Mozambique has been one of the most dynamic economies in Africa, but it remains one of the world’s least developed countries. Growth has not translated into structural transformation and poverty reduction has stagnated. One of the major bottlenecks for this inclusion is the almost non-existence of financial services for small enterprises and farmers in the rural area.

In line with the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2016-22, the SDC Country Strategy 2017-20 and the Federal Dispatch 2017-20 priority themes, SDC supports the re-opening of a micro-finance bank that serves the low segments of the population in Northern Mozambique, particularly women. The bank was inaugurated in October 2017 with the new name Futuro Microbank. SDC has been driving Futuro Microbank as its primary capital investor and initial shareholder. SDC does not wish to commit any further capital investment into the bank. The investor portfolio needs to be diversified. Other like-minded investors who share the same commercial and / or social development goals will join this important initiative. Nevertheless, for the moment, the bank requires short to medium-term technical assistance support. Through this Credit Proposal, SDC is committing funding for Technical Assistance until 2019.

• Women micro-entrepreneurs;
• Smallholder farmers;
• Small entrepreneurs (gender disaggregated).

• Access and proximity to diversified financial services by low-income rural and urban men and women in Northern Mozambique is increased.
• Diversified palette of financial services offered by the new bank, which will include products targeting poor small men and women farmers to increase their assets and lift them out of poverty.
• Broadening of the bank’s investor base in order to allow bank consolidation, expansion and bigger coverage.

Expected results:   A solid and financially sustainable micro-bank that will branch out within five years, serving 6,000 small solidarity groups with average 5 members each and a total outreach of over 27,000 clients.

Results from previous phases:  

A microfinance institution is needed to cater for the lower segments of the population who live in a vicious poverty cycle. The previous phase (previous bank) was able to reach out to 11’000 clients with one bank branch only. For the new bank, there is need to:

• Focus on broadening the investor base. SDC will phase out from the bank after break-even in 2020.
• Build a stronger and more suitable management team, building a more professional field sales team, building a quality loan portfolio quickly enough, and preventing arrears at risk (late repayment).
• Procure technical assistance to ensure that this critical element of the bank becomes easier and more effective.

Phase 3 01.04.2018 - 31.12.2020   (Completed)