Samaf's mandate is to support the establishment of sustainable micro- finance institutions dealing with the enterprising poor, as well as those already established. The grants and loans made available are intended to service the poorest of the poor. Samaf's mission is to provide developmental financial and non-financial services to financial intermediaries, by providing capital to micro-financial institutions with proved potential, including stokvels and burial societies. According to the acting CEO, Samaf acknowledges that it is accountable for its decisions and actions, but it should be recognized that it is operating in a high-risk environment, and that it will make losses from time-to-time. He continued to say that these losses should be seen as an investment in human development.