South Sudan
One of the world's newest countries, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of war. Post-independence conflict has slowed economic development in many parts of the country, leaving infrastructure for basic needs and services limited or unavailable. Five Talents focuses its programmes on remote, low-income areas where residents lack access to formal financial services of any kind. We provide training and access to financial services through community-owned and led Savings Groups.
Five Talents has been working in South Sudan and Sudan since 2007 and is one of the few organizations to develop a sustainable model for microfinance. In less than ten years we opened the first three community-owned banks in South Sudan. Our programme in South Sudan has served over 40,000 members and is operating in Juba, Renk, Terekeka, Wau, Aweil, Gogrial and Tonj.
The Programme
Members gather in their local church for a meeting.
The projects enable women and men to learn to read and write in their own language. Following literacy training, Groups graduate to become community Savings Groups and continue developing new skills through financial literacy and business skills training. These Groups provide a safe place for members to save their money 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 three community banks in South Sudan - the only three locally owned community banks in the country.
Five Talents is partnered with World Concern & Mothers’ Union to deliver this programme.
Where to next?