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The following is a summary of key previous and ongoing assignments we have undertaken:
Training and Technical Assistance
- Ongoing from 2006, FINCA International (Africa region): Design and implementation of training to operations and management staff of FINCA based on FINCA's lending policies and procedures.
- On-going since 1999, National Microfinance Bank, Tanzania: Institutional refocusing on micro lending and training of operations, finance, audit and management staff of Tanzania's National Microfinance Bank - now the lead institution in the provision of microfinance in Tanzania.
- 2004- Ministry of Co-operatives and Marketing, Tanzania
- January 2003 - September 2004, CMF, Kampala, Uganda: Specific training and Technical assistance in market research and product development to Operations, Finance, Audit and Management staff of Commercial Microfinance Ltd (Uganda).
- Kwale/Taita/Kitui Districts MFI Capacity Building 2003/2004. Contracted by DANIDA/GOK (MEDP/MFII) to train and provide technical support in market driven microfinance product development to MFIs supported by DANIDA/GOK's MFII project
- February 2003, INAFI Africa, Nairobi Kenya: Training and technical assistance in Market Research and Product Development to MFIs drawn from all INAFI operating areas in Africa
- October 2001 and February 2002, MicroSave Africa (MSA) in partnership with Swisscontact: Theory and field-based training to the marketing team of Equity Building Society (now known as Equity Bank Ltd).
- November 2001, MicroSave-Africa: Technical support to the Kenya Post Office Savings Bank in the pilot testing and rollout stage of its newly developed Bidii savings product.
- May 2001, MicroSave Africa: commissioned study on; HIV/AIDS- Responding to a Silent Economic Crisis among Microfinance Clients - A study of the Effects of HIV/AIDS on Microfinance Institutions.
- Strategic Business planning for SACCOs and micro finance institutions including; KUSCCO, Kilifi SACCO, Kenya Bankers SACCO and Jitegemea Credit Scheme.
- Training and technical assistance for microfinance institutions – for a broad range of clients in the Eastern, Central, Southern and Western African countries that includes: The National Microfinance Bank of Tanzania, Equity Building Society of Kenya, Kenya women Finance Trust, Uganda Women Finance Trust, Khula Enterprise Finance of South Africa, Central Bank of Ghana
Market Research for Product Development, Impact and Institutional Assessment
- July - August 2006, Contracted by KREP Development Agency (KDA) to undertake Training Needs Assessment of the staff and board members of KREP-founded Financial Service Associations (FSAs) in Makueni and Kitui Districts of Kenya.
- Current and on-going, Market Research, Product Development/Refinement and Institutional Refocusing for Kenya Women Finance Trust
- October - December 2005, SNV-Kenya: A Study on Microfinance Products within Pastoralists communities - The study involved a thorough research on the demand and supply sides of financial Services within specially selected pastoralists operating areas in Kenya. The study aimed at establishing rationale for development of microfinance products and financial services for the pastoralist communities in Kenya.
- November 2004, Contracted by World Vision International to assess the institutional capacity of Wisdom Microfinancing Institution of Ethiopia for transformation into a deposit-taking microfinance institution and develop a transformation strategy
- September 2004, Contracted by ITDG to evaluate the viability and sustainability of enterprises associated with Waste in Nairobi under UNDP Waste Management Programme.
- May 2004, contracted by Kenya Business Development Services (USAID) to undertake a Census/Survey of Avocado Sub-Sector in Maragua and evaluate the potential for export market. The outcome for this feasibility study is a landmark report showing Maragua avocado production capacity, names of farmers, network for transport and pictorial display of clusters
- 2003, MicroSave Africa (MSA): Qualitative study on Money Transfers in Kenya by examining the needs of poor people for money transfer services.
- July 2003, Contracted by DANIDA/GOK (MEDP) to conduct a market survey of demand for microfinance services in Samburu Division of Kwale District, Coast Province. The outcome is a classic report of micro and small enterprise activities in the division, demand for savings and loan facilities and the constraints in providing the services
- 2001, RDI/Stock Watch, OAU/IBAR / EU: Survey of micro credit needs among households participating in Farming within Tsetse Controlled areas in Kenya (FITCA-Kenya) in western Kenya. Survey also involved institutional analysis of the microfinance institutions operating in the target areas.
