RAFI Micro-Finance Inks Partnership With DSWD

To provide access to capital among Pantawid Pamilya Program (PPP) beneficiaries, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance inked a memorandum of agreement for a livelihood program last July 30.

The partnership will implement an area-based sustainable livelihood program that will enable poor families to actively participate in the local economy as entrepreneurs.

“Both DSWD and RAFI would like to see empowerment of disadvantaged individuals and their families for an improved quality of life. We are here to provide access to capital for a more sustainable micro-enterprise,” Ma. Theressa Catipay, executive director of RAFI Micro-finance, said.

The program will initially pilot in selected cities or municipalities in Cebu Province to be identified by the parties within a period of one year.

The major activities include the profiling of Pantawid Pamilya households in selected cities and municipalities for partnership, orientation, and trainings in relation to the cooperation project, and continuous business development for the program’s beneficiaries.

As part of the agreement, DSWD will validate the eligibility of the PPP beneficiaries and endorse the beneficiaries to RAFI Micro-Finance to be formed into groups (a minimum of 20 members each).

It will also provide technical assistance and continuing capability building support and conduct social preparation and training workshops, Community Driven Enterprise Development (CDED) sessions, and other interventions for the beneficiaries that may be deemed necessary during the implementation of the partnership.

On the other hand, RAFI Micro-finance will screen the endorsed applicants. When accepted to the program, they will be clustered to groups of 10-20 or integrate them to existing Pantawid Pamilya groups in their respective barangays.

RAFI Micro-finance will provide access to additional capital for the micro-enterprises of qualified beneficiaries and regular trainings and seminars, either as center meeting interventions or group or individual business consultancy services.

An evaluation of the results of the program will be the basis for expanding the program to other areas to be identified by the parties as long as resources are available to fund the program.

“Through our partnership with the institution, we are able to increase our reach and extend our services to more individuals and their families,” Catipay disclosed.

At present, more than 17,000 nanays from the 17 branches in Cebu, Leyte and, Bohol branches are availing the loan, saving, and insurance services of RAFI Micro-finance.

RAFI Micro-finance is a program under the Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship focus area of RAFI, providing financial resources and know-how to women micro-entrepreneurs to nurture financial independence and entrepreneurship. Other focus areas of RAFI are Integrated Development, Culture & Heritage, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education.

For more information on RAFI Micro-finance, please contact 418-7234 loc. 707 and look for Val Gatchalian, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph, or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter.