How to Initiate and Manage Microfinance Projects
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Want to know more about microfinance? Learn about the resources that help host and sponsor clubs establish and manage microfinance projects within their local or global communities, including the Microfinance Guide Book developed by the Rotarian Action Group for Microfinance and Community Development (RAGM). Our experts are here to answer your questions and provide support.
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How to Initiate and Manage Microfinance Projects
- 1. How to Implement a Successful and Sustainable Microfinance Project Rotary International Convention Hamburg, Germany June 3, 2019 Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 1
- 2. Welcome Jim Louttit, Chair and President Rotarian Action Group for Microfinance & Community Development Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 2
- 3. Introduction The Rotarian Action Group for Microfinance and Community Development (RAGM) provides assistance and expert advice for clubs and Rotarians looking to develop successful and sustainable microfinance and community economic development projects Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 3
- 4. RAGM Supports Your Microfinance Project • Helps you get started by providing templates and guidelines for community needs assessments • Provides processes for planning, implementing, and evaluating microfinance and community development projects • Assists in identifying Rotary partners and funding sources including Rotary Foundation Grants • Offers curricula for business education, mentoring and project support • Publishes information and resources describing successful projects that can be used as models for new ones Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 4 RAGM helps you change lives sustainably in your local community and in communities around the world.
- 5. RAGM Resources • Information on grants and funding opportunities. • Availability of microfinance institutions operating in different regions and countries • Assistance in building partnerships with other Rotary clubs to formulate a Rotary Global Grant project • Microfinance conferences, training sessions for Rotary clubs or Districts • Speakers Bureau for presenters • Communication through social media • Enhanced website featuring a wide variety of articles of interest to RAGM members Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 5
- 6. Visit Us At Booth #4723 in the House of Friendship or at our website www.ragm.org Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 6 Rotarian Action Group on Microfinance and Community Development
- 7. Presenters Nick Frankle - Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise, California USA District Governor, District 5240 RY 2016-17 RAGM President and Chair, 2019-20 Email: nickdg1617@earthlink.net Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 7 Wally Gardiner - Rotary Club of High River, Alberta, Canada Member, Rotary Cadre of Technical Advisors RAGM Communications Director 2019-20 Email: gardinercomputer@shaw.ca Narayan Murarka - Rotary Club of Barrington Breakfast, Barrington, Illinois, USA Member, Rotary Cadre of Technical Advisors RAGM Global Grants, Major Programs and TRF Coordinator 2019-20 Email: npmurarka@comcast.net Summer Lewis Rotary Peace Fellow Founder, True Roots International RAGM Secretary, 2019-20 Email: summer@trueroortsinternational.org
- 8. Expected Outcomes • Learn what microfinance is and how it benefits individuals and communities • Understand the six building blocks of a successful and sustainable microfinance project • See examples of how the six building blocks are applied to create a successful and sustainable community microfinance project • Learn how RAGM can help you plan, implement, and support sustainable microfinance projects Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 8
- 9. • By show of hands, how many have been or are currently involved with a microfinance project? • By show of hands, how many came here today with the goal of bringing microfinance to a community? Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 9
- 10. What Is Microfinance • Microfinance is a category of financial services targeted at individuals and small businesses who lack access to conventional banking and related services • Microfinance includes microcredit, the provision of small loans to poor clients; savings and checking accounts; microinsurance; and payment systems • The World Bank reports that nearly 1.1 billion people have moved out of extreme poverty since 1990 Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 10 Microfinance empowers people by helping them create a business that can generate income and grow
- 11. Benefits of Microfinance • Provides access to capital • Encourages self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship • Manages risk • Empowers women • Enables families to invest in enterprises, better nutrition, improved living conditions, and the health and education of their children Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 11 Microfinance builds communities When many individual businesses in a community prosper together, their community thrives
- 12. Rotarians and Microfinance • Rotary supports investments in people to create measurable and enduring economic improvement in their lives and communities • Microfinance is an important component of the Community Economic Development Area of Focus • Building the capacity of entrepreneurs, community leaders, local organizations, and community networks to support economic development in impoverished communities • Developing opportunities for productive work • Reducing poverty in underserved communities Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 12 Rotarians have successfully implemented microfinance projects in all parts of the world
