Community Development Grants
Community grants create new opportunities and strengthen local economies
Community Development Grants are small funds provided to Community Management Committees (CMCs) to support community development projects and establish CMC-managed microcredit systems. These grants help communities put into action the skills gained through Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program (CEP) and turn learning into sustainable progress.
US dollars in community-managed funds
CMCs supported with Community Development Grants
Years of experience
What's at Stake
In many rural and remote communities, access to formal financial services remains limited. Women and youth, in particular, face significant barriers to obtaining loans or participating in local economic initiatives.
Community Development Grants help fill this gap by bringing inclusive finance closer to the community. They enable Community Management Committees (CMCs) and individual members to apply their literacy, numeracy, and project management skills to create income-generating opportunities, support families, and strengthen the local economy. These grants also promote collective decision-making and accountability, ensuring that funds are managed transparently and used to advance shared goals for community wellbeing.
What We're Doing
We provide the Community Management Committees (CMCs) with a small grant—usually between $300 and $1,000. The CMCs often use this grant to establish a rotating microcredit fund, which helps villagers, particularly women, with the investment they need to start small businesses, invest in agriculture, or take on other income-generating activities.
The CMC will operate the microcredit fund based on a group-lending, revolving-funds system. The CMC works together to set the interest rate and the length of the loans they will grant. Strong community ties help encourage a high repayment rate.
The CMC then uses the income from the interest to expand the number of loans available, undertake community projects, or establish a solidarity fund for children’s educational expenses and emergency medical needs.
Impact and sustainability
Community Development Grants turn learning into tangible results. Women and youth are launching small businesses, improving livelihoods, and driving local economic growth. The CMC-managed funds continue to circulate within communities, expanding opportunities and reducing poverty in rural areas.