The Women & Youth Loan Fund (WYLF) is a revolving fund that makes small loans available to women and youth farmers and entrepreneurs. This provides them with the capital they need to be able to adjust their farming strategies and practices, make small investments in farming technologies, harvest and post-harvest technologies, processing, marketing and service provision activities such as crop spraying and other services, retail trade in agro-inputs, etc.
Purpose of the WYLF: To provide funding for individual women and youths and groups of women and youths through Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs).
Eligible applicants: Women, youth (male and female, age 18 – 34 years), women’s groups and youth groups, from selected kebeles in North Achefer, South Achefer, North Mecha, South Mecha, Bahir Dar Zuria, Dera, Fogera and Libokemkem woredas. Applicants must be members of SACCOs located in the woredas where AgroBIG operates at the time of releasing the loan.
Loan duration: Maximum 24 months
Maximum loan size: 50,000 ETB
How to apply?
AgroBIG has engaged three Cooperative Saving and Credit Unions (COSACUs) in the target districts as partners in managing the WYLF instrument, Adera Densa, Rib, and Tana.
The funds are disbursed via the COSACUs to participating SACCOs, who in turn issue loans to individual women and youth members as well as to women and youth groups upon approved loan requests. SACCOs disburse funds according to their normal procedures, but observing the agreed AgroBIG Loan Fund Guidelines.
Contact your nearest SACCO to apply, or contact us for more information.
Learn more about the WYLF and featured beneficiaries:
Women & Youth Loan Fund Fact Sheet
Links to News pieces:
- How SACCOs facilitate access to finance for women and youth: here.
- Ms Addisie Aregaw from Bahir Dar Zuria was awarded ETB 50,000 for her poultry business.
- Ms Delela Abebaw from Dera was awarded awarded a 15,000 ETB loan to invest in her maize, potato and sheep fattening business.