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OHRA Program: Microfinance & Fair Credit Access

A comprehensive program framework for Orpe Human Rights Advocates (OHRA) focused on facilitating access to microfinance, seed capital, and fair credit,

Program Overview

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The OHRA Microfinance & Fair Credit Access Program is a human-rights–centered initiative designed to empower underserved individuals, particularly women, youth, refugees, and unhoused persons, through equitable access to capital and financial resources. The program provides microloans, seed capital, and fair credit opportunities, coupled with financial literacy, business mentoring, and community support, to promote sustainable entrepreneurship, economic independence, and the restoration of human dignity. By integrating human rights principles into economic empowerment, OHRA ensures that financial inclusion is both ethical and transformative.

Why This Program Matters

Globally, millions of marginalized individuals lack access to capital due to systemic discrimination, poverty, and displacement. In regions such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (particularly Goma), and Mozambique, financial exclusion limits the ability of vulnerable populations to start businesses, support families, and escape cycles of poverty. Traditional lending institutions often impose high-interest rates or strict requirements inaccessible to these communities. OHRA’s program addresses these barriers, providing equitable financial tools and capacity-building to restore dignity and foster sustainable livelihoods.

Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Increase financial inclusion among underserved communities.

  • Objective 1.1: Provide 500 microloans and seed capital disbursed annually to qualified entrepreneurs.

  • Objective 1.2: Establish partnerships with local financial institutions to expand fair credit access.

Goal 2: Equip entrepreneurs with skills for financial sustainability.

  • Objective 2.1: Deliver financial literacy workshops and mentorship to all loan recipients.

  • Objective 2.2: Support creation of 200 small-scale businesses annually with sustainable business plans.

Goal 3: Promote community-wide economic development.

  • Objective 3.1: Facilitate cooperative enterprises among beneficiaries to strengthen local economies.

  • Objective 3.2: Track and report improvements in household income and employment rates of participants.

Theory of Change

If underserved individuals are provided with equitable access to microfinance and seed capital, along with financial literacy and mentoring, then they will be able to establish sustainable businesses, generate income, and build assets. As a result, communities experience enhanced economic resilience, reduced poverty, and restored dignity. OHRA’s human-rights framework ensures that financial inclusion serves both personal empowerment and social justice.

Successful Cases

  • Goma, DRC: A group of 20 women refugees received seed capital and mentorship to start a tailoring cooperative. Within 12 months, 15 women increased household income by 50%, provided education support for children, and employed 5 additional women in the community.

  • Luanda, Angola: Youth micro-entrepreneurs accessed microloans to create small-scale agricultural ventures. After one year, they generated sufficient income to secure housing and reinvest in farm expansion.

  • Maputo, Mozambique: An unhoused population received small loans and financial training to launch street-food enterprises. Recipients reported improved self-esteem, increased savings, and community recognition as contributing eco

Our Impact

Through OHRA’s Microfinance & Fair Credit Access Program, marginalized individuals transform their lives by gaining economic agency, building sustainable businesses, and contributing to stronger communities. By restoring dignity and fostering financial independence, OHRA not only alleviates poverty but also strengthens the social fabric, demonstrating that access to fair financial systems is a fundamental human right and a catalyst for systemic change.

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