Enyorata Loviluku– A Data Cooperative Supporting Maasai Women in Tanzania
It is not uncommon for many people in the Maasai community of northern Tanzania to lack a bank account, let alone access to loans. Financial institutions often label them as “risky” borrowers, limiting their opportunities. Despite being relatively close to the city of Arusha, where banks could easily provide services, these communities remain underserved. While Maasai men own considerable wealth in livestock and land, these assets are often undervalued by banks, making them insufficient as collateral for loans. For Maasai women, the situation is even more challenging. Generations of cultural traditions and systemic inequalities have excluded them from inheritance and formal economic participation. Although Tanzania has made strides in promoting women’s land ownership, these gains have largely bypassed Maasai women. Without land—a critical asset for securing loans—or the means to grow their businesses, many are left in a cycle of financial dependence and exclusion.
In 2019, I took a step to address this gap by founding Enyorata Loviluku, a table banking group in Loviluku village in Arusha, Tanzania. The idea was simple but effective: women contributed small amounts of money each week, ranging from $0.50 to $3.00, and pooled these funds to offer loans to each other. Only group members could borrow from the group. Borrowers paid 1% interest rate, and at the end of the year, everyone received their annual contributions back along with any earned interest.
This straightforward system created a significant shift in the village. For the first time, women had access to financial resources that allowed them to invest in livestock, start small businesses, or cover household expenses. What began as a group of 15 women grew to 50 within three years, making it the first women-led organization in the village—a milestone in a community where women-led initiatives were previously unheard of. However, as the group expanded, its limitations became evident. The women’s ambitions began to outpace the resources the table banking model could offer. Some members wanted to grow their businesses further, while others required larger sums to handle emergencies or participate in livestock markets. The existing system, though foundational, could not keep up with these aspirations. It became clear that we needed a new, more robust approach to support their growing financial needs.
For three years, the group had carefully documented its financial transactions—contributions, loans, repayments, and interest earned. This record-keeping in an exercise book was initially intended for transparency within the group, but we began to see its untapped potential. These records told a story of responsibility, documented annual income, mutual support, and financial discipline—qualities that traditional banks had overlooked when assessing Maasai women. This realization sparked an idea: what if we could leverage this data to access larger financial opportunities? Instead of treating our pooled resources as the end goal, we decided to use our collective financial history as evidence of our creditworthiness. This led us to explore the concept of data cooperatives—an innovative model where members pool, manage, and benefit from their shared data. Unlike commercial platforms that extract data for profit, a data cooperative ensures that members retain control over their information and use it to negotiate better opportunities.
With support from the Aapti Institute and Data 2x in a project funded by Rockefeller Foundation and Dalberg Catalyst we transformed Enyorata Loviluku from a table banking group into a fully functional data cooperative. The first step was digitizing our financial records, which included weekly contributions, loans, penalties, and interest. This process involved building a mobile application and a data layer infrastructure to securely store and manage the data, ensuring it was accessible and easy to interpret for both group members and potential financial partners. The second step was equipping members with the knowledge to understand and use their data. We organized workshops in Swahili and Maasai, teaching women about their rights to their information and how they could leverage collective data to access credit. This wasn’t just about learning new skills—it was about building confidence in a system that had never before recognized their value.
Achieving What Was Once Out of Reach
The turning point came when we partnered with Mwanga Hakika, a local bank. Armed with our aggregated data, we presented the bank with a case for why the group deserved access to credit. Unlike individuals, whose lack of collateral would have disqualified them, our collective profile told a different story. The data demonstrated consistent contributions, timely repayments, and a clear history of financial discipline.
The bank approved our request, offering the group its first collateral-free loan. This is more than just a financial milestone—it is a validation of the group’s collective effort and ingenuity.
We expect to receive our first batch of loans from the bank early next year. Once finalized, this will be a life-changing achievement for the Enyorata Loviluku women, who plan to expand their businesses, purchase livestock, and start new ventures.
One of the most important lessons we’ve learned is that collective action creates strength. As individuals, the women in the group struggled to access formal financial systems. Together, their data became a powerful tool for negotiating with institutions that had previously excluded them.
Another key insight is the importance of trust. Within the group, transparency in financial transactions fostered trust among members. Externally, ensuring that our data was managed securely and ethically helped build confidence with financial partners.
Finally, we learned that technology is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It must be tailored to the community it serves. Delivering training in local languages and involving women in every stage of decision-making ensured that the tools we introduced were truly empowering, not alienating.
The success of Enyorata Loviluku has shown us what’s possible, but there’s still much to do. We’re now working to finalize the loan process with Mwanga Hakika Bank and exploring ways to replicate this model in other Maasai villages.
Our ultimate goal is not just to scale, but to inspire. The achievements of women from the Enyorata Loviluku group, who have navigated systemic barriers to use data cooperatives as a pathway to financial independence, demonstrate what is possible. Their success opens the door to new possibilities for communities around the world
Building a Fairer Financial Future
The story of Enyorata Loviluku is about more than just a group of women in a Tanzanian village. It’s about challenging a financial system that has left too many behind and proving that new models are not only possible but effective. To make this future a reality, we need action on multiple fronts. Policymakers must create regulations that support cooperative enterprises. Financial institutions must rethink their risk assessments to recognize the value of collective data. And communities must continue to believe in the power of working together. This is not just a call for change; it’s a call for collaboration. By supporting data cooperatives and similar initiatives, we can build a world where access to credit—and the opportunities it creates—is no longer a privilege, but a right for everyone. Let’s work together to make that world possible.