21 October 2010

Decreased Average Loan Amount


As of the end of September 2010, the MAKAZI BORA program had disbursed a total of 379 home improvement loans and had 337 active clients. 81 home improvement loans were disbursed during the period of 1st July - 30th September 2010, with an average loan amount of 750,000 shillings (+/- $490). This average loan amount is slighlty lower than the previous average because MAKAZI BORA following some product feature changes in July. The maximum loan amount for first time borrowers was reduced from 1,500,000 shillings to 800,000 shillings. Repeat borrowers are now eligible for a maximum loan amount of 2,000,000 shillings for a second loan and 3,000,000 for a third loan. Most of MAKAZI BORA's active clients are still first time borrowers, resulting in the lower average.

In the first year of operations, the average loan period was consistently 16 months. With the decrease in the maximum loan amount for first time borrowers, the average loan period also decreased slightly in the last quarter to 14 months.

05 October 2010

New Home for MAKAZI BORA


MAKAZI BORA has a new home in Mbagala. The MAKAZI BORA office is now located on Kilwa Road across from the Rangi 3 Bus Terminal and above Akiba Commercial Bank. The new office gives MAKAZI BORA higher visibility and makes it more accessible to clients as promotion of the MAKAZI BORA home improvement loan continues in the Temeke Municipality of Dar es Salaam.

MAKAZI BORA has 362 active clients as at the end of September 2010. An update of our first year of operations has been posted as a link on side bar of this blog. Habitat for Humanity Tanzania is currently seeking capital to scale up its housing microfinance program in 2011.