Term
- 3 years
Years
- 2016-2018
Direct Beneficiaries
- 10,000 individuals
Indirect Beneficiaries
- 45,000 individuals
Implementation Partners
Financial Partners
The majority of the population in Sierra Leone has little access to savings or lending facilities. Only two deposits take Mutual Fund Investment (MFIs) in the country, and the banks are not interested in small savings. Limited access to financial services makes it very difficult for most of the population to access credit for productive or entrepreneurial purposes. Credit unions offer the opportunity for communities to create and deliver financial services relevant to their needs. Credit Unions help people save and plan for their future, access credit for investment purposes, and improve household financial literacy.
ACCESS, a 3-year project, aims to improve the financial capacity of women, youth, and men throughout rural and urban Sierra Leone through access to financial services.
In phase two of the project, the aim is to build on previous experience and the capacity of credit union leaders (managers and directors) to meet the requirements of solid financial institutions. The project will also promote the establishment of new credit unions in high potential areas in rural and urban Sierra Leone and support the growth and development of their national apex.
The project also aimed to build the capacity of the Department of Co-operatives to carry out responsible supervision and promote an enabling environment for credit union growth.