- January 2001, Fineline commissioned own feasibility study to look into alternative mechanisms for building and strengthening the capacity of SACCOs to deliver microfinance. The outcomes of this study led to Fineline's business programme for working with SACCOs in institutional capacity building in market driven microfinance product development
- 2001, Association of African Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (AFRACA): Survey of commercial banks in Kenya already involved in microfinance to identify their reasons for getting into microfinance, document their product and risk profiles and institutional adaptations made for delivery of microfinance, and also document the number of customers reached by the banks.
Market linkages and Commercialization projects and Business Development Services
- The Avocado Fruit Market Linkage and Commercialization Project: This is the most recent project (started in July 2006) and is supported by the USAID-Kenya Business Development Services (KBDS) Programme. Fineline is managing the project, which aims at linking smallholder Avocado fruit farmers in Maragua District, Central Province of Kenya, with reliable exporters. The project coordinator supervises 3 field extension officers who are managing over 1000 farmers, organized into 43 groups which are currently linked to 3 exporters. One of the main aims of the project is to assist farmers to perceive fruit farming as a viable business which can contribute to improved household incomes.
- The Eastern/Central Mango Fruit Market Linkage and Commercialization Project: Ongoing since 2005, Fineline is managing the market linkage and commercialization project for smallholder farmers involved in Mango fruit farming in Makueni, Machakos and Maragua Districts (Eastern/Central Provinces). The project is supported by the Kenya Business Development Services (Kenya BDS - a USAID Programme). The project has made gigantic steps towards achievement of its targets. The coordinator, based at Wote, supervises 5 field extension officers managing 95 groups with 3,050 farmers and 263,000 mango trees (of which 166,000 are mature). Last season's intervention alone saw a price increase of over 200% and brokers themselves had to increase their prices from the normal Kshs. 3 to Kshs. 5 to get some produce. The exporters’ price ranged between KShs.7 to KShs.10. The farmers agree that prices have never been that high. 2,856 farmers have signed supply contracts with 3 buyers and sold over 421, 622 cartons of mango fruits earning over Kshs. 24 million. The income has assisted farmers to meet food and other expenses during the drought season. All indications show that with market linkages, Mangoes are set to become a major cash crop in these areas.
- The Mpeketoni Mango Fruit Market Linkage and Commercialization Project: Since 2004, Fineline has been managing the market linkage and commercialization project for smallholder farmers involved in Mango fruit farming in Mpeketoni Division of Lamu District in Coast Province, Kenya. The project has a coordinator and 3 field officers handling 1,022 farmers organized in 33 groups. Fineline has overcome buying logistics and signed 3 MOUs with 2 exporters and 1 supermarkets agent. This has made prices to increase by 100% and a notable increase in the number of buyers observed. Prices have risen from KShs.1 to between Kshs. 4 and 7 per fruit. This has been achieved within a period of 1 year and efforts are ongoing to achieve more.
- The Embu/Meru Passion Fruit Market Linkage and Commercialization Project: Fineline is also managing a market linkage and commercialization project for smallholder farmers involved in Passion fruit farming in Embu and Meru Districts of Eastern Province, Kenya. This project has been on-going since 2004 and is supported by the Kenya Business Development Services (Kenya BDS) which is supported financially by the USAID.
The Project has a field coordinator based at Embu with 6 extension staff. The farmers have signed supply contracts with 3 exporters and 1 processor. The project has 77 producer groups with 2,140 farmers with an average of 141 vines per farmer. Total number of vines planted so far is 242,950 of which 109,320 are mature and expansion is going on. The market linkage has created a price increase of over 100% (from Kshs. 20 to between Kshs 50-80 per Kg.). Last year, 1,720 farmers with 77, 000 vines sold in excess of 200 tons of grade1 earning over 11 million shillings. This income is set to triple by the end of 2006 because all the vines will be in production. More income will be obtained from Grade 2 sales to the processor. The project's success in changing farmers' livelihoods has led many to prefer passion fruit farming to tea (one of Kenya's major cash crops). More buyers have shown interest and expansion has been initiated in the neighbouring Kirinyaga district.
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Our Projects 
