Africa

67% Adult population financially excluded

71,455 40% Female borrowers The majority of female borrowers are the primary income-earners in their families. % #

1,322,903 Total FINCA clients In Africa, savers outnumber borrowers by more than 4 to 1. FINCA subsidiaries in this region use non-traditional channels, such as mobile banking and rural agents, to mobilize small deposits in remote areas.

78,655 45% Borrowers in rural areas Rural outreach is particularly striking in Tanzania and Uganda, where it reaches 75%. % #

178,392 Total FINCA borrowers

85% Adult population financially excluded The rate of financial exclusion is higher than the regional average (70%).

23,439 40% Female borrowers % #

328,946 Total FINCA clients FINCA DRC has more than 8 times as many savers as borrowers.

11,719 20% Borrowers in rural areas Efforts are underway to reach more rural areas, but they are hindered by instability and violence in the countryside. % #

58,594 Total FINCA borrowers

80% Adult population financially excluded

33,980 41% Female borrowers % #

172,121 Total FINCA clients

46,371 56% Borrowers in rural areas % #

82,805 Total FINCA borrowers

55% Adult population financially excluded More than half of the adult population in Nigeria is financially excluded.

1,103 33% Female borrowers % #

10,282 Total FINCA clients

3,342 Total FINCA borrowers

77% Adult population financially excluded

2,135 24% Female borrowers % #

651,331 Total FINCA clients

6,587 75% Borrowers in rural areas % #

8,783 Total FINCA borrowers

63% Adult population financially excluded

7,101 38% Female borrowers % #

137,219 Total FINCA clients

13,978 75% Borrowers in rural areas % #

18,637 Total FINCA borrowers

76% Adult population financially excluded The level of financial inclusion in Zambia is higher than in Africa overall, but is still low, at 31%.

3,697 59% Female borrowers % #

23,004 Total FINCA clients

0 0% Borrowers in rural areas FINCA aims to increase its rural outreach through mobile and agency banking. % #

6,231 Total FINCA borrowers

View All Financial Inclusion Data

Among the FINCA regions, Africa has the second highest rate of financial exclusion. FINCA is working hard to close that gap using technology to reach severely under-banked people. Mobile and agency banking channels are helping us overcome the lack of infrastructure that isolates poor and rural communities. The goal is not only to reach people with a full range of services, including savings, credit and insurance.

Living Standards

Africa:
Quality of Life

88,042 50% Client homes without water % #

68,691 39% Client homes without electricity % #

109,903 63% Client homes without access to Internet % #

67,250 38% Clients who don’t own their home The rate of clients who don't own their own home is more than twice the global average (17%). % #

69,758 40% Head of household with primary education or less % #

26,953 46% Client homes without water The DRC, Africa’s most “water-rich” country, is facing an acute water supply crisis with considerable social and public health consequences. Nearly half (46%) of FINCA’s borrowers lack access to safe drinking water. % #

9,375 16% Client homes without electricity % #

28,125 48% Client homes without access to Internet % #

30,469 52% Clients who don’t own their home % #

6,355 11% Head of household with primary education or less Among FINCA borrowers, 89% live in a household headed by someone with greater than primary education. % #

43,887 53% Client homes without water % #

43,887 53% Client homes without electricity More clients lack electricity in Malawi than anywhere else in the region. % #

55,479 67% Client homes without access to Internet High taxes and poor infrastructure, among other obstacles, make access to the Internet prohibitively costly, % #

25,670 31% Clients who don’t own their home % #

43,473 53% Head of household with primary education or less % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

4,831 55% Client homes without water % #

4,392 50% Client homes without electricity % #

7,026 80% Client homes without access to Internet % #

3,215 37% Clients who don’t own their home % #

6,802 77% Head of household with primary education or less The educational levels in Tanzania are much lower than in the other African countries. % #

