Financial management in chamas is crucial while growing chamas and increasing chama membership. Normally, chamas are investment groups, offering many people of different backgrounds financial help. Chama members handle money daily, whether as contributions or investments. Therefore, chama administrators must put up effective financial management strategies. That way, chama leaders will properly monitor all chama finances at any given time.
Effective Financial Management Strategies in Chamas
Becoming a chama administrator has its own set of responsibilities and roles, especially when it comes to finances. Usually, chama administrators are responsible for how the contributions move around the chama. Also, chama leaders must understand how the chama investments work to oversee chama operations.
Chama administrators can implement several strategies that will foster the chama’s financial growth and inclusion. A successful chama will show positive chama membership since more people would prefer to join a well-run chama. Implementing proper financial management strategies allows chamas to grow financially and seek more financial assistance.
Some of the best financial management strategies a growing chama should implement include the following:
1. Seek Impactful Financial Management Information.
Many chama members and leaders may lack the proper skills and knowledge to handle their finances in chama. For example, chama leaders can make a bad investment which will cause the chama to have losses. As chamas grow, the amount of money circulating in chamas also expands, making monitoring difficult. Therefore, having the right information will save the chama from losing their money and instead make the right financial decisions.
Chama administrators can organise workshops and seminars to give members a chance to receive proper financial advice. Chama leaders can also invite guest speakers through these workshops who will offer impactful financial skills to all members. That way, chama members will remain confident in the investments the chama makes since they understand the chama’s finances better. Additionally, chama leaders will seek out better investment opportunities that benefit the chama and its members.
2. Highlight Clear Financial Goals for Better Financial Management.
A chama will have its unique financial goals, mission, and vision which all chama members work to achieve. Therefore, chama members will have better financial management when they have a certain goal in place. For example, a chama may decide to contribute money and save towards a future investment. Thus, all chama members will work to achieve their financial goals within the given time.
Additionally, a chama with a financial goal will have better saving skills since they cannot spend beyond their budget. That way, chama members will cultivate a better savings culture that enables the chama to stick to its goal. Having different goals allows the chama members to exercise different financial skills. Therefore, the chama will include all its members in making the right financial decisions.
3. Apply Appropriate Financial Management Software.
Digitization of chamas is one of the most effective ways of managing chama finances. Using financial management software allows the chama administrators to monitor chama transactions. Chama administrators can monitor members’ contributions and payments over a long period. Additionally, chama administrators can monitor how well their investments are moving. That way, chama members can decide whether to continue investing or change their mode of investment. Thus, chama administrators can avoid errors which may lead to losses or mismanagement of funds.
Financial management software offers transparency in the chama. Chama members also have access to the chama’s financial information. This fosters unity and cohesion among chama members, allowing them to continue working together. Only chama members can access the software, protecting their financial data from scammers. Thus, chama members can be sure that their data is secure and only visible to the right people.
Another advantage of using financial management software is setting up proper risk management strategies. Sometimes, risk is unavoidable but using the software allows chama administrators to prevent huge losses in the chama’s investments. Thus, financial management software protects the welfare and finances of the chama and its members.
4. Appropriate Loan Management.
Many chama members join chamas to access different financial services such as loans. Chamas usually disburse loans to its members who may require immediate financial assistance, for example, in an emergency. Additionally, the chama itself can borrow a loan from larger financial institutions to invest in a project. Therefore, chama administrators must follow up on loans and ensure the chama pays them on time.
Poor loan management will lead to the chama running losses since the chama’s profits must repay existing loans. Thus, chamas must set up a working system to ensure that all members pay their loans on time. Chama administrators can use the chama’s constitution to deal with members who do not repay their loans. For example, the chama can set up fines to discourage chama members from extending loans they borrow from the chama.
Additionally, the chama can use the same system to repay its loans to other financial institutions. Using chama management software greatly helps in tracking loans from different members at the same time. Chama administrators can monitor how much each member owes and how much they have left to clear the loan. Thus, chama members can organize their finances and distribute them in the chama contributions to meet all deadlines.
Benefit of Financial Management in Chamas.
Financial management in the chamas carries its own benefits to the chama and its members. One such benefit is economic empowerment through financial inclusion. Chama members receive access to more financial resources which they cannot get from traditional banking systems. A chama will receive financial assistance faster than when an individual applies for the same help. Therefore, chama members can grow financially and have financial stability through the chama’s assistance.
Another benefit is the financial literacy and knowledge that chama members receive through proper financial management. As the chama members grow and interact with each other, they can equip themselves with the necessary financial skills. Such financial skills are also important when building social networks within the community. Thus, both chama members and the community will benefit from proper financial management. Chamas will receive higher returns from pooled resources which directly benefit society at large.
Conclusion
Financial management in chamas is a critical skill that all chama members must have to ensure that chama operate smoothly. Many chama members lack basic financial knowledge which is very helpful when managing personal finances. However, chama administrators must engage all chama members to ensure they receive such information. For example, chama leaders can set up workshops that allow chama members to receive proper financial knowledge. Chama members will learn how to repay their loans efficiently without defaulting. Additionally, chama leaders must engage chama members in different social activities that improve their financial skills.
One of the best ways to improve financial management is using chama management software. Chama administrators can include software that manages the chama’s finances, loan repayments, and contributions. That way, chama leaders can monitor how the chama’s investments and payments move around the chama. The software will help prevent the mismanagement of funds that can lead to the chama’s failure. Chama leaders can also establish risk management protocols that protect the chama’s investments. Therefore, chama leaders will prevent losses and secure the chama members’ contributions to the chama.
Categorised in: General
This post was written by Joy Wanjiru
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