Senga Bay COMSIP Cooperative excites World Bank

September 16 2022

The World Bank Country Manager for Malawi, Hugh Rudell has expressed satisfaction with the sustained impact MASAF three and four left through COMSIP Cooperatives five years after the programs closed.

He recently visited Senga Bay COMSIP Cooperative which is being self-supported after the program was closed in 2017.

Rudell could not hold his praises. “All this is inspiring to us. It is inspiring to see the resilience you’ve shown even after the project finished. But these experiences are also giving us lessons on sustainability of our programs to ensure beneficiaries still carry on after they close.” 

COMSIP Cooperative Union Limited Chief Executive Officer, Tenneson Gondwe, said an assessment showed COMSIP cooperatives’ survival rate of over 80 percent across the country.

“This survival rate is an indication that the beneficiaries welcomed these initiatives wholeheartedly. The other encouraging thing is that these groups are dominated by women who are the ones to bear the pressure of poverty in their households. Empowering them has direct [positive] impact on their families,” said Gondwe.  

The visited COMSIP Cooperatives were established out of MASAF three and four when beneficiaries of public works and social cash transfer programs were set up in savings and loan groups

Olivia Katanga, a member of Senga Bay Cooperative says through the cooperative, that provides loans to members, she got capital opened a bar and fish supply business.

“Before joining this cooperative, I was unable to send my children to school but now I’m even able to pay for my son’s university studies because of these businesses,” says Olivia.

Senga Bay Cooperative started with 32 members in September, 2017 but some dropped off during the peak of Covid 19 pandemic, remaining with just 15 but now it is growing back as it has 20 members.

According to Salima District Commissioner, Grace Kanyimbiri-Chrirwa the impact of MASAF three and four programs is still showing in the district, especially among COMSIP Cooperatives’ members.