MicroLoan Foundation

MicroLoan Foundation Women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation organisation working in sub-Saharan Africa

Providing the tools and skills to enable the poorest women in sub- Saharan Africa to work their own way out of poverty.

The women we work with are among the poorest in the world.Today, 83% of new MicroLoan Foundation clients are living belo...
04/09/2026

The women we work with are among the poorest in the world.

Today, 83% of new MicroLoan Foundation clients are living below the poverty line, surviving on less than $2.50 a day. Many live in remote rural communities where access to banks, financial services and business support is almost non-existent.

Many also left school early. Generations of poverty mean opportunities for education were limited, leaving many women with low levels of literacy and few formal employment prospects.

Yet these women are resourceful, determined and full of entrepreneurial potential. They don't lack ambition, they simply lack opportunity.

That's why we've designed every part of our model around the realities of the women we serve.

Unlike many financial institutions, we don't require collateral, previous business experience or savings before someone can receive a loan. Our Loan & Training Officers travel by bicycle and motorbike to reach isolated communities, ensuring women aren't excluded simply because of where they live.

Before joining MicroLoan Foundation, profits from Lunati’s agricultural store were stretched to breaking point. With a h...
02/09/2026

Before joining MicroLoan Foundation, profits from Lunati’s agricultural store were stretched to breaking point. With a household of four to provide for, she and her children often went without breakfast, and sometimes lunch too. “I was starving before,” she says.

With support from MicroLoan Foundation, Lunati has diversified her business by adding groceries to her shop. Her profits have now doubled and she can now afford to feed her family three times a day, pay for her children’s school fees and provide care for her parents. “I am now living a settled life,” she says.

She likes the fact that MicroLoan Foundation allows her to pay off her loan little by little, unlike other microfinance providers.

Lunati’s goal is to be completely financially independent and for her children to be able to complete their education.

Mateo Zanetic leads MicroLoan Foundation's operations across Southern Africa, driving strategic growth, operational exce...
31/08/2026

Mateo Zanetic leads MicroLoan Foundation's operations across Southern Africa, driving strategic growth, operational excellence and greater financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs.

As Regional Director for Africa, Mateo works alongside leadership teams in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa to strengthen performance, scale sustainable impact and ensure the delivery of high-quality, client-centred financial services. He also leads the Group's Social Performance Management function, championing responsible finance and client protection across every market.

In addition to his regional responsibilities, Mateo serves as Chief Executive Officer of MicroLoan Foundation South Africa, where he is leading the organisation's newest country programme and expanding access to financial services for women entrepreneurs.

As a Board member of MicroLoan Foundation's subsidiaries across the region, Mateo provides strategic oversight that supports effective governance, innovation and long-term organisational sustainability. He holds a degree in Management Accounting and Corporate Finance from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University).

"Sustainable impact happens when we combine strong leadership with local understanding, responsible finance and an unwavering commitment to the women we exist to serve."

Mateo is passionate about building high-performing organisations that deliver measurable impact while creating opportunities for women to build businesses, strengthen their communities and shape a more inclusive future.

At MicroLoan Foundation, we know that lasting change takes more than just a loan. It happens when you combine financial ...
28/08/2026

At MicroLoan Foundation, we know that lasting change takes more than just a loan. It happens when you combine financial access with knowledge, support, mentoring and community.

When women receive the right support over time, they don’t just build businesses, they grow in confidence, they become more resilient, and they invest in their families’ education, healthcare and nutrition, building brighter futures for generations to come.

To learn more about how we support our clients beyond the loan, please visit: https://zurl.co/1AtzV

Photo: Peter Caton

When Margaret joined MicroLoan Foundation in 2017, she struggled to provide for her family and dreamed of one day owning...
26/08/2026

When Margaret joined MicroLoan Foundation in 2017, she struggled to provide for her family and dreamed of one day owning her own home. With a small loan, business training and the drive to succeed, she grew her poultry business and diversified her income by buying further livestock and growing tomatoes and maize.

Despite facing the devastating drought in Zimbabwe in 2024, Margaret kept pursuing her dream. Today, she and her family are living in their own four-room home, her children stay in school, and her business continues to grow.

“I have been with MicroLoan Foundation for a long time now. It’s good to see women in the community uplifting themselves through business and having better lives,” says Margaret.

