropriately when in the communities. Be conservative in your attire.

•Passport + Copy of Passport•Flashlight•Spending money (just in case)•Bug spray (>30% Deet)•Sun block•Waterproof windbreaker/poncho•Long, lightweight pants•Hat•Sunglasses•Camera•Canteen or Water Bottle•Travel-size toiletries (check these in your suitcase due to the TSA regulations on liquids)•Pens and notebooks•Laptops (recommended, at least one per group)

What to BringWhat NOT to Bring•High heels•Expensive jewelry •Hair dryers•Major electronics

PACKING

“It’s not good, it’s not bad, just different”

The best thing you can do is be open and ask questions.http://vimeo.com/54567774

CULTURE

Questions?

APPENDIX: MICROFINANCE MODEL

APPENDIX: MICROFINANCE MODEL

APPENDIX: MICROFINANCE MODELSavings Goal: To provide community members with financial literacy training as well as a secure place to store their money through the CDF’s Savings product2

CD

F Fu

nds

Loans

Shares

Exit

1 Month 6 Months 6.5 Months ~3-5 Years

5

3

6

2

4

Launch Savings

Time since launch

1.5 Years (1 FY from Shares)

Criteria Before Offering Savings:

Fair processes to identify and select leaders facilitated Location for operations secured Materials for operations provided including some office

supplies (E.g. tables, chairs, safe box, file binders, general ledger, client profile sheets, savings slips and customer passbooks)

Leaders successfully completed training on basic accounting and CDF operations

Initial Grameen Progress out of Poverty Survey conducted in community

CDF services adequately marketed and promoted throughout the community

Community provided with basic financial literacy training Global Brigades’ team discretion

1

Dividends

1 Year

Legend:Bold Text Brigade focus

Community maturity

Launch new communities

APPENDIX: MICROFINANCE MODELShare Goal: To raise loan capital and to give community members opportunities to become shareholders in the CDF, allowing them to earn dividends3

CD

F Fu

nds

Loans

Shares

Exit

1 Month 6 Months 6.5 Months ~3-5 Years

5

3

1

6

4

Launch Savings

Time since launch

2

1.5 Years (1 FY from Shares)

Criteria Before Offering Shares:

~40% of community adults have accounts ~100 Cedis average savings per account Community members trained on shares 3 consecutive audits passed Training CDF leaders

− Offered twice before shares offered− Test knowledge through role playing

scenario− Leaders selected as “Shares Marshals”

Global Brigades’ team discretion

Dividends

1 Year

Legend:Bold Text Brigade focus

Community maturity

Launch new communities

APPENDIX: MICROFINANCE MODELLoans Goal: To provide community members with business development training and loans to start or expand their businesses4

CD

F Fu

nds

Loans

Shares

Exit

1 Month 6 Months 6.5 Months ~3-5 Years

5

3

1

6

2

4

Launch Savings

Time since launch

1.5 Years (1 FY from Shares)

Criteria Before Offering Loans:

~50% of community adults have accounts ~125 Cedis average savings per account Community members trained on loans 20% of community adults purchased shares 5000 Available Cedis to loan (includes Share

income and CIF) Exemplary leadership and managerial

excellence 3 consecutive audits passed Training CDF leaders

− Offered twice before loans offered− Tests knowledge through role playing

scenarios− Leaders selected as “Loan Marshals”

Global Brigades’ team discretion

Dividends

1 Year

Legend:Bold Text Brigade focus

Community maturity

Launch new communities

APPENDIX: MICROFINANCE MODELDividends Goal: To provide shareholders with dividends from CDF profits at the end of the fiscal year 5

CD

F Fu

nds

Loans

Shares

Exit

1 Month 6 Months 6.5 Months ~3-5 Years

5

3

1

6

2

4

Launch Savings

Time since launch

Criteria Before Offering Dividends:

90% loan repayment rate Community members trained on loans 4 consecutive pop-up audits passed 1 Fiscal Year passed since shares offered Training CDF leaders

− Offered twice before dividends offered− Tests knowledge through role playing scenarios− Leaders selected as “Dividend Marshals”

Board of shareholders have met with CDF leaders to discuss profit, decide on retained earnings and determine the date for distributing dividends to shareholders

Proper accounting procedures in place to allocate interest income in the following manner:− 40% Dividends− 30% Capitalization− 20% Reserve− 10% Social Fund

1.5 Years (1 FY from Shares)

Dividends

1 Year

Legend:Bold Text Brigade focus

Community maturity

Launch new communities

APPENDIX: MICROFINANCE MODELSustainable Exit Goal: To provide the community with access to financial services, financial literacy, and opportunities to develop their community through the Community-based bank6

CD

F Fu

nds

Loans

Shares

Exit

1 Month 6 Months 6.5 Months ~3-5 Years

5

3

1

6

2

4

Launch Savings

Time since launch

Operational Metrics Before Exit: Successful transition of auditing

and advisory functions to the Centralized Development Bank

Successful leadership transition Youth represented in CDF (E.g.

interns)

CDF sustainably profitable to cover administrative costs, compensation, and social fund initiatives

6 pop-up audits passed

1.5 Years (1 FY from Shares)

Impact Metrics Before Exit: # of people trained on financial

literacy and business development

75% of community adults have savings accounts

95% savings account client retention rate

Average of 200 Cedis per savings account

Average deposit rate 95% loan repayment rate # of shareholders ~7000 Cedis in loan capital

Community benefited from at least one (1) Social Project

# of microenterprises financed # of outstanding loans # of active borrowers # of jobs created % increase in per capita

household income % decrease in per capita

household expenditure Final Grameen Progress out of

Poverty Survey improvements Global Brigades’ team discretion

Dividends

1 Year

Legend:Bold Text Brigade focus

Community maturity

Launch new communities