Islamic Relief’s Microcredit Programme provides small business and housing loans to people who are unable to receive loans from banks and other financial institutions.

Business loans assist in income-generation and create employment opportunities, while housing loans improve the living conditions of families affected by conflict.  

The Microcredit Programme began in 2002 and now works in the districts of Skenderaj, Drenas, Malisheya and Vushtrri. As a result of the 1996-1999 conflict, these districts of Kosova suffered extensive damage to infrastructure, because they were at the centre of Serb aggression.

Most of the population of these four districts work in agriculture on small family-owned farms. However, the conflict also disrupted agricultural activity in Kosova, so many livelihoods were also destroyed.

Demand for housing loans in these districts has increased over the past few years, as there has been a decline in the number of aid agencies working on reconstruction in Kosova.

Project Objectives

The aim of the project is to alleviate poverty and improve the standard of living in four districts of Kosova. The Microcredit programme will contribute to the overall improvement of the economic, social and political welfare of borrowers, their families and the local community.

Project Activities

Islamic Relief (IR) is the only organisation in Kosovo that offers interest-free loans. IRW provides business and housing loans to people in Skenderaj, Drenas, Malisheya and Vushtrri.

Since 2002 the Microcredit Programme has been helping the population of north-central Kosova. The business loans have contributed to income-generation and employment opportunities, while housing loans have helped poor households to carry out much-needed repairs.

In 2006 alone, over 660 loans, worth around €740,000, have been given to 4,000 people in Kosova.

"Islamic Relief is striving for a fairer world. Our mission is to help the poor and needy to live sustainable, self-reliant lives within safe and caring communities. Our work is guided and shaped by the core values of accountability, humanitarianism, neutrality and impartiality, inclusiveness, integrity and co-operation, all of which are also integral to the Islamic faith."
Dr Hany El Banna - Founder of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief was established in 1984 and our unique approach is the result of these many years of hands-on experience.

1. Where possible we adopt a community partnership-based approach; encouraging community involvement, understanding and ownership of projects.
2. We run the majority of our field projects ourselves, giving us direct insight into the problems faced and how best to solve them.
3. We aim to empower those we help in order to achieve sustainable results.
4. Though our emergency response teams are quick to respond to emergencies around the world, we continue to support communities long after the initial media interest has died down.
5. We recruit staff locally to benefit from their local knowledge. This ensures that we are culturally sensitive and allows us to reach communities and areas other organisations cannot.
6. Where necessary we coordinate our work with other reputable aid agencies, local organisations and governments.

Millennium Development Goals

Islamic Relief is committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which have been agreed by the world’s leading development institutions in an effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015. 

The goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

For more information about the MDGs, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/