CEDEF has a good mix of credit products which meet clients demand and aim at sustainability. There are products and services for solidarity groups and individual clients, farmers and traders along the agricultural value chain.
INVOLVEMENT
Micro Enterprise Development Program
Commerce is one of the vibrant activities providing employment to most women and men in the informal sector. However over 70% of micro entrepreneurs do not have access to fair credit. Until recently, most micro entrepreneurs depended on money lenders, (whose interest rates ranged between 20% and 40% flat per month)
This Product has women as the core beneficiaries. Additionally, the loan products targets activities that include the following:
• Small/medium scale enterprises
• Retail shops and kiosks
• Hawking
• Groceries
• Whole-sale marketing, etc.
Agricultural Credit Program
Agriculture is the backbone of Ghana’s economy. It accounts for approximately forty percent (40%) of the country’s gross domestic product (“GDP”), employs approximately sixty percent (60%) of the labour force and generates fifty five percent (55%) of the foreign exchange earnings. The agricultural sector consists of four sub-sectors: crops (other than cocoa) and livestock account for fifty eight percent (58%) of the GDP attributable to the agricultural sector, cocoa accounts for twenty percent (20%), fisheries account for eleven percent (11%), and forestry accounts for the remaining eleven percent (11%).
CEDEF designed the Agricultural Credit Product with the aim of supporting the production of vegetables and other farm produce in the southern horticultural zone of Ghana. Basically, the Product is to support the transformation process of the agricultural sector in Ghana through commercialization of specified products, with a view to reducing poverty especially among the rural population.
Energy Credit Program
This Loan Product was introduce to enable the rural clients have alternative and efficient energy sources so as to minimize the hazards and environmental pollution and protect the lives and properties of the rural dwellers as well as help prevent domestic fires in order to help build sustainable communities.
This financial product aims at facilitating the use of environmentally friendly energy equipments by ensuring that the rural dwellers within the Company’s operational areas have access to durable, affordable, user friendly and hazardous free energy source. This will enable the rural dweller; especially farmers who depend on CEDEF for their financial services make positive impact on their dignity, families, and economic as well as their social and natural resources.
Business Start-up Credit Program
Un-employment continues to be a headache for most African countries. Women and youth are the worst hit. In Ghana, Senior High School leavers who are unable to continue to university or other professional institution have to learn one trade or the other to be able to survive.
CEDEF therefore designed Loan product for women and youth who have successfully completed apprenticeship training and who are willing to use credit to establish their own micro businesses.
CEDEF
Cavalry Enterprise development Foundation