Expanded Microlending Initiative Provides Women Access to Capital

MADISON, WI (June 2025) – WorldWise Microfinance, a Madison-based nonprofit organization focused on providing access to capital for women, is expanding its programming in Ghana through a new initiative in the northwestern part of the country.

The Dafiama-Busie-Issa area is a thriving agricultural region, but it is among the poorest regions in Ghana. This expansion underscores the organization’s belief in developing community potential through targeted, locally guided investments.

Since launching its first Africa initiative, WorldWise Microfinance has partnered with the Ohio-based nonprofit We R uS and its partner, GREEN Impact, to provide financial tools that empower borrowers to build self-sufficiency. Together, the three organizations provide funding, trusted community connectors, and microloan servicing to bring microloans, sustainable agriculture training, and green energy initiatives to local entrepreneurs.

“Micro-loans empower individuals to take responsibility for providing for their families and develop pride in their accomplishments. The sense of accomplishment and the ability to make a difference in their communities is such a powerful motivator,” states Tom Eggert, Founder and President of WorldWise Microfinance. Most loans are made to women, who reinvest in their households and drive broader communal wellbeing; last year, 88% of loans went to women-led enterprises.

We R uS channels cultural leadership and community acumen. “By harnessing the strength of our traditions and the unity of our communities, we are building a foundation for sustainable development that is both culturally relevant and economically viable,” said Ben Brako, Executive Director.

GREEN Impact provides climate-smart support through reforestation, agricultural training, and renewable energy access. Martin Yelibora, Director of GREEN Impact says, “Our vision is to cultivate resilient communities where environmental sustainability and economic prosperity go hand in hand.”

New Horizons in Dafiama-Busie-Issa
In Dafiama-Busie-Issa, located on the northwestern border of Ghana, most households cultivate rice, maize, and yams, and raise livestock, including poultry and goats. WorldWise is working through trusted community connectors to bring microloans, sustainable agriculture training, and green energy initiatives to local entrepreneurs. The program operates on WorldWise Microfinance’s platform of:

  • Community-rooted lending: Groups of 6-8 local entrepreneurs receive loans together; repeat borrowing is allowed only when all initial members repay, fostering mutual accountability and peer support.
  • Local partnership strength: WorldWise Microfinance collaborates closely with local partners to support community and economic development.
  • Supporting resilience: The new program in Ghana integrates financial services with environmental awareness, thereby contributing to the long-term strength of the community.

Scaling Success and Looking Ahead
The program in Dafiama-Busie-Issa is part of WorldWise’s broader global work, which began in 2010 and now reaches communities in Haiti, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana. Over $500,000 in loans have been provided to date, with each loan reinforcing the power of self-determination. Ultimately, WorldWise champions a simple yet transformative belief: when individuals, especially women, are trusted with affordable capital and supported through community networks, they spark lasting economic and social change.

MEDIA CONTACT
Tom Eggert, Founder and President
makingloans@worldwisemicrofinance.org
608-279-8608