9,319 50% Client homes without water In addition to the health risks from contaminated sources, the lack of running water imposes a physical burden on family members -- often children -- who are required to collect and transport it back to the house. % #

9,542 51% Client homes without electricity The electrical grid in Uganda is extremely limited and poorly maintained. % #

14,723 79% Client homes without access to Internet % #

5,405 29% Clients who don’t own their home This indicator is high throughout Africa. % #

10,437 56% Head of household with primary education or less Only Tanzania has a higher incidence of household heads who have a primary education or less. % #

3,053 49% Client homes without water % #

1,495 24% Client homes without electricity This is somewhat better than the rural conditions in neighboring countries, but not as good as DRC, whose clientele is primarily urban, like Zambia's. % #

4,549 73% Client homes without access to Internet % #

2,492 40% Clients who don’t own their home % #

2,692 43% Head of household with primary education or less % #

View All Living Standards Data

More households are struggling to meet basic needs in Africa than in the other regions where FINCA works. Nearly half of our clients live without clean water in their homes, and a third of them are without electricity. This places an enormous burden on families—especially children, who are tasked with fetching wood and water, and whose health and education are compromised by poor living conditions. Nearly 40 percent of borrowers are unable to purchase a home, which denies them a basic means to build their wealth and to secure credit. FINCA cannot overcome all these challenges on its own, but the simple provision of accessible credit and savings services can at least give these families tools to manage their resources and make investments that will improve their quality of life.

Income & Employment

Africa:
Income & Employment

$4,087 24% Average annual profit As a % of the total sales % #

2.6 Average # of employees per client enterprise

400,053 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia only.

92,047 23% Employees hired due to FINCA loan Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia only. % #

223,899 55% Wages paid above the poverty line Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia only. % #

$6,344 19% Average annual profit % #

2.2 Average # of employees per client enterprise

131,090 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

33,242 25% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

56,369 43% Wages paid above the poverty line % #

$2,727 27% Average annual profit FINCA clients in Malawi earn an average annual profit of $2,727, the second highest in the region. This represents 27% of their total sales. % #

2.9 Average # of employees per client enterprise Includes the owner. Our borrowers in Malawi generate more employment than any other FINCA subsidiary.

238,043 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

50,133 21% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

147,587 62% Wages paid above the poverty line % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

$3,174 18% Average annual profit 18% of the total sales % #

2.4 Average # of employees per client enterprise

21,131 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

8,193 39% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

14,510 69% Wages paid above the poverty line % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Uganda.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

$2,208 36% Average annual profit 36% of total sales. % #

1.6 Average # of employees per client enterprise

9,789 People employed in FINCA-funded enterprises

479 5% Employees hired due to FINCA loan % #

5,433 56% Wages paid above the poverty line The wages provided by FINCA clients in Zambia are lower than other subsidiaries in the region. % #

Explore FINCA Loan Sectors

Faced with high unemployment and low wages, most people in Africa rely on their own ingenuity to earn a living. Through small business and farming, FINCA borrowers in Africa generate about $4,100 per year in net income to sustain their families. They are also creating jobs for others. More than 350,000 people are employed by FINCA’s borrowers in Malawi, Tanzania, DRC and Zambia, at an average of 2.4 people per enterprise (including the owner). Most of the wages earned by these additional employees are above the national poverty line, creating a positive effect that extends into the community.

View All Income & Employment Data

Women’s Empowerment

Africa:
Empowering Women

71,455 40% Female borrowers The majority of female borrowers are the primary income-earners in their families. % #

22,706 13% Clients with female-headed household % #

58,676 34% Households with female as main earner . % #

88,907 56.8% Businesses run by women Most of the businesses funded by FINCA in Africa are run by women, ranging from 54% in Tanzania to 61% in Zambia. % #

160,447 41% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

205,056 50% Jobs created by women Among FINCA clients, women entrepreneurs in Africa create jobs at a slightly higher rate than men. % #

