MUSO Groups in Côtes-de-Fer: A Catalyst for Women's Empowerment

In rural Côtes-de-Fer, most families live under challenging economic conditions, supporting themselves through livestock rearing, agriculture, and informal trade. Women play an important role in providing for their families through activities such as food trading, vegetable cultivation, and processing local products like groundnut seeds. Families yearn to start their own businesses centered around these activities. But without access to start-up capital—something hard to obtain here—those possibilities remain out of reach.

A Catalyst for Women’s Empowerment

CMMB’s MUSO groups have become an essential resource for economic empowerment in the region, especially for women. A MUSO, or Solidarity Mutual, is a basic microloan program that provides small loans to help women invest in and grow their businesses.

Since October 2018, CMMB has supported 34 MUSO groups, each consisting of 10 to 40 members, reaching more than 1,100 women. Most participants first graduated from Mothers’ Clubs—another CMMB initiative led by community health workers that brings women together for health education and mutual support. MUSO groups meet between two and four times a month and are led by member-appointed management committees. With ongoing guidance from CMMB, groups receive operational tools and materials, while members also participate in financial literacy and entrepreneurship education sessions.

Denar is a member of CMMB Haiti MUSO groups. Here she stands at her market stand.

Denar, a member of a CMMB-supported MUSO group, now managers her own small business at the local market.

“The interest rates of the MUSOs of CMMB, at 3%, are much more affordable than those of pawn lenders in the area, which reach up to 20%. This is a blessing for us,” said Annie, a MUSO group member.

At CMMB Haiti, the MUSOs are built around three funds:

The green fund: dedicated to savings and loans that support the economic activities of members
The blue fund: finances the administrative and organizational functions of the group
The red fund: provides assistance to members during emergency situations, helping them avoid predatory loans and withstand household shocks

Women participating in these groups have been able to develop income-generating activities, better manage their finances, and cope with unexpected challenges. The majority of groups have already repaid their loans, supporting the intervention’s self-sustainability and longevity and contributing to the resilience of women across the entire region.

“Thanks to CMMB, I was able to get a loan when I was in need, which saved me from begging from others,” said Helena, another Muso group member.