Mobilising internal finance within a forest and farm producer organisation: a case study of the Masopo Women’s Club of Choma, Zambia

This case study forms part of a series of six case studies on mobilising internal finance within forest and farm producer organisations (FFPOs) prepared by FFPOs for the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF).

It describes the Masopo Women’s Club of Choma, Zambia and its internal financial mechanisms to support its members. The purpose of the club is to improve the livelihoods of its members and to be the best provider of forest and agricultural products in the nearby Siachitema village. The club started mobilising its resources through establishing a savings and loans scheme. Over time, this scheme grew and allowed them to establish a mobile money transaction business in partnership with the Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco) and two mobile money service providers, Airtel and MTN Money. The profits from the mobile money business enabled the club to grow their internal funds and invest in its forest and agricultural products.

This study provides an overview of the origins, evolution and current structure of the club's internal finance mechanisms, the lessons learned, its impact to date and its prospects for the future.