In Burundi, the microcredit groups owe their success and longevity to relationships of trust built among the members.
In the “It can be done” project for community microcredit and microfinance in the five provinces of Kayanza, Cibitoke, Bururi, Ruyigi and Bujumbura, one of the most important elements of the field staff’s work is to facilitate and nurture relationships of trust, based on transparency between the groups’ members.
So, for example, operations to pool savings and grant credit take place during meetings where everyone is present.
Redentore, one of the field agents, tells us how: “During the meetings, I try and establish relationships and exchanges between the group members which then provides opportunities for increasing trust and being able to share with them the method by which we operate. At first it was not easy asking the group members how they would use the credits they received, for example. But as we got to know one another, they trusted me and I got to know what they would do.”
Even when applying for credit, it is the group members themselves who decide whether or not to grant it, precisely by discussing and analysing the type of activity the applicant intends to carry out.
As well as fostering transparency and trust between everyone, this methodology also allows for ideas to be exchanged on the activities undertaken so they can be enriched or modified, or for advice to be given on potential difficulties by those who have already undertaken similar activities.