- 13. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 13 Needs Assessment Education Loan Capital Mentors Networking Monitoring & Evaluation
- 14. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 14 NEEDS ASSESSMENT Wally Gardiner
- 15. What Is A Needs Assessment • A Needs Assessment is a process used by organizations to determine priorities, make improvements, or allocate resources • A Needs Assessment involves determining the needs, or gaps, between where the organization envisions itself in the future and the organization's current state Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 15 Ensures that the project is consistent with the needs, priorities and culture of the community being served
- 16. How To Conduct a Needs Assessment Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 16 Select The Tools To Match The Target Community
- 17. FORM A ROTARY COMMUNITY CORPS • A Rotary Community Corps is a group of people who share our commitment to changing the world through service projects • Rotary Community Corps members plan and carry out projects in their communities and support local Rotary club projects but are not members of a Rotary club Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 17 Extend the opportunity to participate in your project to non-Rotarians in your community
- 18. WHAT IS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT • A Needs Assessment is a process used by organizations to determine priorities, make improvements, or allocate resources • A Needs Assessment involves determining the needs, or gaps, between where the organization envisions itself in the future and the organization's current state Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 18 Ensures that the project is consistent with the needs, priorities and culture of the community being served
- 19. NEEDS ASSESSMENT - DEFINE YOUR COMMUNITY • Is it the community of likely beneficiaries of a micro finance loan? • Are they an existing Small Medium Enterprise (SME)? • Are they a trust group of women working together? • Are they a single person loan beneficiary? Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 19 Your needs assessment should include questions that identify and confirm the need for your project
- 20. NEEDS ASSESSMENT APPROACHES • Focus Groups • Assemble a sample group of interested people, usually divide them by gender, with male/female facilitators • Discuss needs of community and record their ideas of how microfinance would assist in the community • Surveys • Design carefully with questions related to economic and community development. The RAGM Guidebook includes sample questions that support a microfinance project needs assessment. • Ask open ended questions – not ones answered yes or no Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 20 Rotary participation ensures that the project supports community priorities, culture and readiness
- 21. COMPILING YOUR NEEDS ASSESSMENT • Describe the community • What groups, persons, or organizations were consulted? • What community needs were identified? • What is being done today to respond to the needs? • What resources are available locally? • Is there a Rotary club in or near this community? Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 21 Your needs assessment provides the foundation for further development of the project plan
- 22. COMMUNITY READINESS • Education levels • Market availability • Capital required • Loan Model – SME Individual Group • Estimated number of beneficiaries Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 22 The needs assessment confirms that the community is welcoming of and ready for microfinance
- 23. NEEDS ASSESSMENT = NO NEED • Humanitarian projects that are higher priority to the community • Water and Sanitation • Health • Education • Introduce savings groups as a precursor to other forms of business development • Identify projects that support community development using grants rather than loans Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 23 A community not ready or requiring microfinance will have other needs that you can support
- 24. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 24 EDUCATION Nick Frankle
- 25. Education — Define the Business • Prepare entrepreneurs to create a successful and sustainable business • Equip entrepreneurs with basic financial and business knowledge • Develop/validate business plan • Create success milestones Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 25 Provides the entrepreneur with the skills and plan needed to create a successful, sustainable business
- 26. Education Process • Develop curriculum based on needs assessment • Identify instructors • Recruit entrepreneurs • Provide training • Review business plans • Determine next steps • Recognize graduates Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 26 Adapt your education plan to the needs, status and culture of the community that the business will serve.
- 27. Education Results • Roadmap for successful, sustainable business • Business plan to guide business creation • Basic knowledge of business finance • Amount and timing of capital investment • Business status metrics Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 27 Entrepreneurs understand how to create and manage their proposed business.
- 28. Education – Next Steps • Request capital • Assign mentor • Establish data collection methods • Prepare for business start Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 28 Entrepreneurs are guided by the business plan to create, manage and sustain their business.
