How Vision Fund Loans Empower Health and Hygiene
Wednesday, 29 January, 2025
Octavian Pasco, a dedicated loan officer at Vision Fund’s Tarime branch in the Mara region, has been pivotal in a remarkable collaboration with Amref Tanzania through the FINISH Mondial Program. This partnership focuses on enhancing sanitation, particularly through the construction of safe and hygienic toilets, benefiting countless families in the Rorya district.
At Vision Fund, our mission is to protect mothers and children by improving their quality of life. When FINISH Mondial introduced their sanitation initiative, we recognized an incredible opportunity to further our goal. Over the past two years, working with FINISH Mondial has enabled us to make a significant impact on sanitation in Rorya. While our efforts in Tarime have been limited due to lower demand, Rorya has seen transformative changes.
We have successfully assisted over 200 households and more than 280 clients in Rorya, disbursing loans exceeding 200 million Tanzanian shillings specifically for sanitation improvements. These loans have empowered families to build and upgrade their toilets, leading to safer and cleaner living conditions. Our approach is both strategic and supportive. We carefully evaluate each household’s ability to repay the loan while ensuring the construction of a functional toilet. For example, a client with a modest business needing a toilet might receive an initial loan of 500,000 shillings to dig a pit. Once this phase is complete and repayments are made, we can offer additional funds to enhance the toilet further.
This phased approach allows clients to manage costs and complete their construction in stages. We provide loans with flexible repayment terms, allowing clients to pay in small monthly installments over six months. Our group based lending system, involving local leaders, fosters a supportive community environment. Groups of six members collaborate, receiving training and seminars on loan details, including interest rates and repayment schedules.
Regular inspections ensure that the toilets are not only built but maintained to high hygiene standards. During these inspections, we offer guidance on necessary improvements, ensuring that clients receive the support they need. For instance, in Rorya, we’ve observed significant progress, some clients have successfully completed their toilet construction, and others are well on their way.
Before our intervention, many toilets in Rorya were inadequate, with issues such as poorly aligned pit latrines or unsafe wooden structures. Through our loans and support, we’ve seen considerable improvements, leading to safer and more sanitary conditions for families.
Despite these successes, challenges remain. Some clients do not complete their projects or struggle with repayment. To address these issues, we collaborate with local government leaders to enforce compliance and ensure accountability. Reporting non-compliant clients to authorities helps maintain the integrity of the program and encourages adherence to standards.
For Vision Fund, this initiative represents a proud achievement in our mission to protect children and mothers. By providing access to clean and safe toilets, we’re not only improving hygiene but also contributing to the overall well-being of the community. The FINISH Mondial Program has proven to be a valuable partner in this transformative journey, demonstrating how targeted support can drive meaningful change in sanitation and public health. FINISH Mondial, partnering with financial institutions, has provided sanitation loans to 19,381 households across five districts, enabling affordable access to improved toilets. Of 42,000 households investing in sanitation, 46% used loans, while 54% relied on personal funds for construction of sanitation facilities.
Amref Health Africa teams up with African communities to create lasting health change.