Village Enterprise Fund

Village Enterprise Fund’s unique and proven model gives hard-working people the opportunity to transform a small grant into a new business, a better standard of living, and hope for the future. It helps them develop business plans and launch and sustain small businesses, such as a bicycle repair shops, vegetable stands or used clothing stores.

To date, Village Enterprise has launched 25,000 micro-enterprises in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda and permanently changed the lives of 500,000 people. Program evaluations have shown that after one year, 88 percent of new businesses created since 1987 with our help are still thriving, and after four years, 75 percent are still operating.

Proven Results

The most recent independent assessment of our work found that one Village Enterprise-assisted business helps the lives of 15 people. In addition, depending on the kind of business, the impacts are impressive.

• Food and Nutrition–32 percent increase in food consumption. The average business provides some 6,242 more meals each year to its families
• Education–40 percent increase in the number of children in school. The average business results in more than 5 more children attending school.
• Livestock Ownership–The average business increased the value of livestock–a primary source of training–by $492
• Women’s Empowerment–An 84 percent improvement in women’s sense of empowerment in a least one of the following: independence, spousal relationships, household equity, participation in activities, self image.