- 29. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 29 LOAN CAPITAL Narayan Murarka
- 30. Loan Capital – Fund The Business • Loan Capital provides the funding for loans to entrepreneurs to create or grow their business • Loan Capital can come from many sources depending on local availability and project needs • The requirement for loan capital is based on the microfinance project and the local requirements Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 30 A reliable source of loan capital ensures that access to funds when needed for business investment
- 31. Loan Capital – Non-Rotary Sources • Lenders in your community • Cooperatives • Savings Groups • Local Micro-Finance Institutions (MFI) • Kiva/ Vision Fund/Grameen/FINCA Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 31 RAGM is developing global partnerships with MFIs to support Rotary Microfinance projects
- 32. Loan Capital – Rotary Sources Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 32 • Club Fundraising Activities • Rotary District Grants • Club Funds + District Match • Rotary Global Grants • Club Funds + District & Foundation Match • Minimum grant is $30,000 USD • Grant may include costs for education, outreach, evaluation and administration in addition to loan capital RAGM has advisors to assist you with Rotary Foundation District Grants or Global Grants
- 33. The Rotary Foundation TRF Host Sponsoring Club Global Grant International Sponsoring Club Benefitting Entrepreneurs Micro-Finance Institute (MFI), NGOs & Others Loan Capital – Global Grants
- 34. Loan Capital – Global Grants • The WHY? Needs Assessment • The WHAT? Project Objectives, Outcome & Impact • The WHERE? Community Profile • The WHO? Project Participants including Rotarians • The HOW? Implementation Plan Training of Rotarians & Entrepreneurs Monitoring and Evaluation Sustainability Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 34 The Global Grant application documents your project management and financing
- 35. Loan Capital – RAGM Support • Loan Capital Requirements • Rotary Foundation Grant Advisors • Requirements • Needs Assessment • Financing • Application preparation and review • Sources of loan capital • MFI partnership relationships Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 35 RAGM can support your project with Rotarians who have managed successful microfinance projects
- 36. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 36 MENTORS Nick Frankle
- 37. Mentoring – Create the Business • Ensure Project Success • Review Progress • Identify and Resolve Problems • Recognize and Reward Success • Mentors • Successful local business people • Rotarians Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 37 The mentor advises entrepreneur during the process of moving the business from plan to reality
- 38. The Mentoring Process • Identify mentors • Train mentors • Provide resources to mentors • Introduce mentors to entrepreneurs • Monitor progress against plan • Modify for problems • Recognize success Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 38 Mentors establish relationships with entrepreneurs and support them throughout business creation
- 39. Mentoring Results • Problems and Solutions Identified Timely • Business Plan Adapted As Needed • Entrepreneur Has Support • Successful New Business Created • Positive Impact on Entrepreneur and Community Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 39 Regular interaction with the mentor provides the entrepreneur with immediate feedback
- 40. Next Steps • Sustain and grow • Expand customer base • Introduce new products • Form partnerships Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 40 The mentor often continues as a partner to the entrepreneur throughout the life of the business
- 41. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 41 NETWORKING Summer Lewis
- 42. Networking – Grow the Business • Generate business through referrals • Potential source of future suppliers or partners • Receive advice from successful business people • Built-in source for marketing your business • Builds personal relationships 42 Networking provides the customers, suppliers, and advisors needed to sustain and expand your business
- 43. Networking Process • Look for networking groups in the local community • Get together with the people who trained with you • Meet with other local credit groups - serve as informal networking group • Use mentors and Rotary club members as resource for networking 43 Formal meetings or informal gatherings enable you to market your business and learn from others
- 44. Networking Results • Personal relationships established with other business owners • Ideas exchanged with others helps you understand your community and grow business • Future partners, suppliers, or customers secured via resources from networking groups • Message shared with others outside of the group 44 Networking is an important enabler of business growth, expansion, and sustainability
- 45. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 45 MONITORING & EVALUATION Summer Lewis
- 46. Monitoring & Evaluation: What? • Monitoring: regular data collection to track program progress • Evaluation: process to determine how well program goals are being met 46
- 47. Monitoring & Evaluation: Why? • Accountability and transparency to donors and stakeholders • Determine best practices • Measure effectiveness and impact of program • Increase understanding of program rationale for participants 47
- 48. Monitoring: How? • Think critically about the desired impact (or goals) • Determine how you will measure each goal (metrics) 48 • Establish a baseline • Create M&E plan for how you will collect data and how often
- 49. Evaluation: How? • Compare expected goals to data and adjust program as necessary • Report to donors and participants • Maintain data as part of an M&E system for future evaluation 49
- 50. Monitoring & Evaluation: What Next? • More information: • RAGM website: www.ragm.org • RAGM Guidebook • Rotary Foundation Grants Center: Global Grant Monitoring and Evaluation Guide www.rotary.org/myrotary Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 50
- 51. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 51 Honduras Economic and Community Development Wally Gardiner
- 52. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 52 Why should we care? • 8.3 million people, median age 21.6 • History of war • Natural disasters – 1998 Hurricane Mitch, 2008 floods • Second poorest country in Central America • 65% living in poverty • Highest published murder rate in the world • Government is broke • In rural areas, 20% have no water, 31% lack access to sanitation facilities
- 53. RI Foundation Requirements • Align with areas of focus • Respond to real community needs • Sustainable and include plans for long-term success • Measurable goals • Collaborate - actively involve Rotarians and community members • Go Big - $30K minimum grant
- 54. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 54 HECD Objectives • Increase local access to microfinance services • Increase IDH capability to allow savings and insurance • Increase funds available to clients • Include any other focus area if sustainable • Create a funding model to maximize leverage • Create a partner infrastructure to replicate success and minimize work
- 55. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 55
- 56. OUTCOMES TO DATE • HECD has grown to cover most of Honduras • The initial million dollar goal over a 10 phase program ($100K/year) has now realized $2.5 million Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 56 For more information drop by the RAGM booth 4723 or to become a partner or contact District Governor John Gilvesy (D7080) Phase 6 Project Lead by email at jgilvesy@gmail.com
- 57. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 57 MATCHING GRANT #76248 Reduction of Poverty in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, California USA Nick Frankle
- 58. Microfinance Project Overview • Enable beneficiaries to open or increase the stability of their small businesses and • Giving beneficiaries a sustainable means of increasing their standard of living and those around them. • Target population – low income Hispanic women living in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, California USA • Matching Grant supported by eleven Rotary districts Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 58 Sustainably increase the standard of living for beneficiaries and their families while improving the local economy.
