Microcredit
Programme — ACTB
Access to finance for Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs. Small loans. Real livelihoods.
Bridging the gap between ambition and access.
The ACTB Microcredit Programme provides small loans to entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone who lack access to formal banking services. Run in partnership with ACTB — a trusted local organisation with deep roots in Sierra Leone's business community — the programme offers practical, dignified access to capital for people who are ready to grow their businesses but lack the collateral or credit history that traditional banks require.
Borrowers range from market traders and food vendors to skilled artisans and small manufacturing businesses. Loan amounts are calibrated to each business's actual needs and repayment capacity — ensuring that finance is a tool for growth, not a burden.
ACTB's local knowledge and community relationships are central to the programme's success. Loan officers know their clients personally, understand the local economy, and provide ongoing support that goes beyond simple loan administration.
How the microcredit programme works
Apply
Entrepreneurs from the ACTB network submit a loan application, outlining their business, funding need, and repayment plan. Applications are reviewed by ACTB loan officers who know each community well.
Review
Applications are assessed for business viability and borrower capacity. ACTB loan officers conduct in-person meetings to understand each applicant's situation and offer guidance on the application.
Receive funding
Approved applicants receive their loan disbursement and begin working with an ACTB officer on their repayment schedule. Ongoing support is available throughout the loan period.
ACTB
Local partner organisation, Sierra Leone
Aurora Foundation's partnership with ACTB is built on trust, local knowledge, and a shared belief that access to capital is a right — not a privilege reserved for those with formal employment or property to offer as security. ACTB brings years of experience working with Sierra Leone's business community and a network of loan officers embedded in the communities they serve.
The partnership model allows Aurora Foundation to extend its reach beyond what it could achieve alone. Rather than building parallel infrastructure, we invest in and strengthen institutions that are already trusted and effective within their communities.