i). Advocacy towards cooperative managers for the integration of the - - PDF document

Case Study: Improving the social and economic conditions of vulnerable and HIV infected women through an entrepreneurship program (Cameroon)

Situation: The precarious socio-economic situation makes it difficult for most families, rural population, women, unemployed and the informal economy workers, to have access to basic social and health services. For those infected/affected by HIV/AIDS, the situation is even worse. Discrimination towards people living with HIV within the cooperative milieu is rampant, and this is manifested by refusal to grant loans when serological status is known to be positive. Some mutual health

• rganizations

requested for HIV test as a pre-condition for registration. They argued that care provision to people living with HIV will outweigh their savings. Social exclusion of some people living with HIV/AIDS led to the development of auto- stigmatization, characterized by the denial of self esteem and self confidence. Micro-finance cooperatives seemed more concerned with economic services and paid little attention to social issues. Meanwhile the inability of the underprivileged and PLWHIV to meet up with eligible loan conditions, as well as lack of skills are additional obstacles to develop their business activities. Program description An entrepreneurship program to strengthen the capacity of Micro-finance cooperatives, vulnerable and HIV infected women was set up in 2009. During a participatory workshop, details on the management, roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders (ILO/SIDA- COOP, IDF-NGO-Integrated Development Foundation, Micro-finance cooperatives, Beneficiaries) were discussed. Also, the criteria for selecting trainers and beneficiaries, as well as access to start-up funds modalities were outlined. Trainers from cooperatives (known as Psycho-Socio Economic Counselors), identified vulnerable and HIV infected women, who were then trained on the following topics Conception of a micro-project, diagnosis of the micro- project (feasibility, viability, profitability and durability), management of the business, keeping accounts, re-imbursement and savings plan, supervision and monitoring. Start- up funds jointly supported by the cooperative and the project were made available and granted following a Revolving Fund scheme. This intervention targeted three cooperatives in the North-West Province (Kumbo, Wum and Bamenda) and one in the South-West (Mutenugene). Beneficiaries in the North-West were women living with HIV, while those in the South-West were vulnerable girls. A revolving micro-credit fund’s scheme was set up in three micro-finance institutions (MFIs): Bamenda Women Savings and Credit Cooperative, Kumbo Business Women Savings and Credit Cooperative and Wum Business Women and Savings Cooperative. The project provided financial support for the fund completed by the mentioned cooperatives and technical ssistance was given by the NGO Integrated Development Foundation. Partners’ role:

• Micro-finance institution

i) Provides additional funds; ii) Manages and coordinates the implementation of the activities; iii). Grants loans and gradually ensures recovery; iv). Supervises the Psycho-Social and Economic Counselors, v). Submits reports to SIDA-COOP and IDF.

• Psychosocial and Economic Counselors

i) Strengthen the capacities of business promoters; ii). Provide psychosocial and economic support and advices to promoters; iii) Supervise business promoters by monitoring and evaluating their activities; iv). Submit reports to the management and to IDF.

• Integrated Development Foundation

i). Provides technical assistance to Cooperatives and Psycho-social Counselors, ii) Supervises and provides guidance to business promoters.

Building partners’ capacities Managers of micro-finance institutions were trained in management procedures of the fund. Key issues

• f confidentiality in management, for example of beneficiaries’ files, were discussed.

Seven women from the micro-finance institutions were trained in the entire process to enable them to provide technical assistance to women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in their communities. Then they served as Psychosocial and Economic Counselors. Due to the specific needs of the beneficiaries of the funds, it was found necessary to include modules on HIV/AIDS in the training package to equip participants to address some of the AIDS-related issues that can impact on the economic activity. This included adherence to ARV treatment, nutrition, living positively with HIV, reference to support groups and health insurance. Monitoring and evaluation Monitoring and evaluation were carried out at different levels. Following the training of beneficiaries, the counsellors carried out regular visits to assess progress and provide additional guidance. Socioeconomic data were also gathered as a baseline to assess the specific impact of the project. A re-imbursement plan, agreed upon by loan beneficiaries, was used to monitor the businesses. IDF supervised the implementing actors on a regular basis and two participatory workshops were held to assess progress, strengths and weaknesses and to share experiences.

ILO’s technical input i). Advocacy towards cooperative managers for the integration of the scheme in their routine activities, ii) Grants part of the start-up funds; iii) Provides technical assistance at all levels. iv). Advocacy to mobilize additional financial resources to strengthen and sustain the intervention. Results/outcomes The program reached 216 women (among whom were 192 HIV infected). Funds were granted to 88 promoters, and they are implementing their businesses in commerce, tailoring, designing, rearing (piggery, poultry), secretarial duties and communication services (See pictures in annex). Majority of them have started reimbursing their loans, and are saving part

• f the interest in their Cooperatives. Among those who received the funds, 51 registered to

the mutual health organizations and it is expected that each year, part of the interest from their income will enable them pay their mutual health fees regularly. This intervention succeeded to ease the registration of 26 PLWA associations in three cooperatives (Kumbo, Wum and Bamenda). They paid their registration fees and also their

• shares. These associations have a total number of 460 members, who now have equal rights

like all other members, infected or non-infected, to benefit from the social, support and economic services offered by their cooperatives. This intervention seemed to have brought a lot of joy and hope to the beneficiaries. Many

• ther infected women have expressed their willingness to be involved. Associations of male

people living with HIV have also expressed their desire to benefit from the intervention. Promoters reported that they feel more helpful and do not longer perceive the disease as

• fatal. They are now more willing to talk freely and share their experiences.

Capacity of cooperatives and business promoters was strengthened with regards to management and the development of entrepreneurship. Almost all the promoters are now versed with keeping financial records.

Development and lessons learned Business program tailored to the conditions of beneficiaries, including capacity building at all levels, can significantly improve the living conditions of vulnerable and HIV infected women. It is relevant to ensure that the training and follow-up packages for people infected by HIV/AIDS include topics that address both the economic and psychosocial issues. Providing training to women in business development is relevant, but ensuring the availability

• f financial resources for their take-off is fundamental. Most of the targeted women are

extremely poor, and therefore good business ideas alone are not enough. Integrating entrepreneurship programs into micro-finances cooperatives' activities can increase access to existing loan opportunities and other social services. Capacities of beneficiaries are weak. Therefore it is important to undertake frequent field visits to monitor their businesses and provide necessary guidance. Assistance should be provided on a long term basis to enable promoters to evolve progressively from informal to formal businesses. Preliminary study to identify activities with high potentials of incomes would enable Cooperatives to best orientate beneficiaries.

Selected pictures on the Program

Picture SIDA/ILO-COOP, Oct 09 Girls/Teenage mothers trained in Mutenguene Picture SIDA/ILO-COOP, Nov 09 Participatory follow-up workshop in Kumbo Picture SIDA/ILO-COOP, Oct 09. Rachel is a young new business promoter. She reported that before the project, she was completely jobless. Thanks to the project that she is now very busy, selling shoes in various market places in the South West Province Picture SIDA/ILO-COOP, Oct 09. The young girl was jobless even though she was computer

• literate. Through the project she has been able to

purchase at set of computer and has set up a personnel business secretariat place. Picture SIDA/ILO-COOP, Oct 09. Through the project this young girl has acquired the needed equipments to set up a personal business Picture SIDA/ILO-COOP, Dec 09. Young girl in Wum, She started a business selling food items.

(Restaurant) Picture SIDA/ILO-COOP, Oct 09. This young girl has acquired a machine to develop a business (Tailoring and designing)