Patan Business and Professional
Women (BPW Patan) was established
in 1995 as the Patan Chapter of Federation
of Business and Professional Women (BPW
Nepal) a pioneer social, non profit and
voluntary organization. BPW Patan was
registered with the District Administration
Office at Lalitpur under the Registration
no 471/051/52 on March 12, 1995.
Patan Business and Professional Women
(BPW Patan) is situated in Patan of Lalitpur
district, the famous city for fine Art,
temples, monasteries and various monuments.
This is the second city of the country
depicting the aesthetic culture and rich
craftsmanship. Handicrafts are the main
export products of this district making
significant contribution to the national
economy.
Mission and Objectives of BPW
Patan
The principal objectives and the mission
of BPW Nepal is to work for women, to
improve their necessary skills in different
occupation for self employment in particular
and enhance the overall condition of women
in general. The role of BPW Patan in this
process is to serve women by acting as
the change agent and development catalyst
towards the achievement of the objectives
mentioned above.
BPW Patan in Micro Finance Program
BPW Patan was selected in 1996 to work
under the Micro credit Project for women
(MCPW) which was funded by Asian Development
Bank (ADB).
MCPW is one of the main women-focused
development programs implemented by Women
Development Division (WDD) under Ministry
of Local Development.
Under the MCPW project BPW Patan worked
as a social mobilizer for one year. As
a social mobilizer BPW Patan did household
survey to identify target groups of below
poverty level who has per capita income
of below Rs 5,500.00, form group of five
of such women, provide basic and other
skill development trainings to them, got
the recommendation from WDD and disbursed
the credit to the women groups through
participating bank. Then BPW Patan became
credit agent of the participating bank
for three years (April 1997 to March 2000).
During these years the organization directly
recommended women groups for credit from
the bank. MCPW Project was ended on 31
March 2000. It was extended again from
July 2001 to June 30, 2002 which strengthened
BPW Patan to move forward to be a Financial
Intermediary.
During the project, MCPW provided trainings,
operational support, physical facilities
and opportunity for exchange visit programs
to BPW Patan.
In July 2002, BPW Patan obtained license
from Nepal Rastra Bank (the Central Bank
of Nepal) to act as a ‘Financial
Intermediary’ to operate microfinance
program within the frame work of Financial
Intermediary Act 2055 B.S (1998 AD). Since
then BPW Patan has been working towards
promoting development initiatives and
actions through the involvement and participation
of the target women themselves and the
mobilization of their own resources.
BPW Patan started microfinance program
with a view to improve socio-economic
status of the poor and asset-less families
through increasing their access to resources
for productive activities as a support
to accomplish the objective.
Working Areas
BPW Patan has been working in four different
village development committees such as
Khokana VDC, Sainbu Bhaisepati VDC, Thecho
VDC, Chapagaun VDC and also with different
poor and disadvantaged communities of
Lalitpur sub metropolitan city and Kirtipur
municipality. Currently it is extended
to poor and backward communities of Kathmandu
metropolitan city under continuous extension
of working areas of BPW Patan.
Activities
BPW Patan provides necessary training
programs for strengthening leadership
and group management of the target women
and enhances their group capacities and
income generating skills. The training
includes subjects like literacy, gender
equity, entrepreneurial skills, leadership,
and business skill development and so
on.
Strategic Plan
In order to attain above objective in
microfinance program, BPW Patan follows
the strategies mentioned below:
Partnership Agreement
To strengthen the microfinance program
in July 2007, BPW Patan made a decision
to work as partner of Rural Microfinance
Development center Ltd (RMDC) Kathmandu,
Nepal, an apex microfinance bank which
offers wholesale credit to retail microfinance
institutions for on lending to the poor,
and also as a field partner of Kiva, Sanfrancisco,
USA, a widely recognized organization
as the leader in on line microfinance.
It lends to the low income entrepreneurs
in developing countries who need loans
for their small businesses.
Performance of BPW Patan
As on 15 Dec 2007
BPW Patan is the only chapter of Federation
of Business and Professional Women operating
microfinance program. It has provided
microfinance services to 1575 women (315group).
On 15 Dec 2007, its outstanding loan amount
was Rs. 80,12,146.00. (US$ 126,319.00)
with 975 borrowers. It has maintained
100% repayment rate from the very beginning
of its operation. All its members are
women of the poor family.
S.No. |
Particular |
Unit |
Amount |
1. |
Numbers of Group |
315 |
- |
2. |
Numbers of Members |
1575 |
- |
3. |
Numbers of Centers |
49 |
- |
4. |
Group Saving |
- |
23,24,285.00 (USD 36603.00) |
5. |
Individual Saving |
- |
11,83,795.00 ( USD18642.00) |
6. |
Center Fund |
- |
10,02,743.00 (USD 15791.00) |
7. |
Total Loan disbursemen |
- |
2,24,42,966.00(USD 353433.00) |
8. |
Loan repayment |
- |
1,44,21,720.00(USD227114.00) |
9. |
Loan outstanding |
- |
80,21,246.00 (USD 126319) |
10. |
Repayment Rate |
- |
100% |
Women in Micro Enterprises
Women are engaged in small businesses:
like livestock such as poultry farming,
cattle, buffaloes and/or goat raising.
Majority of them are doing vegetable farming,
specially organic vegetable farming and
agriculture farming. Many of them are
grocery shop keepers, some are dairy producers,
some are handicraft producers, some in
handloom producers, and some are engaged
in trading businesses.
Forward Looking
Extension of the microfinance program
of BPW Patan is the continuous process.
Efforts will be made to reach more poor
and backward areas of Lalitpur and Kathmandu
districts during 2008. Our mission is
to extend our microfinance services to
2100 members and achieve outstanding loan
of ten million (NRS) during this year.
We develop information technology and
will continue setting standards to pull
out women living in poverty in rural as
well as in urban areas and help them access
to microfinance which enhances their ability
to increase income and self confidence.
