European Commission Directorate General for Inte : Better access to finance via cooperative upgrading and enterprise and farm development in Kayin State

With limited access to financial and government services, the population of Kwan Tar Kone and other villages in Kayin State have no reliable means of saving and rely on expensive money-lenders, family networks within the village or remittances from family members working abroad in Thailand when they need funds. The project provided a mechanism for the villagers to save and borrow funds through trusted local non-government and non-commercial organisations. This improved resilience and gives better opportunities for enterprise development.