University of Panamá Women´s Institute Case Studies Women’s Empowerment in Panamá Lydia Gordón de Isaacs PhD Director of Instituto de la Mujer Myrna McLaughlin de Anderson MS. Associate reseacher Instituto de la Mujer Jan 9 – 22, 2006

CREDIMUJER CREDIMUJER is a non profit foundation conformed by business women. It was created for the purpose of helping poor women to begging a profitable occupation that could provide them whith the basic income and to empower them in oder to live better conditions, specially concieved for those women that are not able to get a loan from the bank.

This project was planned for three types needs.  Individual Credit: benefits women that don’t have acces to bank credit or other means for loans. Requirement 1.A project 2.Approval by Ministery of Commerce & Industry 3.A sponsor or guasantor

 Groups banking o credit: “Bancos Comunales”. For Group of up to 15 women Every women receives $ dollars, ($ 1,500 per group). Every 16 weeks the group receives the money. Once a week the group meets to share experiences A promoter is asigned to maintain continuity and succes of the program. (This promoter receives $ 5.00 per meeting and she can promote many meeting)

Functions of Promoter  Collect payments ($ 7.50 montly, plus $ 1.50 for savings).  Take care of the logistic for the meeting. Note: At the end of 10 cicles of 16 weeks, every participant have receiced $ 1, dollars and she will also have $ dollars saved.

3.“Loan Technical help & capacitation for empowerment” Every three months the group of women meet for a semminar in these topics: Basic Accountting Administration Marketting Planning Personal empowerment The group have access to technical advice

“Veranera Project” (governmental) This project is developed by the office of the First Lady in coordination with the Ministry of Agricultural Development. The project is based on a microcredit of $2, dollars and each person receives a minimum of $ dollars.

She must have a profile of one that can take on a job, very motivated. She has to participate in a 5 day training course in human development, colective working, organization, business and sostenibility of project. The principles of the project are: “To recognize womens value, entre preneur capacity and rights.” This project began in january 2005 and have included 50 for 150 women. It requiere that each woman to be part of a community organization:

Project “My Bank” Products: Individual loans Group loans Loans for microbusiness Contracts And others

My bille xpress: rapid solutions for microbusiness requirements: Identifications a receipt of utility (water, elctricity, etc.). Amount to be paid LoanAmount to be paid per week $100.00$ 8.31 $200.00$12.25 $300.00$14.47 For small business such as pedlar’s goods.

My bank’s mission is to “Give financial services and helps to the informal sector of panamenian population as a way to respond to their economic and social needs.”

Evolution of the program This project was created in 1998 with A sum of $ 142, dollars for loans. In 2004 this sum was elevated to 9,341, dollars. Deposits: 1998 deposits were 6, and in 2003 deposit were 7,054,887.00

2003 profit 204, profit 410, losses were 359, losses were 785, losses were 213, Loss Gains “Morosity is -5%.”