How Oikocredit partner Weziza is improving access to electricity in Benin
07 December 2023 Status check: Two and a half years after Oikocredit invested in the off-grid enterprise Weziza, we look at how better access to electricity is supporting economic development in West Africa. New mini-grids have created a positive impact for more than 2,500 households and 15,000 people. full storyQ3 2023 quarterly report: Creating more impact despite headwinds
28 November 2023 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the third quarter of 2023. full storyOikocredit invests € 7.5 million in Vista Bank Burkina to support SMEs and educational finance in Africa
22 November 2023 Oikocredit is providing a loan of € 7.5 million to support the growth initiatives of Vista Bank Burkina in Burkina Faso. This substantial investment is strategically aimed at fortifying financial ... full story
Oikocredit and Aqua for All partnerships to boost community water and sanitation provision in East Africa
16 November 2023 Joint support for inclusive finance institutions will accelerate low-income Kenyans’ and Ugandans’ access to safe water and sanitation services. full storyOikocredit, Goodwell Investments and Global Partnerships invest in Good Nature Agro to support southern African smallholder farmers
08 November 2023 Investors commit a combined total of US$ 8.5 million to expand Good Nature Agro’s social impact. full storyOikocredit invests US$ 2 million in RDG Collective to support solar energy growth in Africa
06 November 2023 RDG Collective will use the loan to provide electricity and mobile connections to thousands more households in Zambia. full storyOikocredit and Solidaridad sign new partnership to strengthen community development
31 October 2023 Collaboration aims to amplify partners’ impact by working together for a more equitable and sustainable world. full storyCresol cooperative’s loan helps Brazilian smallholders Silvio and Ivete replant their coffee farm
23 October 2023 One of Oikocredit’s latest partners in Brazil is Cresol União dos Vales (‘Union of Valleys’), a credit cooperative based in the Ivaí River valley region of Paraná state, close to Brazil’s ... full storyOikocredit seals partnership with Fortune Credit as European Microfinance Award selects Kenyan MFI as finalist
05 October 2023 First Oikocredit loan to Fortune Credit coincides with European Microfinance Award’s shortlisting of Kenyan microfinance institution for 2023 prize. full storyUSD 26.5 million to bridge energy gaps in sub-Saharan Africa
03 October 2023 Oikocredit will invest USD 26.5 million towards renewable energy infrastructure in sub-Saharan African communities over the next four years. The funds will go towards energy generating assets and productive use equipment. full storyHow impact investing empowers women: Interview with Oikocredit’s Adama Bah
27 September 2023 As we publish Oikocredit’s 2023 Impact Report, Adama Bah, Social Performance Analyst at Oikocredit, shares her insights on women’s leadership and gender diversity in impact investing. full storyOikocredit Impact Report 2023 indicates we are making a difference at scale
20 September 2023 Most comprehensive impact statement to date reports on UN Sustainable Development Goals, capacity building, carbon footprint and more. full storyFinancial inclusion: How does Oikocredit select its partners?
14 September 2023 Globally, 1.4 billion adults lack access to basic financial services, with the majority being women. Financial inclusion aims to create opportunities for this group of unbanked individuals. full storyIntroducing an update to Oikocredit’s Participation Terms
01 September 2023 Oikocredit is updating the terms and conditions that govern investments to reflect the cooperative's new capital-raising model. The update will come into effect on 1 October 2023. full storySupporting Peruvian MSEs through digital lending
24 August 2023 Oikocredit joins US$ 5 million Pre-Series A round into Peruvian financial technology company (fintech) Prestamype to support micro and small businesses in Peru. full storyQ2 2023 quarterly report: Results holding up in a challenging context
23 August 2023 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the second quarter of 2023. full storyFinancial inclusion – what is a fair interest rate?
