Harbu MFI, Ethiopia
Harbu Microfinance Institution Share Company was established on February 2005. This MFI serves as “banking for the poor” both in rural and urban areas of Ethiopia. Is mission is to take part and play an important role in the struggle against poverty and food insecurity, through facilitation so as to bring about sustainable economic development throughout the country by providing financial services that will stimulate individual initiatives for self-reliance and fair economic development.
Harbu’s initiative for the 3rd European Microfinance Award, involves the financing of a soybean value chain as a response to a market demand generated by a shortage of cow milk in Jimma city, zone of Oromia regional state. The initiative started with 240 farmers and it was built on the basis of strengthening horizontal linkages with farmer marketing organizations and vertical linkages with retailers and women’s associations in charge of processing and producing soya milk. The initiative created market opportunities for producer farmers and employment opportunity for urban women and youth. Simultaneously, it contributed to the improvement in the nutritional constituents of families, specially children and women. Harbu MFI provides financial services for most of the actors across the chain starting from the individual producers to retailers. It provides seed capital and lease financing for the purchase of soymilk machines.
