SELFINA, founded in 2002, pioneer of micro leasing in Tanzania.
Founded in 2002, SELFINA has taken a lead role as a pioneer of micro-credit in Tanzania through micro-leasing with particular attention to widows and young girls. Customs and traditions in this African nation normally make it difficult for women to own land and assets, resulting in many women being considered not credit worthy by financial institutions in the country as they lack tangible collateral assets. In the past 19 years SELFINA has economically empowered more than 31,000 women through an active revolving fund. Over 300,000 lives have been impacted through the benefits accrued. Women are now owners of their own businesses and more than 150,000 jobs have been created. Founded by Dr. Victoria Kisyombe, who was widowed but made good use of Sero, a cow left behind by her late husband as a productive asset to generate income. From this experience and also as an inspiration to fellow women, she went on to create Sero Lease and Finance Ltd (SELFINA).
Since 2019 Selfina has been honored by the US Embassy in Tanzania to be the Country Implementer of Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). AWE is a program designed and supported by the Government of United States of America supporting women entrepreneurs around the world. It is part of a bigger USA initiative whose target is to reach 50 million women by 2025 by promoting an enabling environment that reduces barriers and facilitates women’s participation in the economy. So far Selfina has successfully finalized AWE Training in Dar es Salaam (20 women in 2019), Iringa (26 women in December 2020) currently implementing Zanzibar training (19 women since January 2021) and later this year will train 30 women in Mwanza.
OUR Mission:
SELFINA’s mission is to increase the incomes and employment of women who own micro enterprises in Tanzania, by helping them and their businesses grow, develop and reach long term sustainability as described below:
To be a major provider of micro financing to Tanzanian women all over the country
To empower women economically by supporting their efforts in enterprise development as financial intermediary.
To develop women’s capacity capability to assertively and completely participate in business
To achieve operating levels that will ensure sustainability and expansion to cover all regions of Tanzania
To be a credible and reliable micro finance institution[MFI] partner to banks and other financial institutions.
SELFINA is proud to have facilitated the growth of the beneficiaries as businesswomen through sharing best practices with other women and other organizations inside and outside the country. In doing so we are making a significant contribution to poverty alleviation initiatives in Tanzania where the GDP per capita is US$ 474.
The staff of SELFINA led by Dr. Victoria Kisyombe, is composed of a nationwide staff who supports the SELFINA mission daily. In doing so, they are creating a generation of self-employment and job creation. Sero Lease and Finance Limited [SELFINA] was incorporated in April 2002 as indigenous MFI to assist women to build a solid economic base for themselves and for their families as a practical way to achieve economic and social inclusion of women in daily life.
Dr. Victoria Kisyombe receiving the Vital Voices Global Leadership Award in Economic Empowerment from former US First Lady, Secretary of State and Presidential Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
About Dr. Victoria Kisyombe
Meet our Founder and Managing Director, trailblazing champion of women's financial empowerment, recognized worldwide for her social impact.
ABOUT OUR IMPACT
Since 2002 SELFINA has had strong presence in 5 regions (12 districts) in Tanzania. 27,000 Women financed, 150,000 jobs created, 250,000 people impacted, $17M revolved.
