RURAL FINANCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMME (RFSP)
Impact Assessment Study of the Rural Financial Services Programme
Programme Goals and Scope
The Rural Financial Services (RFS) Programme, a nine- year Programme operating in seven regions and twenty two districts. The Programme goal is to bring about a sustainable increase in incomes, assets and food security of poor rural households, by enhancing the capacity of rural poor to mobilize savings and to increase income generating activities through the development of viable Rural Financial Services systems
The Programme effectively started in January 2002. In central zone the Programme started in February 2003. The Programme implemented in three phases, with a completion date on 31th December 2010 and a closing date on 30th, June 2011. The Programme total cost, to cover 22 districts of mainland Tanzania, is estimated at US$ 23.8 Million, of which loan amount from IFAD and OPEC Fund is US$16.3m and US$ 2.2m, respectively. The Swiss Government will provide a grant of US$ 2.2m, while GOT and beneficiaries will contribute US$ 2.7m and US$ 0.7m, respectively. With the withdrawal of the OPEC Fund from co-financing, the total cost of the Program was reduced to USD 21.60
Programme operational areas
The Programme implemented in four zones made up of 22 districts, South West Zone based in Mbeya, South East Zone based in Iringa, the Central Zone based in Dodoma; and the North Zone based in Moshi. The Northern zone consisted of Same, Moshi Rural, Rombo and Mwanga districts which phased out in December 2008. Central zone comprised of Dodoma Rural now divided into (Chamwino and Bahi districts), Kondoa, and Mpwapwa, in Dodoma Region. Districts in Dodoma phased out in December 2008.Singida Rural, Iramba and Manyoni districts in Singida Region, where the Programme current works. The South East zone included Mufindi and Njombe districts in Iringa region which phased out in December, 2008.
Songea Rural, Namtumbo and Mbinga districts in Ruvuma region, and the South West zone made up of Sumbawanga and Nkasi in Rukwa region; Mbeya Rural, Mbarali and Rungwe in Mbeya region which phase out in December 2008. Kyela and Mbozi current works with the Programme The Programme is a nine-year Programme which is being implemented in four zones, the Northern, Central and the South East and South West Zones. Phase, one from January, 2002 to December, 2004.Phase two from January, 2005 to December, 2007, and phase three from January 2008 to December 2010. The Programme will be 2 closed on 30th June, 2011.
Programme Goals and Scope
The Rural Financial Services (RFS) Programme, a nine- year Programme operating in seven regions and twenty two districts. The Programme goal is to bring about a sustainable increase in incomes, assets and food security of poor rural households, by enhancing the capacity of rural poor to mobilize savings and to increase income generating activities through the development of viable Rural Financial Services systems
The Programme effectively started in January 2002. In central zone the Programme started in February 2003. The Programme implemented in three phases, with a completion date on 31th December 2010 and a closing date on 30th, June 2011. The Programme total cost, to cover 22 districts of mainland Tanzania, is estimated at US$ 23.8 Million, of which loan amount from IFAD and OPEC Fund is US$16.3m and US$ 2.2m, respectively. The Swiss Government will provide a grant of US$ 2.2m, while GOT and beneficiaries will contribute US$ 2.7m and US$ 0.7m, respectively. With the withdrawal of the OPEC Fund from co-financing, the total cost of the Program was reduced to USD 21.60
Programme operational areas
The Programme implemented in four zones made up of 22 districts, South West Zone based in Mbeya, South East Zone based in Iringa, the Central Zone based in Dodoma; and the North Zone based in Moshi. The Northern zone consisted of Same, Moshi Rural, Rombo and Mwanga districts which phased out in December 2008. Central zone comprised of Dodoma Rural now divided into (Chamwino and Bahi districts), Kondoa, and Mpwapwa, in Dodoma Region. Districts in Dodoma phased out in December 2008.Singida Rural, Iramba and Manyoni districts in Singida Region, where the Programme current works. The South East zone included Mufindi and Njombe districts in Iringa region which phased out in December, 2008.
Songea Rural, Namtumbo and Mbinga districts in Ruvuma region, and the South West zone made up of Sumbawanga and Nkasi in Rukwa region; Mbeya Rural, Mbarali and Rungwe in Mbeya region which phase out in December 2008. Kyela and Mbozi current works with the Programme The Programme is a nine-year Programme which is being implemented in four zones, the Northern, Central and the South East and South West Zones. Phase, one from January, 2002 to December, 2004.Phase two from January, 2005 to December, 2007, and phase three from January 2008 to December 2010. The Programme will be 2 closed on 30th June, 2011.
MFIs SELECTION CRITERIA
The criteria for selection of the grass root MFIs were the following;
- Coverage within principal agro-ecological and socioeconomic zones
- Existence of demonstrably viable farm and off farm income generating activities within the rural areas
- Predominant poor rural households
- Adequate concentration of registered grassroots MFIs and SGs handling microfinance
- Existence of successfully developing SACCOS and SACAs assisted under previous IFAD projects and which demonstrate real expansion of their services
- Existence of FIs interested in extending services for to rural clients particularly through linkage with MFIs
- Commitment and contribution of District council to the Programme
- Poor rural households
- Female headed households
- Landless
- Information grassroots solidarity groups involved in microfinance
- Rural grassroots MFIs that serve them
- Coverage within principal agro-ecological and socioeconomic zones
- Existence of demonstrably viable farm and off farm income generating activities within the rural areas
- Predominant poor rural households
- Adequate concentration of registered grassroots MFIs and SGs handling microfinance
- Existence of successfully developing SACCOS and SACAs assisted under previous IFAD projects and which demonstrate real expansion of their services
- Existence of FIs interested in extending services for to rural clients particularly through linkage with MFIs
- Commitment and contribution of District council to the Programme
- Poor rural households
- Female headed households
- Landless
- Information grassroots solidarity groups involved in microfinance
- Rural grassroots MFIs that serve them
GENERAL PROGRAMME ACHIEVEMENTS | IMPACTS
This section accounts the Programme implementation status by components up to December 2009, since inception in February, 2003. The components focused on the specific output intended to achieve the set Programme goals and outcomes. The general focus of the components was;
The workshops aimed at raising awareness on the Programme activities and implementation arrangements. The Workshops pulled together a number of stakeholders from the districts; Members of Parliament, District Executive Directors, District Area Commissioners, Councilors, heads of departments, DMFIS, Zonal monitoring and evaluation officer, and the Zonal Programme Coordinator.
- Conduct District Awareness Workshops
The workshops aimed at raising awareness on the Programme activities and implementation arrangements. The Workshops pulled together a number of stakeholders from the districts; Members of Parliament, District Executive Directors, District Area Commissioners, Councilors, heads of departments, DMFIS, Zonal monitoring and evaluation officer, and the Zonal Programme Coordinator.