I want to commend the Editorial Team of Civicus for their pesitence in commenting on Millenieum Development Goal and the strategy to eradicate poverty. I sincerely believe the rich countries could do more for the poor countries especially in the areas of hi-tech agriculture to reduce food insecurity. The poor countries especially in Africa need more investment in agriculture and post harvest technology. I hope this issues could be address at the assembly.

Yahaya Husseini, Nigeria 

Dear Yahaya,

Like i almost always do, i will like to welcome you to this wonderful forum site. Your comments are very nice especially for a new comer like you.

My advice is simple; enjoy yourself here through a means of unparralled expression of thoughts. Also dont get lost like a lot of members do. Keep reading and making contributions. Civil Society will be better off if you do. have a nice time.

- Victor

Hello Yahya,

I'm sure the topics related to hunger and poverty will be raised during assembly sessions in Scotland. After all, they have close relationship with justice matter.

See you.

Hello Yahaya,

While I agree with your comments in general terms - and having functioned internationally for a great many years - I believe it is also important for people - individuals, groups to make their own mark in the face of inactivity (when and wherever possible). This should then be followed swiftly by government support and investment in the many excellent initiatives today.  Whether that investment becomes a practical occurrance will be dependent upon the sincerity of any government concerned - and whether it is serving its elected declarations (and therefore its people) or not.

May I bring your attention to the determination of one Nigerian woman who decided upon her chosen path, persevered (even with a traditional father) and followed her path to what can only be described as amazing fruition.  While I understand perfectly that her choice would not suit everyone - I merely use her example of determination and success in empowering herself and otherwise disadvantaged girls and young women - while returning dignity and a very healthy earning capacity to those who follow her lead.

To read about this Nigerian woman's initiative, please go to:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070226/wl_csm/omechanic

Although the choice of carrer may not suit - leaves can be taken from this person's book in order to stimulate the establishment of some other similarly excellent initiative.

Providers rarely invest in "ideas" - but many will support something that has already begun, as it shows initiative and determination.

Kind Regards

Safia Soliman
 

The Network of Non-Governmental Organizations of Trinidad & Tobago For the Advancement of Women

Women’s Responsive Sou Sou Bank Model: Traditional Responsive Banking in Trinidad & Tobago

Micro finance has proved to be a veritable channel of poverty reduction in many poor countries particularly in Asia and Africa.

The trend in the 1980s and 90s proved the assertion above.  New developments in the millennium are also confirming the role of Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) as businesses with double bottom-line i.e. profitability and impact.

The success of Micro finance has largely been due to the innovation of the practitioners through tested models and demand driven products and services.

We have seen models of Micro finance from Asia replicated around the world.  Some of these models have been very successful but many of them do not fit the cultural setting associated with Trinidad & Tobago.  They make initial impact and gradually fade out.

Trinidad & Tobago has a long history of Micro finance, practiced in as many ways as the cultural diversity of the people.  Among these traditional methods are Esusu, Adache etc.   These traditional methods have been very successful.  However, lack of documentation has veiled many practices in Africa and little reference is made to them.

It is on account of this identified gap that CDF decided to document an African Microfinance Model (The African Traditional Responsive Banking (ATRB) Model), which has been very successful with national coverage in Nigeria, serving over 250,000 members who are mainly women.

The ATRB owes its development largely to the visionary leadership and passion for poverty eradication of its founder, chief (Mrs.) Bisi Ogunleye (OFR) under the auspices of Country Women Association of Nigeria (Cowan), founded and lead by since 1982.

It is our firm belief that a lot will be learnt from this model.

We are doing well and in fact I am writing a play re the granting of land in 1783 and connecting it to this present day effort by Trinidadian women.

Ellen O'Malley Camps

Hello Ellen

What great news. Thank you for sharing this initiative. Iam familiar with community self-financing projects that although quite loosly structured, worked wonderfully for the participants. Although those systems functioned under different names (depending on where the people were globally), they were the same in principle. They permitted participants access to badly needed funds on a rotation basis, with no repayment required - just the committment to remain within the pool until each member had benefited at least once. Excellent system based on trust and respect.

However, to function at national (or other larger) level - a more structured system with built-in safeguards will naturally be necessary. Micro finance is becoming more and more important globally - as indicated by the Grameen Bank, Bangladesh.

Good luck with your play - please let me know when it is finished and where it is to be staged. Thank you very much.

Kind regards

Safia
 

Hello Elen, Safia,

Greetings. I wonder why i had not added a comment to the wonderful words from Ellen yet. Indeed Micro Finance is, and has been recognised by many organisations and agencies as the sure way, if not the surest, in providing a meanigful upliftement in the economic lives of many poor people arround the world.

The world bank in 2005 initiated a programme that sought to encourage a lot of Governments and partners to go more into this initiative. In Ghana, under the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy - Two (GPRS II), Micro Finance has been made a major trust in the project.

It is better in encourage Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) to provide payable loans through Micro Finance than to dale out money to them freely in the name of poverty aleviation. The University of Cape Coast in Ghana (where i work partially and school) has now instituted a yearly conference on Micro Finance, as well as professional training and diploma programmes in Micro Finance to support the MFIs build their capacity for this task. I am proud to have been part of the organising team for the 2editions so far. One realisation from these conferences has been that, group loans work better than individual loans. Can get more information for you when required about the reports.

Keep up the good work

Victor

Hello Yahaya / yahusseini

I support your view that wealthier nations must do far more for those who are struggling. My wish would be for there to be a blanket removal of ALL debt and trade embargoes, immediately. Having functioned globally as a consultant within the voluntary sectors, I have to say that I have not witnessed any real help or support for developing nations from others. Lip service is paid, conferences convened - but little rarely transpires into practical action on the ground. The absolute removal, forever, of any foreign debt - regardless of to whom it is owed - will automatically free up the available resources of previously debtor nations. These finances could then be used to trade and increase national and personal holdings - IF TRADE EMBARGOES WERE LIFTED.

Yusou N'Dour made a fine, public statement at the G8 concert
He told the world, with his usual smile and polite demeanour: "We don't need your 'aid', we don't need your 'money' - just remove ALL trade embargoes and we will show you how we Africans will do it for ourselves!"

"high-tech" agriculture, to reduce food insecurity: what aspects of "high-tech" agriculture will be acceptable to you/your nation?

Kind regards - Safia 

I agree with some of your points on War against poverty and food insecurity.

However, it is important to bring to the notice  the real  situation of micro-financing in Nigeria and Africa at large, which , instead of helping the low-class, economically disadvantaged people and the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises(SMEs), favours the rich who can provide the required collateral and other stringent conditions and bridges the gap between the poor and the rich.My visits to some of the Micro- finance Banks in Nigeria revealed the ways and treatments the low-class and economically disadvantaged people are subjected to.It further substantiate my point above.

I am of the opinion that Micro-financing can be an effective tool in conquering the war against poverty and insecurity only if Micro-financing and loan are made accessible to the poor and the  SMEs.

AZEEZ YUSUFF

ECONOMIC ANALYST/CONSULTANT/HUMAN RIGHT ADVOCATE