- 59. EDUCATION • Pasos Basicos para Comenzar un Negocio • Six Week Course • Speakers included local business professionals • Graduates were eligible for a loan up to $5,000 • Capacitación Empresarial • Helps participants write a business plan • Includes self-assessment, business feasibility, marketing, finance, operational and personnel management and business- planning Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 59 The class was a life-changing, graduate-level crash course in business. Diane de Mailly DDM Metering Systems
- 60. Financing • Administered by Rotarians • Partnered with Women’s Economic Ventures. Local MFI with a 25 year record of providing education, support, micro loans and evaluation • Outreach coordination • English Curriculum/Instructors- including Rotarians • Loan administration • Support and networking infrastructure • Loan Fund Monitoring and Reporting Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 60
- 61. Loan Capital • Initial value of $120,000 • $305,000 loaned as of June 2018 • Average loan was $12,000 • Repayment rate 98.3% • Other financial institutions have invested over $150,000 to continue the program • Over 50% of the beneficiaries have moved out of poverty Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 61
- 62. Mentoring and Networking • Coordinated by MFI Partner • Rotarians participated as mentors • Beneficiaries introduced to existing networking groups Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 62 Monitoring and Evaluation • Loan fund evaluation performed by MFI • Community impact performed by MFI and Rotarians • Reports exceeded Rotary Foundation Requirements
- 63. Community Impact Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 63 $305,000+ Loaned 28 Businesses Supported Repayment Rate 98.3 % Community Impact: $3,660,000 per year
- 64. Community Recognition Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 64 Locally, Rotary District 5240 has been a critical partner in economic and community development, and has donated over $250,000 to fund microfinance loans that have helped start or grow local businesses over the past four years. Representative Julia Brownley US Congress, California 26th Congressional District December 13, 2016
- 65. What We Learned • Facts about microfinance • How the six building blocks of microfinance support successful, sustainable projects • Application of the six building blocks to two successful and sustainable microfinance projects • Resources from RAGM that can help you plan, implement and support your microfinance project Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 65 The RAGM Microfinance Guidebook and this presentation can be downloaded from the RAGM website www.ragm.org.
- 66. Support for your microfinance project • Templates and guidelines for community needs assessments • Processes for planning, implementing, and evaluating microfinance and community development projects • Funding sources including Rotary Foundation Grants and RAGM partners • Curricula for education • Advisers for each step of your microfinance project • Examples of successful projects that can be used as models for your project Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 66
- 67. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 67 SHARE YOUR STORY
- 68. For More Information Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 68 Visit Us At Booth #4723 in the House of Friendship or at our website www.ragm.org Rotarian Action Group on Microfinance and Community Development
- 69. Become a Member of RAGM You are cordially invited to attend the 2019 RAGM Annual General Meeting (AGM). MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2019 (5:00 PM-6:00) HAMBURG MESSE - ROOM: OSAKA 2 & 3 Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 69 Discounted RAGM Membership - Convention ONLY! $20 USD – Annual Membership $80 USD – Five-year Membership
- 70. RAGM Supports Your Microfinance Project • Helps you get started by providing templates and guidelines for community needs assessments. • Provides processes for planning, implementing, and evaluating microfinance and community development projects. • Assists in identifying Rotary partners and funding sources including Rotary Foundation Grants. • Offers curricula for business education, mentoring and project support. • Publishes information and resources describing successful projects that can be used as models for new ones. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 70 RAGM helps you change lives sustainably in your local community and in communities around the world.