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With more than two decades of experience in microfinance across Southern Africa, Samson Songore has dedicated his career...
24/08/2026

With more than two decades of experience in microfinance across Southern Africa, Samson Songore has dedicated his career to helping women unlock economic opportunities through responsible financial services.

As Chief Executive Officer of MicroLoan Foundation Zimbabwe, Samson provides strategic leadership that strengthens operations, expands outreach and ensures women across Zimbabwe have access to finance, business training and ongoing support to build resilient businesses.

Throughout his career, Samson has held senior leadership positions across Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa, developing expertise in operational leadership, loan portfolio management, compliance, organisational development and staff empowerment.

Samson holds a Diploma in Banking and Finance from Harare Polytechnic, alongside qualifications in Microfinance Management and Nonprofit Project Management. Fluent in English, Shona and Ndebele, he remains passionate about creating lasting pathways out of poverty through financial inclusion.

"When women succeed, families become stronger, communities become more resilient and economies become more inclusive. That's the impact that inspires me every day."

His leadership is grounded in the belief that sustainable development begins by investing in the potential of women entrepreneurs.

The microfinance sector has recently been criticised in the media. But our Group CEO, Medha Wilson believes this critici...
21/08/2026

The microfinance sector has recently been criticised in the media. But our Group CEO, Medha Wilson believes this criticism sparks an important debate.

At MicroLoan Foundation, we believe the issue isn't whether microfinance works, but how it's designed, delivered and held accountable.

In a new article on our website, Medha reflects on what responsible financial inclusion really looks like, why nuance matters, and how mission-led microfinance can help women build more secure futures.

Read the full article here: https://zurl.co/J2ylw

Alifosina Mkonde is what we at MicroLoan Foundation call a ‘super entrepreneur.’ But things haven’t always been this way...
19/08/2026

Alifosina Mkonde is what we at MicroLoan Foundation call a ‘super entrepreneur.’ But things haven’t always been this way.

With eight children to support, Alifosina and her husband struggled to afford school fees and enough food to keep their family from going hungry.

Things started to change in 2012, when Alifosina joined MicroLoan Foundation. She invested her first £13 / $17 / A$25 loan in her tomato stall, and as her profits grew, she expanded her grocery business, selling rice, groundnuts and maize alongside her tomatoes.

Using each loan to grow her business and profits over time, by 2018, Alifosina had built her own maize mill!

By 2022, the mill had eight employees and had become a centre for local economic activity.

All her children completed school, with three going to university, and one of her sons now helps her run the mill.

Alifosina is a role model for her community and a great example of our microfinance model in action.

To find out more about why our model works, please visit: https://zurl.co/SuPD2

Our 2025 Annual Report is here!Last year, more than 155,000 women accessed loans, savings, training, mentoring, and othe...
18/08/2026

Our 2025 Annual Report is here!

Last year, more than 155,000 women accessed loans, savings, training, mentoring, and other client-focused services through our programmes in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Our operations in South Africa got off to an encouraging start, reaching 2,975 women and achieving 88% Operational Self Sufficiency in its first year.

We continued investing in digital tools to strengthen delivery and improve safety for clients and staff, especially in remote communities, helping us serve women more quickly, securely, and reliably.

You'll find the full Annual Report in the Reports section of our website, where you can also sign up to receive regular email updates about our work: https://zurl.co/eLHCa

Jack Ngoma is an accomplished finance and business leader dedicated to expanding financial inclusion and creating opport...
17/08/2026

Jack Ngoma is an accomplished finance and business leader dedicated to expanding financial inclusion and creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs across Zambia.

As Chief Executive Officer of MicroLoan Foundation Zambia, Jack leads the organisation's strategic direction, strengthens partnerships and drives operational excellence to expand MicroLoan Foundation's reach and impact. Under his leadership, the organisation has experienced significant growth in both client outreach and loan portfolio, enabling more women to build resilient businesses and improve their families' livelihoods.

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Jack brings extensive experience in financial management and microfinance. Before becoming CEO, he served as Chief Financial Officer at MicroLoan Foundation Zambia and previously held leadership roles at Bayport Financial Services and MicroLoan Foundation Malawi.

"Real impact isn't measured by the size of a loan, it's measured by the confidence it builds, the businesses it grows and the futures it helps create."

Jack believes sustainable growth is achieved by combining sound financial leadership with an unwavering commitment to the people the organisation serves every day.

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1-2 Paris Garden
London
SE18ND

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

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