17 August 2023 When it comes to microlending to vulnerable communities, the question of interest rates often arises. Are the rates that borrowers pay to the lenders fair? full storyOikocredit, IDB Invest and Cooperativa Jardín Azuayo announce groundbreaking diversity and inclusion social bond
01 August 2023 Combined US$ 20 million investment will increase the Ecuadorian savings and credit cooperative’s services for women and low-income entrepreneurs. full storyOikocredit invests in Witti Finances to support financial inclusion in Côte d’Ivoire
31 July 2023 Oikocredit’s € 3 million loan will enable the Ivorian microfinance institution to expand and enhance its financial services. full storyNew Oikocredit loan helps light up about 40,000 homes in Côte d'Ivoire
27 July 2023 Social enterprise Baobab+ Côte d’Ivoire will expand access to renewable energy and digital products in Africa, with € 1.2 million in new funding from Oikocredit full storyNew partnership improves finance for water and sanitation in Cambodia
18 July 2023 Oikocredit and Aqua for All are partnering to support Chamroeun Microfinance to develop a loan portfolio for private water operators in Cambodia. This blended finance agreement will help increase the much-needed flow of private capital and accelerate access to water and sanitation in Cambodia’s low-income communities. full storyOikocredit Live: Combatting Climate Change with Sustainable Solutions for Low-Income Communities
10 July 2023 The second edition of the Oikocredit Live event series, held on 13 June 2023, turned the spotlight on the pressing issue of climate change and its profound impact on low-income communities. The event featured two Oikocredit partners: Norandino, a cooperative based in Peru that supports sustainable agriculture, and BURN, a Kenya-based organisation that designs, manufactures, and distributes fuel-efficient cooking products. full storyOikocredit leads US$ 2.5 million extension funding round for Uruguayan fintech partner Bankingly
29 June 2023 This follow-on equity investment reinforces Oikocredit’s commitment to support digital financial services in emerging markets. Social impact investor Oikocredit has invested US$1.5 million in a ... full storyHow impact investing can bridge the MSME funding gap
27 June 2023 Micro, small and medium enterprises are essential to the global economy, but they can’t access financial services easily. Here we look at their importance and at how Oikocredit and other impact investors are stepping in to address the problem. full storyOikocredit and Ueno join forces to promote Paraguayan women’s empowerment
22 June 2023 € 4.5 million Oikocredit loan will support women-led micro, small and medium enterprises in Paraguay full storyOikocredit holds 47th annual general meeting
16 June 2023 On 9 June 2023, Oikocredit convened its annual general meeting (AGM) in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. Members, member representatives and others joined the meeting in person and virtually from various locations via a virtual conferencing platform and employed an electronic voting mechanism. full storyUnaitas: 30 years of impact investing for success
15 June 2023 Longstanding Oikocredit partner Unaitas has helped more than 5,000 small and medium businesses and over 50,000 individuals in agriculture and other sectors since the coronavirus outbreak. As they celebrate 30 years of impact investing, we celebrate their story. full storyEnhancing our mission: Mirjam 't Lam on the new way to invest
12 June 2023 Oikocredit recently introduced a new capital-raising model in most of the countries where it attracts investments. The new model allows any eligible individual or organisation to invest directly in the cooperative. Oikocredit's Managing Director, Mirjam 't Lam, shares her insight on how the cooperative's new capital-raising model came to be. full storyCultivating Prosperity: Kyazanga Farmers' Cooperative Society Leverages IFIL Loan for Substantial Growth
07 June 2023 In the heart of Uganda, a thriving agricultural cooperative not only cultivates maize, beans, and coffee but also reaps a bountiful harvest of success. full storyQ1 2023 quarterly report: A positive start to the year
31 May 2023 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the first quarter of 2023. full storyOikocredit Live: Combatting Climate Change.
25 May 2023 An online event with Norandino and BURN on 13 June 2023Climate change is having a profound impact on agriculture. Smallholder coffee and cocoa farmers face challenges such as droughts, floods, and diseases affecting their crops. What can farmers do to adapt to these changes? And can our partner organisations in the renewable energy sector help mitigate the effects of climate change? full story
Adama Bah: When women lead, business performance improves
23 May 2023 Oikocredit’s work in promoting gender diversity and women’s leadership is in the spotlight. FinDev Gateway, a knowledge platform for the global financial inclusion community, interviewed our Social Performance Analyst Adama Bah recently. full storyOikocredit updates NAV calculation
22 May 2023 New NAV metric ensures all investor participations are treated equally, regardless of currency. full story
Cafédirect CEO: How Fairtrade creates a better life for farmers and a better cup of coffee for you
12 May 2023 From bananas and flowers, coffee and wine, to textile and composites, you see the Fairtrade label on a wide range of products today. Buying Fairtrade directly improves farmer’s lives around the world even as volatile prices and climate change threatens their livelihoods, John Steel, CEO of the alternative trading coffee company Cafédirect, told us ahead of World Fairtrade Day this week. full storyOikocredit invites members to AGM on June 9 in Amersfoort
09 May 2023 Hybrid Annual General Meeting format for 2023 will support equal participation opportunities for all members. full storyAward-winning Fonkoze brings healthcare and hope to low-income Haitian communities
04 May 2023 Oikocredit’s award-winning Haitian microfinance partner Fonkoze is using its European Microfinance Award prize money to step up its community healthcare services in some of the most isolated parts of rural Haiti. full storyOikocredit Live: how do digital surveys measure social impact?