23,439 40% Female borrowers % #

6,387 11% Clients with female-headed household % #

19,692 34% Households with female as main earner % #

33,164 56.6% Businesses run by women % #

56,250 43% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

50,135 38% Jobs created by women % #

33,980 41% Female borrowers % #

11,208 14% Clients with female-headed household % #

28,019 34% Households with female as main earner % #

47,199 57.0% Businesses run by women % #

88,601 37% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

138,065 58% Jobs created by women 58% of total jobs created by FINCA Malawi borrowers were created by women. % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

1,103 33% Female borrowers % #

2,135 24% Female borrowers % #

734 8% Clients with female-headed household % #

1,672 19% Households with female as main earner Women are often the main breadwinner -- even if they are not the head-of-household. % #

4,743 54.0% Businesses run by women Tanzania is one of the few countries where women's business ownership is equal to their share of the overall client base. This means that they are using FINCA loans to run their own independent businesses. % #

9,925 47% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

12,256 58% Jobs created by women Altogether, women are employing almost 79,235 workers in their FINCA-funded enterprises. % #

7,101 38% Female borrowers % #

3,052 16% Clients with female-headed household % #

6,410 34% Households with female as main earner % #

3,697 59% Female borrowers % #

1,326 21% Clients with female-headed household % #

2,883 46% Households with female as main earner % #

3,801 61.0% Businesses run by women Almost two-thirds of the enterprises funded by FINCA in Zambia are headed by women (61%). % #

5,670 58% Women employed by enterprises Avg. #

4,601 47% Jobs created by women % #

View All Women’s Empowerment Data

Women around the world are responsible borrowers and diligent savers who use their earnings to benefit their families. Women make up the majority of FINCA's borrowers in this region, and most of them are the main source of income in their family. Owning a business also enhances women's social status, particularly when they employ others.

Unfortunately, women are more likely to be left behind in the wave of financial technology, particularly where they are less educated and less familiar with the operation of smartphones. FINCA is bridging this divide by actively engaging women in the design and delivery of new services—including partnering with female shop owners, who can serve as community banking agents and utilize handheld devices to access FINCA bank accounts. These women are not only the beneficiaries of economic empowerment, they are its drivers, especially for other women.

Clients’ Goals

Goals Set By FINCA Borrowers

Goals Met By FINCA Borrowers

20,015 13% Start a business % #

73,803 47% Expand a business This is the most commonly-cited goal among our borrowers. % #

9,658 6% Invest in education % #

32,660 21% Improve their home Home improvement is the second highest goal for this region. % #

11,597 7% Buy an asset % #

5,075 3% Pay down debts % #

10,137 17% Start a business % #

30,410 52% Expand a business % #

4,570 8% Invest in education % #

3,691 6% Improve their home % #

3,281 6% Buy an asset % #

2,988 5% Pay down debts % #

8,688 10% Start a business % #

34,260 41% Expand a business % #

4,613 6% Invest in education % #

26,601 32% Improve their home % #

7,613 9% Buy an asset % #

994 1% Pay down debts % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

852 10% Start a business % #

5,937 68% Expand a business % #

176 2% Invest in education % #

659 8% Improve their home % #

97 1% Buy an asset % #

1,010 12% Pay down debts Tanzania is the only country where paying down debts outranks home improvement. % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Uganda.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

339 5% Start a business % #

3,196 51% Expand a business % #

299 5% Invest in education % #

1,708 27% Improve their home % #

606 10% Buy an asset % #

83 1% Pay down debts % #

18,173 93% Start a business % #

64,530 88% Expand a business % #

8,897 93% Invest in education % #

30,048 86% Improve their home % #

49,305 88% Buy an asset % #

4,667 95% Pay down debts % #

8,383 83% Start a business % #

23,386 77% Expand a business % #

3,830 84% Invest in education % #

2,680 73% Improve their home % #

41,016 70% Buy an asset % #

2,636 88% Pay down debts % #

8,688 100% Start a business % #

32,782 96% Expand a business % #

4,613 100% Invest in education % #

25,079 94% Improve their home % #

7,613 100% Buy an asset % #

994 100% Pay down debts % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

768 90% Start a business % #

5,658 95% Expand a business About 95% of borrowers expect that FINCA’s loans will enable them expand their businesses. % #

