Clotilde Ayissi is one of many female smallholder cocoa farmers benefitting from being a member of a VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association)
Thanks to her new agricultural ventures, developed since joining the VSLA programme, daily life in her village in Lekié, central Cameroon, has improved. Clotilde owns a small shop where she sells produce from her agro-pastoral farm. Here she breeds pigs, chickens and goats, along with growing cocoa, peanuts, rice, corn and cassava. Clotilde fills an important gap, enabling villagers to access essential goods nearby rather than having to walk to urban areas.
“At the end of last year, I shared my experiences with growing my business during our group reunion. When my neighbours heard about my success, they all wanted to join a VSLA.”
Clotilde Ayissi – Smallholder Farmer & Entrepreneur, Cameroon
Despite the variety in Clotilde’s livestock and crops, she remains at the mercy of the changing climate. The death of her husband in 2020 compounded her financial issues, leaving her in a precarious state. It was against this backdrop that Clotilde joined the programme. “I had to find a solution to develop and increase my revenues and to keep up throughout the year, because between January and August, the crops produce less revenue,” she explains.
When we set up the VSLA group in Clotilde’s village, the primary aim was to provide women financial autonomy and self-sufficiency through trainings in business and household planning.
Pooling Funds for Shared Loans
VSLA groups encourage members to share their knowledge and pool their finances during their weekly meetings. Groups are also managed by members themselves, with positions that can be applied for and communally voted on. Clotilde details how she first got involved, saying, “I attended the first meeting where two long-time members shared their successful experiences. What struck me was that there were realistic conditions to join the programme and clear conditions to take out loans, which seemed very beneficial. I felt that I would be able to borrow money easily and repay it at a rate that I could afford.”
As a mother of eight, Clotilde’s participation in this initiative is as much for her children’s futures as it is for hers. Since joining the VSLA, she has gained skills in accounting and applied them to the running of her shop. She has also generated extra income to invest into her farmwork, buy a house, and even pay the school fees for all of her children.
The Potential of Entrepreneurship
Another key component is training on diversifying incomes. Training sessions based on the GALS methodology (Gender Action Learning Systems) enfranchise women with the knowledge and tools to make their own money and be self-reliant. Once the members pass their training, they are encouraged to set up new projects and are supported in the process. “My biggest project is my small shop, where I sell smoked fish, sweets and my crops,” says Clotilde, “Every morning, I work on the land and feed my children before they go to school. Then, I open my shop where I sell goods and products that we need in the village. The closest supermarket is kilometres away, and it is hard to access. My shop is profitable because customers come regularly, and it benefits both the neighbourhood and nearby villages.”
Creating Impact for Future Generations
In addition to building gender equity, the VSLA programme also benefits children. Clotilde’s children have the freedom to focus on their schooling instead of supporting the family. With two teenagers approaching the end of secondary school, Clotilde is making it a priority to keep her children in education, “My son is one year away from going to university, and I’m saving all my small shop revenues to send him there.”