Ethiopia: Dedebit Credit and Savings Institution (DECSI)
A credit line against hunger. Tigray, in the far North-East
of Ethiopia, has a population of 3,3 million. With its semi-arid climate,
Tigray is subdivided in 4 agro-ecological regions; two of them are deserts.
More than 80% of the population depend on agriculture for a living. Due
to irregular rain seasons from one
year to another, farmers are regularly
experiencing extremely difficult times, as they are unable to secure their
elementary needs.
DECSI was created in 1994 upon an initiative of the local NGO ‘REST’. DECSI, with headquarters in Mekelle, runs 98 savings and credit agencies with a staff of 1 300. It is the biggest MFI in Africa.
DECSI was the first partner of SOS Faim in Ethiopia. After the first support actions, for training purposes mainly, SOS Faim currently is helping DECSI to diversify its microfinance products, and to direct them especially to the most vulnerable populations as far as food supplies are concerned. DECSI support measures consist of a special credit line in favour of the populations mentioned above. Clients concerned by this credit line mostly work in the following fields: cattle breeding (milk cows and poultry), animal feeds, production of fruits and vegetables, pump systems to irrigate these crops.
SOS Faim support has the following objectives:
- to increase agricultural production and marketing (through campaign credits) ;
- to fight against the disruption of families (through « family » credits - « family package ») ;
- to increase DECSI’s influence : over three years the objective is to reach 210 000 persons directly, equivalent to 1 050 000 indirectly (= 30% of Tigray’s total population) ;
- in fine, to fight against hunger in Tigray.
Financing: SOS Faim Luxembourg support to DECSI in 2005 amounted to 55 600 €.
