Programs / Microfinance / Communities / Ekumfi Ebiram «

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About Ekumfi Ebiram

Ekumfi Ebiram was a community that stood out when the Global Brigades

Microfinance Program was deciding which community to partner with next.

This was mainly because the community had had many bad experiences

with run-away Susus. Agents from supposedly legitimate and reputable

institutions had come to establish a traditional financial system in the

community but towards the end of the annual financial cycle disappeared

with many community members' life savings. From that point onwards the

community, as a whole has been reluctant to partnering with any financial

institutions in general. At the same time this cautionary practice has gravely

affected the community and had hindered its progress. Global Brigades

took it on itself to see these people through the process of development

while soliciting trust.

 

Ekumfi Ebiram's Economic Challenge

The majority of the community members rely on agricultural work to

support themselves and their families. They mainly grow maize and

cassava. Another important occupation is charcoal trading. Charcoal

provides community members an alternative source of income, as farming

is seasonal. Charcoal is a high-margin business, yet it is not environmentally

sustainable. In desperation for quick returns, community members sell the

charcoal they produce through intermediaries at a very low price, as it saves

them the effort and time of going to the markets. They are so used to the

situation now that they don't even try to break out of this system of

being exploited.

 

Before Global Brigades helped the community establish the Community Development Fund, the community had absolutely no access to any financial institution or its services. The closest bank is in a town almost 12 kms away, where they do not have access to free savings or small loans. With a community having no access to capital or financial infrastructure were living as subsistence agriculturalists and living on a day-to-day basis.

 

Microfinance in Ekumfi Ebiram

Ekumfi Ebiram was the fourth community the Microfinance Program in Ghana expanded to in June 2012. The Microfinance Brigades in-country team and brigaders from three different universities have worked in this community since then. During this time, staff and volunteers have worked with community members to:

     •  Train and establish a Community Development Fund (CDF)
     •  Provide educational seminars to adults and children in the community on the importance of
        savings.
     •  Promote voluntary savings in the community to reach a level of sustainable capital for the CDF.

     •  Door-to-door community visits to further encourage community members to trust the system of the
        community bank and open accounts to actively save.

Our work in Ekumfi Ebiram is not done yet. The loan system is yet to be introduced in the community, yet before they get to that stage they have to reach a level of capital and accounts in their bank. Having set these goals, there has been an increase in savings accounts in the CDF, which indicates that the community is nearly at the stage to facilitate the group loan system.

 

A SWOT Analysis of the Community and its Development Fund

 

Strengths

 

     •  Respect given to CDF Leaders- The leaders are always inquisitive and ready to learn. They are
        open to new ideas and always solicit opinions of the community before making decisions. They
        are particular about their CDF operation times and always indulge the account holders in
        conversation when they come to the CDF. They make it a point to find out why the account holder
        is making withdrawals and advise them on what aspects they should consider before withdrawing
        their savings. The community as a whole sees this and looks to these leaders for guidance.

 

     •  Community Members' Acumen - Though the community members respect the CDF leaders and
        the work they do, most like to keep the CDF leaders accountable and constant checks on them.
        Most account holders are part of the big decision making processes of the CDF. This probably
        stems from unpleasant past experiences.

 

 

Weaknesses

 

Opportunities

 

     •  Business Development - The community has not seen the effect of business development at an
        individual level or at a community level in the past in any form. We believe that if they are at the
        stage to sustainably grow their businesses and see its effects, it can go a long way in gaining their 
        full trust. This opportunity can be channelized through work of Business Brigades to bring about
        long-term economic sustainability.

 

     •  Introduction of Loans - There is a scope to introduce loans through the CDF. Community
        members have requested this and after through education in the community, this injection of
        capital can have very positive effects.

 

 

Threats

 

     •  Community Patience - It is a hope that the community commitment does not turn into frustration
        when expectations are not met. This could happen if the CDF is not able to reach the set goal of
        capital for the introduction of loans or even if the loan education aspect takes long as we expect.

 

     •  CDF Leader Incentives - As the workload for the leaders of the development fund have
        increased, there has been an ask from the CDF leaders for a certain incentive to continue their
        work in the community. This is a discussion that the in-country team is having across programs to
        standardize them for all community volunteers.

 

Microfinance/Business Brigades Chapters that Worked in Ekumfi Ebiram
Brigades Chapter	Month	Program	Volunteers	Brigade Projects
University College London, UK	June 2012	Microfinance	22	•  Brigade groups focused on promoting the community development fund within the community.   •  After the CDF was established with leaders in place, they started educating the community about the first product, Savings.   •  Through the brigade groups, community members were encouraged to open accounts at the CDF.
Cardiff University, UK	September 2012	Microfinance	11
University College London, UK	June 2013	Microfinance	19	•  The group concentrated on more savings education at a door-to-door level, leadership training for the CDF leaders as well as CDF information dissemination throughout the community.   •  In the past few months the CDF have seen an increase of accounts and capital, stabilizing the fund.
University of California, Los Angeles, USA + University of Texas - Austin, USA	December 2013	Microfinance	24	•  Brigade group worked with 24 potential loan applicants to develop financial plans (savings plan, investment plan and a potential repayment plan).   •  Identified 8 small family business with potential to grow through business consultations that will be facilitated by business brigades.   •  Carried out research into the agricultural products of maize, cassava and pineapples to help the establishment of a season-based agricultural loan product.

 

Current Status

Last Visit: 4th November, 2013

 

 

 

Visit Other Programs in Ekumfi Ebiram

Global Brigades strives to implement a model of Holistic Development in communities through a system of collectively implementing health, economic, and education initiatives to strategically meet a community's development goals. Learn more about the other programs being implemented in Ekumfi Ebiram:

  BusinessCHWDentalMedicalWater