The Capacity Foundation is within touching distance of one of its main objectives – becoming entirely independent of outside funding. That’s true sustainability!
Capacity already receives 30% of the money it needs to run its programmes in Malenga Mzoma from its grocery and household goods store in Chintheche. Now it plans to build a much larger store in the nearest city, Mzuzu. The new store will supply sufficient funds to make Capacity financially independent.
We’re doing this in a unique way, seeking loans instead of donations with the loans being repaid (with interest) from the new store’s profits. The proposal document explains how the money will be spent and exactly how the loans (and interest) will be repaid.
Lead Trustee Stephen Maund said: “Capacity’s funding model was created in anticipation that reliance on fickle international aid was foolish in the long term. Little did we know in 2017 that cuts to the British and American aid budgets, almost totally eradicated in the case of the latter, would bring the aid situation to a head. Capacity has been strategically ‘ahead of the game’ in this regard but we didn’t expect the crisis to come so soon.”
Capacity is within touching distance of achieving this wonderful objective of taking charge of its own destiny, but it needs help for the final push. The second store will cost about £50,000 to build and equip: Emily Nkhoma, Capacity’s programmes manager in Malawi, says that “once the loans are pledged, construction will begin within weeks with a view to opening the store early in 2026.”