Mission and Goals

Women's Microfinance Initiative (WMI) is a non-profit organization founded by a network of professional women in the Washington, D.C. area.

Through its local partners, WMI provides funding to make small loans available to impoverished women who have no access to banking services. By funding affordable, collateral-free loans for as little as $100, WMI promotes women's economic participation and carries the hope of prosperity to poor, rural areas of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Microfinance helps the poor grow tiny businesses to generate income that they can use for basic needs, education, healthcare, and savings. After two years in the WMI village-level loan program, women can become self-financing, apply for larger loans, or transition to more formal lending institutions. They have achieved a track-record of operating their small business and have developed financial skills that help them navigate the formal economy.

WMI distributes loans through village-level organizations and works with these partners to develop social outreach networks.

WMI is a transparent, home-grown, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting non-exploitive lending practices. It has no debt and minimal overhead costs: U.S.-based board members and interns are volunteers: WMI does not employ any full-time staff.

Mission

WMI's mission is to establish village-level loan hubs, administered by local women, to provide capital, training and support services to rural women in the lowest income brackets in East Africa so that they can engage in income producing activities.

Goals

WMI's goal is to help rural women in East Africa start businesses to accumulate assets so that they can stabilize their income, raise their household living standards, and reorient themselves and their families to a more prosperous life through financial inclusion.

WMI-funded small loans bring big changes to impoverished women, who use the money to build small enterprises and generate income. WMI has developed a unique economic model to transition women to the formal economy in 24-months through its basic loan program training and support. Loan funds are recycled so that the program becomes self-sustaining. WMI is making financial inclusion a reality for village women in East Africa.