155 88% Invest in education Those who have non-business goals, such as education or to acquire assets, express slightly less certainty that they will be able to accomplish this aspiration. % #

596 91% Improve their home % #

86 89% Buy an asset % #

956 95% Pay down debts % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Uganda.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

335 99% Start a business Almost all borrowers expect that FINCA’s loan will enable them to achieve these goals. % #

2,704 85% Expand a business % #

299 100% Invest in education % #

1,693 99% Improve their home % #

590 97% Buy an asset % #

83 100% Pay down debts % #

View All Clients’ Goals Data

Over half of our borrowers in Africa use their loans to grow an existing business, while a smaller percentage are launching new ventures. Beyond business, the next highest priority is to improve their housing. FINCA helps put these aspirations within reach; the vast majority of clients say that our loans helped them (or are helping them) achieve these goals.

Business Activities and Profit

FINCA Loan Sectors

136,610 77% Trade % #

22,960 13% Services % #

6,991 4% Manufacturing % #

10,605 6% Crops % #

1,075 1% Livestock % #

49,863 85% Trade % #

6,563 11% Services % #

1,113 2% Manufacturing % #

527 1% Crops % #

469 1% Livestock % #

59,454 72% Trade % #

11,021 13% Services % #

4,115 5% Manufacturing % #

8,140 10% Crops % #

0 0% Livestock % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

5,788 66% Trade % #

1,818 21% Services % #

422 5% Manufacturing % #

413 5% Crops % #

343 4% Livestock % #

- 0% Trade % #

- 0% Services % #

- 0% Manufacturing % #

- 0% Crops % #

- 0% Livestock % #

4,673 75% Trade % #

729 12% Services % #

480 8% Manufacturing % #

218 4% Crops % #

131 2% Livestock % #

Profit and Profit/Sales Ratio by Sector

$4,290 23% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

3,588 27% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$4,733 29% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,766 20% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,347 18% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$6,481 19% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

5,384 17% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$9,813 18% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,622 16% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$3,145 40% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,966 25% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

2,547 34% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,580 36% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,832 21% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$0 0% Livestock test Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

$3,560 15% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

2,571 25% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,505 33% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,175 14% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,864 18% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$0 0% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

0 0% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$0 0% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$0 0% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$0 0% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$2,309 35% Trade Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

1,976 38% Services Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,996 35% Manufacturing Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,658 46% Crops Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

$1,610 46% Livestock Profit/sales ratio Avg. profit

Jobs by Sector Due to FINCA Loan

67,162 73% Trade % #

16199 18% Services % #

2,847 3% Manufacturing % #

5,368 6% Crops % #

471 1% Livestock % #

29,918 90% Trade % #

2347 7% Services % #

530 2% Manufacturing % #

316 1% Crops % #

130 0% Livestock % #

31,778 63% Trade % #

11796 24% Services % #

1,926 4% Manufacturing % #

4,632 9% Crops % #

0 0% Livestock % #

No data has been collected yet for this indicator in Nigeria.

The support of FINCA donors is vital to our efforts to understand our clients and better serve them. Please Donate to support this important work.

5,147 63% Trade % #

1986 24% Services % #

321 4% Manufacturing % #

400 5% Crops % #

338 4% Livestock % #

- 0% Trade % #

0 0% Services % #

- 0% Manufacturing % #

- 0% Crops % #

- 0% Livestock % #

319 67% Trade % #

70 15% Services % #

69 14% Manufacturing % #

19 4% Crops % #

3 1% Livestock % #