Near East Foundation

NEF began providing microfinance to women in the Mopti region in 1992 and has lent more than $5.3 million to more than 25,000 women. In 1998, NEF helped establish Nayral-NEF, a women-owned association, to assume ownership of this activity, which also includes money transfers and deposits. Dutch, U.S., Malian and international governmental and private organizations have supported NEF in developing the association and its business.

Working with the National Agricultural Development Bank, NEF also manages a revolving credit fund that supports agricultural production and food security by farming households. Credit enables producers to purchase grains and other vegetable products which are stored and re-sold during the "hungry season” between harvests, when food supplies are running low and market prices of staple foods tend to be very high.