The program “Microfinance Sans Frontières”, a BNP Paribas initiative, has recently been embraced by BNP Paribas Fortis. Through this program, I went to Senegal from 24 April – 5 May 2010 to help the Senegalese Federation of NGOs alongside SOS Faim, a Belgian NGO. 

For the last 4 years, FONGS has been setting up a fund to support rural initiatives, financing familial farming activities, backed by a network of local mutual companies. FONGS is currently facing a double challenge: the growing number of loans and the implementation of a ROSCA’s (Rotating Savings and Credits Association) network, due to a hardening legal framework. Mutual companies are thus forced to choose and implement a MIS (Management Information System).

My mission was split into two parts: on one hand, to update and improve the portfolio management, and on the other, to prepare the implementation of the MIS. I had to adapt myself to different cultures and organisations, where “trust” is the keyword.

As the mission took place in Thies, a remote Senegalese city, I was living the daily life of most of Senegalese people. I visited 2 Roscas in the bush and realized the field reality: lack of hardware (financial operations are recorded on paper), deficient buildings, power failure, training deficiencies and illiteracy. Given these difficult conditions, I had to work hard to reach the goals of the mission. Fortunately, dynamic and motivated people helped me.

This mission has been very rewarding, on a personal as well as on a professional point of view. I’m very motivated to keep supporting this social project, firstly through the recommendations I’ve made in my report, and also to return there and support the implementation of the chosen MIS.

My best memory is the first lunch we had, all together, seated on the floor, surrounding a single spicy dish, eating with a spoon…or not! Will farmers become bankers and bankers farmers? Massa* as they say is Senegal! »

*Massa: wolof (local language) word uses to motivate people.