CARE International in Zimbabwe and UN Women are implementing a project that drives financial inclusion among women in Buhera district.

The Financial Inclusion for Improved Women’s Agency project provides a revolving fund to help rural women without access to capital or finance and allows them to venture into the projects of their choice.

In this approach, women’s savings groups will borrow an average of US$700 and repay within 6 months with 10% interest.The project will start with women savings groups, comprising an average of 15 members.

Each group will access US$700 for expanding their business ventures after a series of training including co-creation, entrepreneurship development training, and group governance and strategic planning.

Pan African banking group, Ecobank, will support the women’s groups to open savings bank accounts in Buhera, without the need for them to travel to Mutare.

The repaid amount is given to the next savings group, maximising programme reach and impact and positively impacting households’ resilience to disasters.

Monitoring of the project will be handed over to CARE sister projects, Takunda, and START4Girls which are already working with the women groups from the eighth month which will in turn be handed over to relevant government departments from the twelfth month.

Besides contributing to ownership and sustainability, financial resources accruing from the 10% interest charges will be used to support monitoring activities from the eighth month onwards.

Care International Zimbabwe country director Patrick Sikana said his organisation “takes great pride in being associated with Ecobank”.

He said the collaboration with Ecobank was deeply rooted in our shared dedication to promoting gender equality and advancing women's economic empowerment.

“Through our joint efforts in the Financial Inclusion for Improved Women's Agency project in Buhera, we have provided valuable support to various women in the village savings and loans association groups, enabling them to access loans from the revolving fund established with the generous contribution from Ecobank Zimbabwe,” Sikana said.

He said the initiative has enabled women to open their first bank accounts and embark on income-generating activities to support their families.

“This incredible support serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment to bridging existing gaps and reaching out to more vulnerable women while transforming their circumstances. While our work in Buhera continues, we have also expanded our reach to Gwanda, in Matabeleland South, where we are supporting hundreds of women through the Ecobank revolving fund, there by contributing to women's financial inclusion in Zimbabwe. CARE takes great pride in being associated with Ecobank,” Sikana said.