So last month, after a process that took over two years (don’t ask.), we finally received final approval from the Central Bank to operate as a microfinance organization in the Republic of Congo. Since that great news, we have been scrambling to hire our additional staff, get the office fully functional, set all of our financial and operating procedures, and we have finally begun reaching out to potential clients about joining a HOPE Congo community bank and receiving a loan.
I tagged along with our Loan Supervisor and two Loan Officers this morning as they spoke to potential clients in a couple of markets in town. It’s exciting to finally see the rubber start to meet the road.