How we Work

Five Talents targets those at the bottom of the economic ladder. We use the grassroots network of the worldwide Anglican church to help identify projects and local partners. We insist on strict reporting and make on-site visits to ensure good use of loan and training funds.

The Group is the Key

Local banks cannot afford to lend small sums of money to many entrepreneurs who have little or no collateral. The risks are too high.

But Group-lending is a proven methodology of micro-enterprise development. Groups are normally formed of 5-10 people who self-select each other. Each member of the group co-guarantees the loans of the others. This peer pressure ensures high repayment rates, averaging 85-100%. The group method also reduces the costs of loan administration, monitoring and follow-up.

Principles governing programmes