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Challenge Match Campaign

Microfinancing Partners in Africa

Microfinancing Partners in Africa

  • About
    • Understanding Extreme Poverty
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    • Loans Program
    • Cow Program
    • Clean Water
    • Health Program
    • Education Program
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A small group of women preparing food inside.

Our Programs

Microfinancing the MPA Way


MPA collaborates with grassroots organizations to support and amplify their microfinancing efforts. Despite having different approaches to extend a helping hand to people, our partners share several common elements that we consider as best practices or “Microfinancing the MPA Way.”

  • Lifting up people in extreme poverty 
  • Operating as a nonprofit (proceeds are folded in to reach more people) 
  • Embracing “first you must save”, valuing savings as well as small loans 
  • Open to anyone regardless of religion, race, tribe, ethnicity 
  • Providing ongoing training and support to ensure success 
  • Having accountability for loan repayments or pay-it-forward commitments 
  • Each of these projects is sustainable with or without MPA’s involvement
Two children smiling outside.
A woman mulching grass.

The differentiator is sustainability


MPA understands that a person’s exclusion from a role in the production of a marketable product impoverishes the person. An empty wallet or pocket is merely a symptom of this exclusion. A gift of cash may temporarily relieve the symptom, but it will not cure the condition. Participation in the production of valued goods and services is the cure for persistent poverty.

We focus on helping people build businesses from scratch because of the extreme poverty of the surrounding communities.

  • When there are few businesses offering jobs, we help people create businesses.
  • When there are no local lenders, we assist with loans.
  • Where there is no business experience, we help with education and coaching.
  • When the consequences of poverty, such as illness or alcoholism, threaten to undermine the young entrepreneur, we look for mitigating solutions.

MPA, in partnership with like-minded African organizations, works to help people in poverty begin businesses and, despite the endemic obstacles, succeed.

Our collaboration structure


Collaboration between many individuals provides a structured approach to achieving our common goals – alleviating extreme poverty.

Microfinancing logo, partners accountability, sandals on the ground reporting and training and members from poverty to possibility.

What We Do


Loans Program

MPA supports individual income projects, group projects, savings and credit unions.

Learn MoreLoans Program
A happy man and woman standing outside next to an enclosure holding a cow.

Cow Program

Living loans of cows to subsistence farmers who have successfully trained and …

Learn MoreCow Program
Girl looking at camera and drinking from water fountain.

Clean Water

Small loans or pay-it-forward commitments offer access to a filter-plus-bucket …

Learn MoreClean Water
A woman smiling while she holds a piglet with a large group of people in the background.

Health Program

For post-fistula women we have piglet income projects and alternative income …

Learn MoreHealth Program
Three children sitting on a bench outside wearing school uniforms.

Education Program

MPA offers scholarships through partners with schools. This empowers them to extend …

Learn MoreEducation Program

More About Our Programs


How do we define success in achieving sustainability?

At least 80% of group members:

  • Have ability to pay for school fees
  • Have savings account with 3+ months of expenses
  • Have an income over $60USD / month

Each group member has:

  • At least 2 meals a day
  • Access to clean water
  • Protein at 1 meal a day
  • Separate sleeping areas for children and parents

The group is sustainable when:

  • Group has enough assets produced to provide loans for current membership
  • All members meet the improved standard of living and financial stability criteria
The link between poverty & health

“Poverty is a major cause of ill health and a barrier to accessing health care when needed. This relationship is financial: the poor cannot afford to purchase those things that are needed for good health, including sufficient quantities of quality food and health care.”​

– The World Bank: Poverty & Health Brief, 202

Why are loans better than a hand out?

A hand out

  • Paid rent for 6 months
  • Got the family temporarily off the street
  • No steady stream of income
  • Children’s school fees still unpaid
  • Lack of food security
  • No education or training
  • Funds depleted after one use

A hand up

  • Provided training on savings and starting businesses
  • Invested in Leo to open his own business
  • Created a sustainable source of income that provides improved food security
  • Enabled Leo’s family to build and own their own house
  • Allowed Leo to provide children’s ongoing school fees
  • Empowered the group to lend the money again after Leo repaid his loan

Ready to make a difference?

Join us in impacting communities in Africa by providing a hand up from poverty to possibility. With each donation made, you’re supporting a business entrepreneur to lift themselves out of extreme poverty with dignity and respect.

Donate Now

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4949 Columbia Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63139

Office Address:
6400 Minnesota Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63111

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