Rebuilding Basic Infrastructure in the Casamance: Income Generating Activities, Senegal

Self-Financing Fund for Strengthening Economic Initiatives through Micro-Finance (CAURIE/MF)
Community Mutual Association for Savings and Credit (IMCEC = L'Institution Mutualeste Communautaires d'Epargne et de Credit)

Nine-hundred-and-four women in the Casamance region of southern Senegal--the Bounkiling, Kolda, and Bignona areas--are taking part in a revolving loan program through two local organizations, the Self-Financing Fund for Strengthening Economic Initiatives through Micro-Finance (CAURIE/MF) and Community Mutual Association for Savings and Credit (IMCEC). A consortium made up of Church World Service, Catholic Relief Services, and Christian Children's Fund is implementing the program through the local organizations, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The project is helping to launch income generating projects that will increase household income, savings, and assets, and improve living conditions for the women and their families, who live in resettlement zones for internally displaced people and refugees returning to their homes following two decades of conflict.

Besides the 904 women, indirectly benefiting from the project are some 4,100 family members and more than 2,300 people who will be employed in the new businesses.

CWS responsibilities within the consortium have focused on improving household incomes by increasing access to credit to develop small businesses, and increasing access to clean drinking water through construction and rehabilitation of wells and village water systems. CWS has also provided CWS Health and School Kits for the families.

Updated 8/24/06

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