NANEY starts with solidarity groups that self-form, focusing primarily but not exclusively on women. These groups come together and save money that is then loaned out among members, on a weekly basis. During this period, beneficiaries invest in their own future and learn how to work together and make shared decisions. Each individual will save a minimum of $10 over the course of the initial year, or about 1% of their annual income of $1000. At this time, trust relationships are formed between NANEY and the groups.

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Once solidarity groups prove their ability to work together, two basic investments are made per individual:

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• $60 sheep loan

  • An initial $60 investment when sheep prices are lowest can be, at a minimum, doubled into $120 of revenue in a three to four-month period. NANEY provides veterinary training and support to participants, because proper care and feeding of sheep can double or trip the amount of revenue earned over a year.

  • Minimum ROI 100%, maximum ROI 700%

• $40 peanut loan

  • An initial $40/person investment at harvest when peanut prices are lowest can be, at a minimum, doubled into $80 of revenue if peanuts are stored for sale until prices are high. This return can be even higher if a participant decides to sell all peanuts harvested, and if they wait to sell until prices are high.

  • Minimum ROI 100%, maximum ROI 400%

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Both sheep loans and peanut loans are managed by participants in groups. Once started, these investments are self-sustaining and self-generate revenue that can either be used to add more participants to the group or can be otherwise invested in inputs, technical assistance or small scale projects. NANEY staff help facilitate these discussions and reflections with the investments are managed by the participants.

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Once investments are established, groups are formed into official associations. This allows them to access credit, other projects, and to carry out grouped sales or purchases of products or crops for re-sale. Individuals are also encouraged to take individual action, and although the initial investment is made to and managed by a group, benefits are individual.

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Multiple solidarity groups or communities (depending on the number of solidarity groups per community) elect a group member as a community advisor. These advisors are literate and act as private sector service providers, and are paid a small fee by each group for record keeping and advisory services, after receiving training and support from NANEY. The advisors are the point of contact for NANEY staff for the community or communities they support.

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The community management of investments increases NANEY’s level of effectiveness and efficiency, while reducing cost. NANEY tracks return on investment over time in financial terms as well as more qualitative shifts in attitudes, knowledge, capacity and behavior, which is reflected back to participants, NANEY staff, and to funders.

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To learn more about NANEY's approach, click on one of our programmatic areas below: