We reached out to Alvine Nguimzang, one of our members from Cameroon, to learn more about the microfinance project she runs and how the loan she received from the Rabobank Foundation has helped her expand her business.

EMRC: Could you please describe CECAW? What are your objectives?

Alvine Nguimzang: CECAW (Savings and Credit Cooperative for Artisans of Wouri) collects savings and grants loans to its members. Our members include a majority (80%) of women and young workers in the informal sector that do not have access to conventional banks. Today, CECAW includes 14,000 members with outstanding loans of 1.7 billion FCFA.

EMRC: Could you please give us an overview of your professional background?

AN: My professional experience includes  5 years of work in a supervisory structure of artisans as Executive Manager with the responsibility to manage the loan portfolios of the artisans. I started and managed CECAW since 1998.

EMRC: How did you manage to acquire a loan from the Rabobank Foundation?

AN: We obtained the loan through EMDEVIA (EMRC's sister company which provides guidance to EMRC members for their projects and to find funding) that was assisting us in redesigning our development plan and which also introduced and monitored our application process to  the Rabobank Foundation.

EMRC: What have you achieved since obtaining this loan?

AN: It is still early to talk about the results of this loan as we received it in November  2010. But nevertheless, we have already seen an increase in staff numbers, at present our team has hired 15 new staff  recruits. We are also planning to increase the number of beneficiaries of loans and the volume of credit by borrower. So, the future is looking bright and mainly thanks to the loan from Rabobank Foundation.