Jiwo Paro- Where seamstresses sew their out of poverty

Our customers are members of locally registered groups of between 10-25 members based on their business type (mostly common business type in close proximity). These are formal groups that meet often and are run by elected officials. The loan products are issued to individuals but membership and continued participation in the registered groups is a prerequisite. The inherent peer-to-peer pressure amongst members’ drive loan repayment and is key to building a robust business ecosystem in underserved markets. Adolescent girls and younger women access adequate mentorship as members share their business experiences during meetings.

Kenya is home to about 10 Million unregistered women owned micro-enterprises. The annual credit gap for these micro-enterprises is greater than $1.5 Billion.

Lack of credit history, financial illiteracy and minimal asset ownership limits women and adolescent girls access to credit, inhibiting their socio-economic mobility.

Who? Women and Adolescent girls

Location? Underserved Markets

Business Size? Micro-enterprises

Age? 17 – 45 Years

Monthly Income? $50 - $500

Education? Basic Level/Secondary School

Why? Untapped Growth Potential

We provide sewing machine and startup capital to rural yet underbanked seamstresses based on their sewing skills. They repay the micro loans, to finance their working capital needs. They come to us because the banks do not consider them profitable.

We leverage mobile based technology to provide credit and distribute personalized financial literacy content to women and adolescent girls who own micro-enterprises.

We leverage mobile based technology to provide credit and distribute personalized financial literacy content to women and adolescent girls who own micro-enterprises.

Qualified and skilled customers have access to asset financing for productive tools to start or expand their businesses. This loan product increases asset ownership among women and adolescent girls which is currently minimal in under-served markets. We distribute targeted mobile-based financial literacy content which covers asset management to increase productivity.

To reach at least 3000 additional seamstresses in the western parts of Kenya, and to put together a microfinance vehicle to enable rural seamstresses borrow and repay from

We do not have the financial resources to develop the application on financial litreacy

We are planing to raise some funds through the Solve networks and to collaborate with other like minded institutions on this work

Jiwo Paro

A team of 3

Dancan attended the Harvard Kennedy School where he completed an Executive Education on Financial Inclusion, Policy. His career spans seven years in financial inclusion consulting with on-the ground experience across over 7 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asian markets. 

Rockflower Fund for financing, Bridge international schools for financial literacy

Our model integrates targeted, engaging and industry specific financial training that improves our customers’ ability to manage their financial resources. The training covers life and negotiation skills, record keeping, budgeting, credit history development and use of mobile banking services.

Access to credit has enabled our customers diversify their sources of income, increase their productivity and access new markets. With increased income our customers and their households can access healthier nutrition, improved healthcare services and quality education for their children.

I want t tap into the network and a community of social entrepreenurs

Foundations and fintechs

We will build a microfinance vehicle to aid our seamstresses

We will use the funds to expand our team to recruit more rural seamstresse

We believe that offering access to financial products and services to women and adolescent girls in under-served markets is not enough, we must ensure that the products and services are affordable, tailored to their needs and provide a pathway out of poverty.

We will use the price to provide additional micro lending of sewing machines to the seamstresses

Qualified and skilled customers have access to asset financing for productive tools to start or expand their businesses. This loan product increases asset ownership among women and adolescent girls which is currently minimal in under-served markets. We distribute targeted mobile-based financial literacy content which covers asset management to increase productivity.

We will develop a financial literacy app, and open-source it to the public for the benefit of the community

We will leverage the expertise that manages the fund, to explore reaching more women owned SMEs