Activities within the grant and expected impact:
The Trust has supported Ibtada over three separate phases, beginning 1998 when it initiated the latter’s microfinance programme.

The last phase of support, beginning 2004 enabled Ibtada to:

	Enhance the quality of programme by strengthening management information systems
	Strengthen promoted federations
	Pilot livelihood interventions.

During the ongoing phase of support, Ibtada focuses on:

	Increasing access of 5,400 women members to microfinance services through the formation of 450 new groups, which will take the total programme to 7,600 members across 700 groups. Ensuring that average credit availability among SHG members increases from current levels of Rs4,200 per annum to Rs7,000 per annum
	Increasing incomes of 3,000 members by Rs12,000 through undertaking various business development services

Components of the project include:

	Upscaling to three new blocks: 150 groups each in three new blocks are being promoted. The focus is on identifying the poor in remote villages. This will result in the formation of 450 new groups, 46 new clusters and 3 new federations, through which savings of Rs10.56 million will be mobilised and will be used to generate loans of Rs39.6 million from banks and own funds.
	Strengthening women’s institutions: Activities focus on:
		Deepening of the microfinance programme through provision of housing loans and toilet construction
		Livelihood interventions including organic agriculture, goat rearing and backyard poultry as well as horticulture
	Through the federations, Ibtada will reach out to 300 members who would be supported, to build pucca houses, leading to home improvement for these members, besides improved sanitation for 500 members.
	Developing community-centred livelihood promotion: Goat rearing would be intensified, and new initiatives would be launched. 500 members would be assisted to initiate goat rearing and backyard poultry, whilst 60 members would undertake horticulture plantations.

This is expected to yield an annual income increase of Rs12,000 for 760 members. Besides, availability of credit at fair terms will be ensured to the tune of at least Rs7,000 per member per annum.