October  2012

Microfinance  Investment  Support  Facility  for  Afghanistan  Microfinance  Investment  Support  Facility  for  Afghanistan  

   

Rural  Outreach TUP  is  part  of  the  Rural  Microfinance  and  Livestock  Support  Program  (RMLSP),  a  collaboration  of  MISFA  and  IFAD.  Piloted  in  Bamiyan,  TUP    is  now  being  replicated  and  improved  in  Badakhshan,  covering  800  members  of  300  rural  households.  

TARGETING  THE  ULTRA-­‐POOR  (TUP):  HAVING  A  POSITIVE  IMPACT  Since  the  launch  of  the  TUP  program  two  years  ago,  it  has  been  improving  the  quality  of  life  of  some  700  ultra-­‐poor  households  in  Bamiyan  and  Badakhshan  provinces.  

The  latest  survey  of  project  participants  conducted  from  April  to  August  2012  indicated  a  dramatic  improvement,  not  only  in  their  livelihood  potentials,  but  also  in  the  overall  wellbeing  of  their  families.    

Households,  once  in  despair,  are  now  engaged  in  livelihood  activities  in  livestock  and  agriculture.  A  total  of  400  ultra  poor  women  received  relevant  assets  in  kind  to  begin  their  chosen  income  generating  activity,  such  as  cow  and  sheep  rearing,  or  vegetable  growing.    

Moreover,  the  survey  indicated  that  during  the  five-­‐month  reporting  period,  a  total  of  97  children  from  81  TUP  member  families  were  admitted  to  school  to  study  in  first  grade.    

Some  TUP  members  have  also  started  saving  money.  Following  a  series  of  savings  awareness  seminars,  around  125  participants  reported  saving  a  portion  of  their  income  regularly.    

TUP  participants  receive  a  monthly  subsistence  stipend  of  AFN  1,500  as  a  short-­‐term  income  support  until  they  can  get  their  enterprise  going.  They  also  avail  of  basic  healthcare  and  a  two-­‐year  package  of  training  inputs,  including  classroom-­‐based  enterprise  development  training,  weekly  home  visits,  hands-­‐on  training  and  regular  refresher  courses.  

TUP  Survey  Highlights  (April-­‐August  2012)    

• 95%  of  TUP  members  know  the  location  of  public  services  (banks,  schools  hospitals,  vet  clinics,  govt./NGO  offices)  

• 90%  report  positive  changes  in  social  credibility  (more  positive  regard  from  husbands  and  neighbors)    

• 80%  report  better  mental  health  conditions  

• 70% of TUPs have solar- generated electricity in their homes  

• 40% report home improvements (purchase of appliance, e.g. TVs, and house repair)  

• 10-­‐12%  of TUPs report gaining some knowledge about presidential election  

A  TUP  member  in  Bamiyan  benefiting  from  the  income  she  generates  from  livestock  rearing  

This  is  MISFA’s  e-­‐newsletter.  MISFA  is  a  Limited  Liability  Company  (LLC)  established  in  2003  as  a  vehicle  through  which  the  Afghan  government  and  international  donors  could  channel  technical  assistance  and  funding  to  build  and  strengthen  Afghanistan’s  microfinance  sector.  

 Microfinance  Investment  Support  Facility  for  Afghanistan  www.misfa.org.af    |    info@misfa.org    

PUBLIC  AWARENESS  CAMPAIGN  

 Comedian  and  radio  drama  star  Mamnoon  Maqsoodi    

MISFA  continues  to  expand  its  public  awareness  campaign  through  radio  programs  aired  across  the  country.  MISFA  and  the  Killid  Group  has  recently  produced  info-­‐drama  programs  intended  to  increase  public  awareness  of  microfinance.  

The  programs  will  be  broadcast  by  five  local  radio  stations  in  the  central  provinces:  radio  Safa  in  Jalalabad;  radio  Zuhra  and  radio  Kaihan  in  Kunduz;  radio  Rabia  Balkhi  in  Mazar;  radio  Sadai-­‐e  Jawan  in  Herat  and  radio  Killid  in  Kabul,  which  has  nationwide  coverage.    

MISFA’s  public  awareness  campaign  through  radio  is  now  in  its  third  phase.  The  first  phase  was  focused  on  client  oriented  news  features.  The  second  phase  targeted  the  introduction  of  the  microfinance  in  Afghanistan  and  its  history  through  five-­‐minutes  dramas  in  Dari  and  Pashto.    

This  third  phase  highlights  the  process  of  loan  taking  and  client  eligibility  for  loans.  The  themes  of  the  current  drama  series  showcase  what  microfinance,  if  used  properly,  can  do  to  change  people’s  lives.    

The  drama  program  features  famous  Afghan  artists,  including,  Mamnoon  Maqsoodi,  a  veteran  comedian  

and  a  famous  radio  personality  and  voice,  well  known  for  his  comedy  TV  show,  De  Kundi  Zoy  (son  of  a  widow).  

The  drama  series  has  four  episodes  and  each  episode  and  will  be  aired  in  Dari  and  Pashto  for  two  months.      

LEGAL  AWARENESS  WORKSHOPS  Also  part  of  MISFA’s  overall  advocacy  is  its  legal  awareness  workshops,  which  are  being  conducted  regularly  since  2010.    

Legal  awareness  workshops  are  designed  for  the  staff  of  MISFA’s  MFI  partners,  local  authorities,  community  elders,  and  other  stakeholders.    

Legal  awareness  workshops  are  conducted  bi-­‐monthly.  Thus  far,  workshops  have  been  held  in  Kabul,  Mazar  Nangrahar,  Laghman,  Herat,  Parwan  and  Kapisa  provinces.  

One  fundamental  outcome  of  this  initiative  is  the  improved  coordination  among  stakeholders;  particularly  the  encouraging  support  extended  to  MFI  partners  by  local  authorities  in  resolving  legal  and  law  enforcement  issues.  

Participants  in  the  September  legal  awareness  workshop  held  in  Mazar