What is NEEF
WHO WE ARE
We Empower Malawians Financially.
The National Economic Empowerment Fund Limited (NEEF) is a Government owned Microfinance Institution whose mission is to economically empower ordinary and underserved Malawian (particularly women, youth and persons with disability) through the provision of quality, affordable and sustainable microfinance services for improved livelihoods.
NEEF is a radical rebrand of the Malawi Enterprise Development Fund Limited whose reconstitution happened in September 2020 with a mandate is to look into the broader objectives of microfinancing with focus on economic empowerment.
The institution operates on a license that was issued in January 2015 by the Reserve Bank of Malawi as a Non-Deposit Taking Microfinance institution.
From MEDF to NEEF
OUR BACKGROUND
The National Economic Empowerment Fund Limited (NEEF) replaced the Malawi Enterprise Development Fund Limited (MEDF) that was registered under the Company’s Act as a Company that is limited by guarantee in 2014. MEDF Ltd was the successor of the Malawi Rural Development Enterprise Fund [MARDEF] which was established by the Government of the Republic of Malawi with the approval of Parliament.
MARDEF was launched by Presidential decree on 29th January, 2005. Thereafter, the Malawi Parliament passed a resolution to set up MARDEF on 11th April, 2005 where it was envisaged that MARDEF would eventually be established by either an Act of Parliament or under the Companies Act as a company limited by guarantee in the year 2014. As a result of this, MEDF was formed and inherited the assets and liabilities of former MARDEF, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) and the Farm Input Loan programme (FILP) that were implemented from 2012 to 2014.
NEEF’s predecessor, Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (MEDF) was then registered under Company Act 2013 as a company limited by guarantee and has a Reserve Bank of Malawi licence as a Microfinance Institution in the non-deposit taking category. NEEF is also governed by the Financial Services Act 2010 and Public Finance Management Act.
Shareholding and Capital Structure
NEEF is 100% owned by Malawi Government through the following ministries:
Ministry of Finance – 25%
Ministry of Agriculture – 25%
Ministry of Youth – 25%
Ministry of Industry and Trade – 25%