- 71. Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 71
- 72. For More Information Eliminating Poverty by Empowering People 72 Visit Us At Booth #4723 in the House of Friendship or at our website www.ragm.org Rotarian Action Group on Microfinance and Community Development
Editor's Notes
- ”Who knows about monitoring and evaluation (M&E)? What's your experience with it?” What: If I were to sum up M&E in a phrase, it would be: “It’s not enough to be good, you have to prove you are good.” Monitoring is regularly collecting data to track progress. Evaluation is usually a separate process where some kind of judgment is made as to how well goals are being met. Many donor organizations now require M&E for projects, and Rotary is no exception. Rotary Global Grants, for example, set aside a percentage of the total project budget for M&E. Likewise, the Rotary Foundation provides suggested project measures, based on a project’s area of focus.
- Why? Evaluation is a practice that holds us accountable to hearing the voices of our stakeholders, from the inception of a project to its fruition If we don’t take into account stakeholder voices and consider what the impact of our services looks like for those receiving them, we face the risk of providing a service that is not meaningful or may even cause unintended results M&E is not just an end in and of itself. It meets a number of project stakeholder needs: - Has your program been effective? Donors can see a return on their investment and be assured of transparency. - Have you helped your entrepreneurs earn more money? Organizations can make use of results to determine best practices as well as areas for improvement. They can also demonstrate the effectiveness of their programming to funders. - Potential and current participants can better understand the rationale for being part of an initiative. When you use monitoring and evaluation tools you can learn the answers to these important questions and more.
- Here’s how you do it: When looking at a microfinance initiative through a M&E lens, our first step is to think critically about the desired impact (or goals) of the initiative. Even if the project is years-old, this is a crucial step. While it may seem obvious what the goals of a micro lending initiative are (ex: to provide accessible credit to entrepreneurs) - the question remains: what do you hope to achieve by providing access to credit? What does this impact look like for borrowers? their businesses? their families? communities? The goals of your entrepreneurship project may include: · Empowerment and improved financial literacy: Build capacity of entrepreneurs, local organizations and community resources to provide economic opportunity to impoverished communities · Increased levels of entrepreneurship: Develop opportunities for creation of entrepreneurial endeavors · Economic growth and a transition out of poverty: Reduce the poverty level of the target community Specific metrics you may want to measure include: · The number of people who attended training class · The number of people who received loans · The average size of the loan · The loan payback rate · The number of businesses still thriving at the end of one year · Impact on the community in terms of revenue generated and jobs created · The impact on beneficiaries such as the number raised above the poverty level and the number of children remaining in school.
- Different forms of evaluation Within the organization Third party And/or Participatory evaluation FROM GUIDEBOOK Here’s how you do it: · Compare expected goals to your data and evaluate the impact of your project on your beneficiaries and their community. · Investigate the variances (both positive and negative) so you can make changes where necessary. · Report status to your partners, your supporters and your beneficiaries. · Maintain the data to help determine trends, total life-cycle benefits and recommendations to others who would like to duplicate your project in their own communities. The goals of your entrepreneurship project may include: · Build capacity of entrepreneurs, local organizations and community resources to provide economic opportunity to impoverished communities · Develop opportunities for creation of entrepreneurial endeavors · Reduce the poverty level of the target community Specific metrics you may want to measure include: · The number of people who attended training class · The number of people who received loans · The average size of the loan · The loan payback rate · The number of businesses still thriving at the end of one year · Impact on the community in terms of revenue generated and jobs created · The impact on beneficiaries such as the number raised above the poverty level and the number of children remaining in school. You can find more information on Monitoring and Evaluation from The Rotary Foundation, your education, mentoring and funding partners, and the leadership of your target community. Expertise is also available from RAGM members who have executed successful microfinance projects.
- You can find more information on Monitoring and Evaluation from The Rotary Foundation, your education, mentoring and funding partners, and the leadership of your target community. Expertise is also available from RAGM members who have executed successful microfinance projects.
- Areas of focus - Promoting peace Today, 42 million people are displaced by armed conflict or persecution. Through our partnerships with several leading universities, Rotary Peace Fellows develop the skills to strengthen peace efforts, train local leaders to prevent and mediate conflict, and support long-term peace building in areas affected by conflict. We provide up to 100 peace fellowships per year at Rotary Peace Centers. Fighting disease More than 100 million people are pushed into poverty each year because of medical costs. We aim to improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in underdeveloped areas. Our members educate and mobilize communities to help prevent the spread of major diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. Many of our projects ensure that medical training facilities are located where the workforce lives. Providing clean water More than 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. At least 3,000 children die each day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water. Our projects give communities the ability to develop and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems and support studies related to water and sanitation. Saving mothers and children At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. To help reduce this rate, we provide immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improve access to essential medical services, and support trained health care providers for mothers and their children. Our projects ensure sustainability by empowering the local community to take ownership of health care training programs. Supporting education Sixty-seven million children worldwide have no access to education and more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. Growing local economies Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and develop opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also help strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.