We believe in a world without poverty where people have access to the resources necessary to improve their lives.

ADC Microfinance supports people who otherwise have few or no options to access credit or financial services. Micro loans through our partner organisation, Zozam Microfinance Company (ZMF), give them the opportunity to build their own pathway out of poverty, to improve circumstances for themselves, their families, and their communities. 


92% of ZMF clients are unbanked
They do not have access to financial services or institutions. This may be due to a lack of physical accessibility, but more often, due to financial barriers (fees, minimum deposit requirements, upfront costs and so on). Without access to micro finance, these people have a strong reliance on personal cash reserves and non-traditional finance such as loan sharks and pawnbrokers.


92% of clients are women
Empowering women, who are disproportionately affected by poverty, is of particular importance to ADC Microfinance. The vast majority of our clients are women - often widowed, divorced, single or with partners working overseas. Micro loans give women of Myanmar a sense of autonomy, a voice in their community, and independence. There is also evidence to suggest that women are more likely to use micro loans to improve the prosperity of her children and wider community.


Almost 75% of clients are traders
They include market stall keepers, clothes and food retailers, tea house and restaurant owners. 13% are agriculture workers, managing animals, farms and smallholder crops. Approximately 10% are manufacturers; weavers, seamstresses, dressmakers, and furniture makers. The smallest group are service providers and include mechanics, hairdressers, drivers, and electricians.

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Clients have an average of 2.26 children
Many believe that poverty-stricken people have large families and therefore struggle to provide. While this can be the case for many complex reasons, it is not the case for ZMF clients. They are resourceful, ambitious and entrepreneurial but simply have not had adequate access to finance and opportunity.


ZMF clients are educated
Education in Myanmar is free. Almost half of ZMF clients are educated to the end of high school, while about 40% have primary school education only. The cycle of poverty is hard to break and without access to affordable capital, it is very difficult indeed for our clients to build a pathway out of poverty.

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