Between September 2000 and December 2002, 22 sanadiq were established, comprising 4,691 members, with shareholder equity of US$ 130,000. UNDP contributed $370,000 in equity. The repayment rate as of 31 December 2002 was 99.7%. Return on average equity was 17%, almost half of which (46%) was paid to shareholders, the balance (54%) retained as capital. Loans permit farmers to bypass trader-moneylenders and sell their produce at a higher price; laborers turn into farmers; and microentrepreneurs use quick-turnover repeat loans for new investments and rapid business growth.

During 2003 growth continued according to a recent UNCEF evaluation: to 30 sanadiq with 6,468 shareholders and a share capital of SP 10.65 million. Loans outstanding grew to SP 63.8 million; portfolio at risk >30 days was a mere 1.3%. At annual dividends between 30% and 40% of paid-in-capital, membership was very attractive.

Special attention is given to women who constitute 41% of the membership, most of them illiterate. They opted for integrated sanadiq, in which female members participate in management committees. They find access to loans easy, as sanadiq do not require physical collateral. Loans are used by younger and older women to do business of their own, eg, fattening sheep, raising cows, opening small shops and renting land to plant cash crops. The additional income is used for business growth and family support. It is not rare that women – many with large families – are the better entrepreneurs, focusing on high-yielding activities outside traditional agriculture.

In 2002 first steps were taken towards the establishment of a network which will provide apex services and initiate the dialog on a legal framework; and of a central fund (Sanduq Markazi) supervised by the Central Auditing Agency. During phase II, 2003-2007, with support from the Japanese Government and UNDP, the focus is now on the expansion and legal consolidation of the network of sanadiq. There are also plans for extending such networks throughout Syria as a strategy for rural development, poverty alleviation and employment generation.

This paper was first published in September, 2003 by NENARACA. It is available in Arabic by email.