What to know about this Lending Partner
Status update — September 27, 2017
SSLLP's partnership with Kiva has been closed. This decision was made due to challenges with this organization’s credit program, which was supported by Kiva funding.
SSLLP was approved as an experimental partner in April 2014, with the purpose of financing small-scale piggery businesses in Malawi. Between August 2014 and July 2015, 34 farmers received Kiva loans totaling $20,800. Loans provided farmers with 3 pigs, materials for construction of housing for the pigs and a start-up veterinary kit. The loan program failed as farmers weren't able to pay as expected due to losing pigs to African Swine Fever and delays in weaning piglets to sell. Additionally, SSLLP struggled to collect repayments from borrowers. Kiva allowed SSLLP flexibility with borrowers, but only $1,956 has been recovered in the 2 years following their initial delinquency. Given the passage of time and SSLLP's failure to make any repayments since February 2017, all 34 loans have been defaulted and no further recovery is expected from these loans or SSLLP.
Partner description:Small Scale Livestock and Livelihoods Program (SSLLP) Malawi is an indigenous, local non-governmental organization that provides low-income families with the means to combat poverty in a sustainable and long-term manner.
Established in 1996, the NGO provides families with various types of livestock, including dairy cows, goats, pigs, chickens, fish and honeybees. In doing this, SSLLP hopes to contribute to the socio-economic empowerment of resource poor and vulnerable families.
A unique lending approach:
SSLLP targets smallholder farmers with one hectare or less of land living in Malawi. The organization believes its programs cut across a wide range of crucial issues affecting the lives of smallholder farmers.
It delivers its services through the Heifer International model of “passing on the gift,” which allows families to become positive agents of change in their communities when primary recipients distribute the first breeding offspring of an animal to secondary recipients.
SSLLP hopes to give families the opportunity to start piggery businesses, and provide them with two sows, one boar, materials for the construction and housing for pigs and a start-up veterinary kit. With Kiva’s support, SSLLP will be able to expand their target audience, provide a wider range of products, and promote sustainable livelihoods for the resource poor.