South Sudan
Five Talents has been working successfully in South Sudan and Sudan since 2007 and is one of the few organizations to develop a sustainable model for microenterprise. In fact, Five Talents programs have a broader reach and impact in South Sudan than the microfinance institutions supported by the United Nations, World Bank, European Commission, USAID, Central Bank, and Government of South Sudan combined. In less than ten years we have opened the first two community-owned banks in South Sudan, enrolled more than 30,000 in community savings groups, and worked in seven Anglican Dioceses and six states including Western Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap State, Malakal, Renk, Juba, and Khartoum.
One of the world's newest countries, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of war. Post-independence conflict and an influx of refugees from the war in Sudan has slowed or arrested economic development in many parts of the country, leaving infrastructure for basic needs and services limited or unavailable. Five Talents focuses its programs on remote, low-income areas where residents lack access to formal financial services of any kind. We work to build local capacity, providing training and access to financial services through community-owned and managed savings groups.
Programs
Our programs begin by gathering women and men together through local churches (often like a community center) and teaching them how to read and write. In an area with the highest illiteracy rates in the world, our literacy and financial education program has accredited more than 16,000 graduates. Many of these graduates have moved on to become respected leaders in their communities.
Training focus:
Adult literacy and education
Business development training: planning, marketing, pricing
Social capital development among entrepreneurs
Household budgeting and saving
Partners
World Concern
The Mothers’ Union
Community Savings
Following literacy and financial training, Five Talents helps to establish community savings groups. These groups provide a safe place for members to save and offer access to loans for business development. Members use these loans to begin and expand small businesses. A typical small business supports a family of 5 or more, providing income for food, medical expenses, school fees for children, and continued savings. As the businesses and savings pool grow, members are eligible for progressively larger loans. Eventually an association of savings groups can come together to form a local community bank. To date, Five Talents has helped to establish two community banks in South Sudan - the only two locally owned community banks in the country.
The Need
There is tremendous need in South Sudan for Five Talents programs. We need the support of friends to expand our work and reach more families and communities with life-transforming training, business development, and access to savings and loans.
Please help us expand our work in South Sudan by making a one-time donation.