Today, Louvain Coopération has withdrawn from all projects supporting microfinance institutions. However, there is one exception: UCMECS, or Union des Caisses Mutuelles d'Epargne et de Crédit des Savanes (Union of Mutual Savings and Credit Institutions of the Savanes). Based in Togo, in the Savanes region, this savings and credit structure was initially part of a larger organisation combining credit, savings, mutual health insurance, literacy and advice for farmers. Like other similar structures, UCMECS was forced by the Togolese and West African financial regulatory authorities to become autonomous. ‘Today, it consists of eight village funds, above which we have placed an umbrella organisation, the Union. The latter fulfils various missions aimed at improving and professionalising the entire network,’ explains Vincent Henin, food and economic security expert for Louvain Coopération.
"First, in 2004, we began supporting microfinance and mutual health insurance schemes. Then, from 2008 onwards, we moved to an integrated approach, which meant that we also supported literacy and agricultural advisory services promoted by UCMECS sister organisations. ‘ But why was this project an exception among all the microfinance initiatives supported by Louvain Coopération? ’We encountered the same difficulties as in other microfinance projects in rural areas, which require human and financial resources beyond our means. But UCMECS is a fundamentally sound organisation. It is managed by people who are committed to their social mission and who are able to deal with all the tensions that can arise in this type of initiative. We therefore truly believe that it is worth supporting," says Vincent Henin.
Today, UCMECS has more than 50,000 clients (up from less than 30,000 in 2012) and enjoys special support, which also sets it apart from other similar projects previously supported by Louvain Coopération. "We have created an informal consultation group to support UCMECS's activities. It consists of BRS (a Belgian non-profit organisation specialising in microfinance projects, see page 13), which provides technical support alongside Louvain Coopération in this project, SIDI (Solidarité Internationale pour le Développement et l'Investissement) and Alterfin. The latter two are currently the only sources of borrowing for UCMECS. Together, we coordinate our support for the operation of UCMECS, and Louvain Coopération, through its presence in Togo, supports the implementation of the various recommendations in the field."