repreneurs du Monde ndation Ent the Fo n°33 -march 2013 “Could you explain how Entrepreneurs du Monde works with its local partners?” This is one of the questions you wanted us to answer when we consulted our readers in December. So, the difference between a partner, a programme and a Entrepreneurs du Monde supports twenty-two Technical tools: together we adapt tools beneficiary, etc. is not always programmes and partners in eleven countries. which have already proved effective with other clear. The role of each of We help them to improve, diversify and per- programmes and partners (e.g. software and them is not obvious either. petuate their services so that they can provide management procedures, HR, auditing and re- The words “donor” and an appropriate, sustainable response to the porting), and we train the teams. In addition to “sponsor’ also need to be needs of the beneficiaries. The programmes this, we work together to develop the tools included to help us to fully are created by Entrepreneurs du and games which ensure that the appreciate the wonderful Monde, whereas the partners are beneficiaries are fully involved dur- chain of solidarity which independent structures which have ing training sessions. forges links between these requested our support. Our aim people and organisations: is that all of the programmes be- Legal structure: we help our pro- the beneficiary, that is come financially sustainable and grammes and partners to choose the micro-entrepreneur autonomous after several years of an appropriate legal structure and developing their business; technical and financial support. Our strengthen their governance. the local organisation actions are based on the following: COMPREHENSIVE (Entrepreneur du Monde’s Financial resources: we help our programme or partner) Services and methods: we REGULAR programmes and partners find the which supports the help our programmes and part- SUPPORT resources to enable them to cover beneficiary on a daily ners to choose, adapt and deploy their operating deficit until they basis; our teams which the best services and methodolo- FOR OUR attain financial sustainability (by help to develop the gies in terms of loans and savings. PROGRAMMES providing communication materi- services effectively and This includes a group methodology als, seeking sponsors, helping with sustainably, and those who, which offers individual loans, with- AND PARTNERS writing requests for financial aid like yourselves, give us the out collateral nor joint liability, and and writing reports). financial means to carry out which encourages regular, qualita- these actions. These pages tive meetings for beneficiaries. This Enforcing the social mission: will explain our modus methodology really does give the we ensure our programmes and operandi. They might make poorest people a chance and it also partners always remain faithful to you want to expand this strengthens social connections. In their social mission, so that they virtuous chain with us. addition, we give our partners and maintain good practice. Failure to Happy reading! programmes the means to hire, do this has led to excessive debt Sabine Roux de Bézieux train and manage trainers and so- for beneficiaries in some other mi- President cial workers. At the same time, we crofinance institutions. strengthen distribution networks of practical products for the fami- lies supported, such as solutions for energy, nutrition and housing. ONE EXEMPLE strengthening social performance Social performance Checks and balances • social audits A programme or partner attains a good With the support of Entrepreneurs du In conjunction with local partners, level of social performance when its Monde, every partner or programme Entrepreneurs du Monde conducts services enable micro-entrepreneurs constantly checks that they: a detailed assessment of social per- not only to develop a prosperous busi- - effectively address the needs of im- formance and establishes an action ness and income, but also to improve poverished families; plan to improve it. This exercise the quality of life, health and education - respond appropriately to these needs; is repeated every two years, in or- of all their family members. - contribute to the continuous im- der to guarantee tangible progress. provement of the living conditions of Since 2007, we have been using the families. Social Performance Indicators (SPI) social audit, in the main. Evaluation and support In order to work on these three points, we utilise several tools: • the Charter This reference document clearly, sustainably and publically declares the mission of Entrepreneurs du Monde, its three domains, its values and its policy statements on encouraging economic initiative amongst the most impoverished people. SOCIAL AUDITS 70 QUESTIONS WORKED ON IN TEAMS (for exemple) How does the MFI (microfinance institution) verify the level of poverty of its beneficiaries and of the areas it works in? What is the percentage of females among its beneficiaries? What percentage of its beneficiaries comes from socially marginalised or vulnerable groups, for example the disabled, lower castes, HIV+, dis- placed persons? Does the MFI offer small social loans to the most impoverished people? Does the MFI enable the opening of bank accounts with very small deposits? Does the MFI provide services linked to beneficiaries’ social needs for healthcare and education, either directly or in partnership with other organisations? How does the MFI collect client feedback on its products and services, especially from those leaving the programme? Do the beneficiaries of the MFI contribute to the MFI’s decision-making process? Are some of the beneficiaries trained to participate in governance? *SPI: developped by the network of exchange on microfinance best practices, CERISE : www.cerise-microfinance.org strengthening social performance OF OUR MISSIONS MEASURING BENEFICIARIES’ PROGRESS A questionnaire enables loan officers to conduct detailed discus- sions with the family, and to record key points instantly, for example: ➔ type of accommodation and equipment (especially stoves) ➔ number of persons in the household and number of deaths of infants under 5 ➔ level of educational achievement of parents and children ➔ family access to drinking water and sanitation ➔ ability to protect against malaria, access to first aid ➔ levels of income and savings • Questionnaires for evaluating • Endorsing responsibility towards encourages institutions to provide fi- changes in living standards of beneficiaries nancial services that are transparent families Entrepreneurs du Monde joined the and respectful of their beneficiaries. Entrepreneurs du Monde develops a campaign for client protection (Smart Entrepreneurs du Monde is work- specific questionnaire for each of its Campaign*) and encouraged all of its ing with its programmes/partners in programmes/partners. It also assists programmes/partners in social micro- deciding and writing a code of ethics them to set up a data processing tool finance to do the same. which will encompass the smart cam- and a quality control system for the This worldwide initiative aims to make paign principles. data collected. Lastly, Entrepreneurs microfinance a responsible sector and du Monde ensures a reliable method is used for analysing the results. This CYNTHIA, AU GHANA work is essential for the evaluation CYNTHIA and reporting of results. “Today, my three children have a roof Currently, we are developing new over their heads, go to school and questionnaires with our partners in have health insurance” Benin, Ghana and Cambodia. “In 2009, after a difficult divorce, I found myself living on the streets with •A dedicated committee within my children. The neighbour who helped the Board of Directors. us was the leader of a group of micro- In 2012, we encouraged Chamroeun, entrepreneurs supported by ID Ghana. our partner in Cambodia, to create a I was selling drinking water in sachets. ID Ghana granted me a loan of €107 to social performance management com- help me start a bread selling business and pay my first month’s rent. mittee in order to ensure that the social objectives were achieved. The The bread selling went really well right from the start and, after 5 months, I had repaid my loan, offered new products and saved €43. committee comprises the Director of Operations of Chamroeun, the Social Then, after two new loans, I continued to diversify and consolidate of my business. To- Performance Manager from Entrepre- day I sell tiger nuts, corn and beans. I earn €130 per week and I have saved €1000. neurs du Monde and a representa- Not only did ID Ghana give me acess to loans and savings but it also provided tive of the Grameen Crédit Agricole training. For example I learnt how to identify commercial opportunities and also to Foundation, one of the sponsors of separate the budget of my family from the budget of my business. Chamroeun. Lastly, thanks to ID Ghana, I took out micro health insurance for the family : *www.smartcampaign.org ID Ghana helped me to register and also subsidises the premiums for three years. ** ID Ghana: Entrepreneurs du Monde's partner Today the problems are behind us and I am really proud of this!’ in Ghana 29 rue Ladmirault - F-86000 Poitiers Tel : +33 (0)5 49 60 73 63 www.entrepreneursdumonde.org eneurs du Monde ation Entrepr the Fond A NEW AND USEFUL FACILITY FOR OUR MAJOR DONORS We are proud to announce the inauguration of the Fondation Entrepreneurs du Monde. Running under the auspices of the Fondation Caritas France, our new foundation will enable us to strengthen our means of development. Just like Entrepreneurs du Monde, the Fondation Caritas France has campaigned from day one against poverty and social exclusion. The organisation will help to pro- vide transparency in accounting as well as providing rules of governance endorsed by governmental authorities. It is also an organisation with special state approval and this means that our donors can benefit from tax relief if making a donation through the French wealth tax or through a temporary donation of property benefits (moveable or immoveable property).