Eng - UNDP in Tajikistan

DEVELOPMENT PARTNER PROFILE
NGO
Mennonite Economic Development Associates - "MEDA Tajikistan"
Contact: Mr. Bradly Beeler
Project Field Manager, Tajikistan MEDA
Tel: (992-3422)-6-28-82 Fax:
E-mail: bradleybeeler@sbcglobal.net, bbeeler@meda.org
Website: www.meda.org
Organization Profile
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) is an association of compassionate business women and men who invest in the lives
of families living in poverty around the world.
Through MEDA, faith-oriented business owners, executives and leaders are able to integrate their life values with business in practical ways
to help the poor. They are committed to using their faith and abilities in their businesses, communities, and around the world.
Most of the world's poor are working hard, but barely getting by. Our bottom line is to help men and women sustain their families without
emergency or ongoing support from us. We build our programs to increase personal dignity and self-sufficiency.
Through training, loans and mentorship, entrepreneurs both in North America and around the world can earn a livelihood, provide for their
families and enrich their communities.
Whether we work with local or national governments, foundations, or businesses, we believe that healthy partnerships provide infrastructure
and long-term solutions. Organizations like the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) support MEDA through fund-matching programs.
Past and Current Programmes
MEDA’s CIDA-funded Pro-Poor Agricultural Development project entered its third year in March 2006. Strong progress continues to be
made towards achievement of project objectives during this reporting period.
Under the Agricultural Component, implementation of the pilot agricultural extension model was initiated and is well underway. The first
group of ABCs (11 people) had successfully passed the exams and are working on the basis of short term contracts with MEDA. The second
group of agricultural business consultants (ABCs) consists of 43 people, 12 women and 31 men. The project currently has 2,133 farm clients
in 142 farmers groups. The project will assist ABCs to adopt new production and farm management practices and so turn these into role
model farmers. ABCS incomes, over time, will be derived from a combination of improved farm productivity and profitability, fees charged
to local farmer clients for services, and earnings derived from sub-contracting their services to third parties (eg: donors, NGOs, government,
private sector). In addition to this development, the Agricultural Component also established a number of additional production and
technology demonstration schemes. These focus on improved agricultural production and micro-processing: greenhouses, introduction of new
fruit and vegetable varieties, improved drying methods, biological fertilizers, a ram pump demonstration and another irrigation demonstration
site. These demonstrations are regularly used for seminars and field days.
The Credit Component of the project is progressing well and continues to comfortably exceed its lending and loan portfolio performance
targets. The active portfolio increased by US$ 259,047 (23.5%) during the last quarter (April-June) and by its end was valued at US$
1,360,840 disbursed to 2,499 clients. Of these, 2,394 clients were members of 651 groups and 105 people had received individual loans. Some
23% of the clients were women. The repayment rate of disbursed loans was 100%. Some of the loan products were changed to provide more
favourable conditions to the clients. The maximum amount for individual loans was raised from US$ 7,000 to US$ 10,000. The group storage
loan was increased from US$ 570 to US$ 700 and loan period was extended from two to nine months. The individual storage loan increased
from US$ 1,500 to US$ 3,000 with an extended loan period of 24 months. Currently 71% of the loans are being used for growing fruits and
vegetables, and 23% for processing. This adds up to 94% of the portfolio being used for fruit and vegetable growing and processing. The
remaining 6% are used for commerce (supply of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and others), livestock breeding, and agricultural services.
ABW/IMON has now completed its business plan to become a Micro-Deposit Organization and a MEDA representative continues to serve as
a member of its Board of Trustee. MEDA also assisted ABW/IMON to secure new debt financing from USA-based Micro-Credit Enterprises
and this has increased the Farms to Markets micro-loan fund under ABW/IMON’s management.
Positive changes in SME loan fund management resulted in 62 received applications, out of which 7 have been approved for the amount of $
USD184.000, 5 applications for the amount of USD $ 53.000 got recommendations of credit committee and are in the process documents
revision. Twelve applications are in the process of completion and submission to the credit committee.
Matching Grant for SME.
The objectives of the grant are to establish model enterprises, which coincides to all International requirements and standards. During the first
half of 2007 the SME Department has been actively evaluating applicants for the Processors Matching Grant program. A total of five business
plans were prepared for applicants for freezing fruits and vegetables; production of candied fruit; tetrapak juice packaging; and the production
and processing of dried apricots. Along with business plans four financial plans and feasibility studies were completed as well as the
preparation of a Marketing Study for the sale of juice products domestically and for export and market research on markets in Russia for dried
fruit products.
Two enterprises were selected for the grants.
The highlights in project management were the establishment of constructive partnerships and close cooperation with several national and
international agencies, meetings with CIDA representatives from Ottawa and Almaty to present project developments and discuss future
strategies, contributions to CIDA on formulation of its Country Strategy for Tajikistan particularly in regard to local Private Sector
Development (PSD) needs in support of poverty reduction, and two business exchange visits for delegations Tajik farmers, processors,
consultants and MEDA staff to Turkey organized by the Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TICA).
Source: Aid Coordination and Project Monitoring System Database
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