The Zardozi loan service grew organically from small beginnings when women started asking for loans in 2011. The loan fund is managed jointly by Nisfe Jahan and Zardozi, there is a small, one time management fee for each loan but no interest.
Approximately 75% of the loans are in-kind and this combined with the absence of interest makes the loan system compliant with Islamic banking principles. Currently women who want to make savings are introduced by staff in the community business centres, to those local banks who welcome small transactions in return for new female clients. Zardozi and Nisfe Jahan are working on developing a savings facility integrated with the loan fund.
The average loan size is $112 and loan repayment 99.8%.