Meeting on 29th September 2010

The Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania met today with 10 people present. After beginning discussion on developing by laws, WAT Human Settlements gave a presentation on Providing Effective Housing Support Services. WAT SACCOS gave an introduction to a presentation on Housing Microfinance: Challenges and Opportunities.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 20th October 2010. Elections will be held for working group officials and there will be a discussion of the presentations given by WAT.

Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania

The Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania was formed in November 2009 at a meeting of representatives of the Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI), Habitat for Humanity Tanzania, the Tanzania Gatsby Trust (TGT) and WAT Human Settlements Trust. The group has since been expanded to include Akiba Commerical Bank, PRIDE Tanzania, Habitat Forum Tanzania (HAFOTA), the Presidential Trust Fund, Tanzania Financial Services for Under Served Settlements (TAFSUS), WAT SACCOS and representatives from the Bank of Tanzania and Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of the Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania is to promote and advance the practice of sustainable housing microfinance in Tanzania.

The Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania intends to accomplish its purpose through these objectives:


• Networking among working group members and sharing information, lessons learned, ideas and documentation on housing microfinance


• Identifying, Documenting and Disseminating Best Practices among members and other relevant parties.


• Promoting housing microfinance to potential donors and providers of capital for the sector, potential practitioners and housing support service providers.


• Advocating and Lobbying for an enabling environment for the practice of housing microfinance.


• Encouraging members to share client credit references.


• Linking to similar groups and parties interested in housing microfinance within and outside of Tanzania.

The working group meets monthly in Dar es Salaam toi discuss developments in the practice of housing microfinance in Tanzania.