To this end, Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung is cooperating with the National Bank of Zambia, Bank of Zambia, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Windhoek Vocational Training Center. The new regional office in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, enables on-site management and technical exchange in the region. With the newly appointed regional coordinator, Markus Tacke, who has 35 years of professional experience in the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, even more Sparkassen expertise is now flowing into the region.
Promoting small businesses
The project aims to combat poverty by giving micro and small enterprises, as well as young farmers, access to needs-based financial services, enabling them to participate in economic life. Therefore, basic business skills in particular are to be taught so that the small businesses can do better with their stores, handicrafts or farms and have a chance of successfully applying for a loan. Both the local partners and the small enterprises are to be supported through targeted consultancy by the German partner Sparkassen and the experience of German Sparkassenstiftung.
Expanding success in Zambia
The location of the regional office stems from the long-standing partnership with Zambia. From 2012 until the end of 2020, Bank of Zambia and Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung have already worked together for the financial inclusion of the Zambian population. Over the course of these years, more than 18,000 youth and adults in Zambia have been trained with over 800 training sessions conducted by German Sparkassenstiftung. The various training courses, known as Business Games, have been developed by German Sparkassenstiftung to promote financial education in an interactive and sustainable way.
Kick-off with virtual event
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the kick-off of the regional project was celebrated virtually. Over 100 people from eight countries participated in the virtual kick-off. In addition to presentations on the project's goals, the project's online presence was introduced with the new website www.sparkassenstiftung-southernafrica.org and the new Facebook channel https://www.facebook.com/German-Sparkassenstiftung-Southern-Africa-100804055511439/ .
Jennifer Berbuir and Hannah Redders