26 April 2023 In our first Oikocredit Live event, participants learned what Oikocredit and its partner organisations do to improve the effectiveness of social impact in the sector of microfinance. The Executive Director of Finca Perú, Iris Lanao, also shared insights into the work of the microfinance institution. full storyResults for 2022: Oikocredit confident about staying at the forefront of impact investing
12 April 2023 Oikocredit has today published its Annual Report and financial statements for 2022, reporting on solid financial and social results and other achievements during the year. full storyQ4 2022 quarterly report: Continuing progress
11 April 2023 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the fourth quarter of 2022. full storyFusion Microfinance: Giving wings to clients’ dreams
06 April 2023 On 15 November 2022, Fusion Microfinance Ltd, a longtime Oikocredit partner, completed an initial public offering (IPO) listing in India. full storyFrom Outreach to Impact: Oikocredit drives forward positive social impact with Client Self-Perception Survey
04 April 2023 Strengthening the end client's voice is a crucial aspect of Oikocredit’s efforts to push the frontiers of social impact. full storyKenya: ideal conditions for solar installations
23 March 2023 In early 2022, Oikocredit invested € 5 million in renewable energy company ecoligo, which operates in emerging markets worldwide from its headquarters in Berlin. Oikocredit recently spoke with Claudia Rothe, ecoligo’s Head of Fundraising, about the solar specialists’ work, especially in Kenya. [1] full storyOikocredit Live: Learning from the Voices of Finca Perú and its Beneficiaries An online event with Finca Perú on 28 March 2023
21 March 2023 Are you curious about Oikocredit’s digital end-client survey? Want to learn more about the microfinance institution Finca Perú and its focus on empowering women? full storyHow low-income women are creating change in Honduras
15 March 2023 About 57% of Prisma Honduras’ women clients say their business is the main source of household income. General Manager Lourdes Valeriano explains how the MFI is promoting gender equality in Central America. full storyOikocredit launches a new capital-raising model
01 March 2023 OIKOCREDIT, Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society U.A. (Oikocredit) has launched its new capital-raising model, which is going to allow any eligible organisations and individuals to invest directly in the cooperative. full storyOikocredit confirms implementation of new capital-raising model
15 February 2023 OIKOCREDIT, Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society U.A. (Oikocredit) will begin implementing its new capital-raising model on 1 March 2023, which is going to allow any eligible organisations and individuals to invest directly in the cooperative. full storyAn Indonesian food entrepreneur’s journey: Sanah’s story
09 February 2023 Indonesia has a vibrant network of women entrepreneurs, but lack of access to working capital can prevent growth and scaling-up. As Valentine’s Day approaches, we celebrate one entrepreneur who has turned Indonesia’s love for krupuk into a thriving business. full storyOikocredit and Triodos IM provide € 10 million Tier II capital to Bridge Bank Group Côte d’Ivoire
06 February 2023 The Ivorian bank, an affiliate of Bridge Group West Africa, finances local small and medium enterprises and supports job creation in the region full storyMyCredit and Oikocredit US$ 2.6 million partnership to fund SMEs in Kenya
02 February 2023 This loan facility from Oikocredit will support Kenyan financial company MyCredit to offer affordable, medium-term financing to local SMEs full storyOikocredit invests US$ 5 million in Yellow to support solar energy in Africa
31 January 2023 Yellow will use Oikocredit loan to provide electricity and mobile connections to more households in Africa full storyCreating more positive change! Interview with Dave Smit
25 January 2023 In October 2022 Dave Smit joined Oikocredit as Director of Impact Investments. Here he reflects on his first 100 days and the fact that low-income people in developing countries are hit hard by global headwinds. full storyOikocredit Equity partner Avanti wins prestigious Indian award
24 January 2023 Oikocredit’s equity partner Avanti Finance has received the coveted Fintech Innovation for Financial Inclusion Award as part of the Inclusive Finance India Awards. full storyProjects in Action with Banco da Familia
10 January 2023 Oikocredit works with partners across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to support low-income communities, create social impact and build resilient and sustainable businesses. We ... full storyBeing mindful about adding value and realising impact is essential for Oikocredit’s success
03 January 2023 Oikocredit’s Managing Director, Mirjam ‘t Lam, shares her thoughts as the New Year begins. full storyCreating a sustainable future [video]
21 December 2022 This new video featuring our partner Ecozen is sure to encourage you this holiday season. See how their work in renewable energy and agriculture impacts local farmers in India. full storyOikocredit sold equity investment in Indian microfinance institution Fusion
19 December 2022 Oikocredit’s investment has supported Fusion’s successful growth into a microfinance provider to more than 2.9 million mainly rural low-income women. full storyOikocredit supports smallholder cocoa farmers in Côte Ivoire
14 December 2022 Cocoa from the cacao tree is the main ingredient in the world’s chocolate. Cocoa is also crucial to Côte Ivoire’s economy. As the main agricultural crop and export commodity, cocoa sustains about ... full storyOikocredit and I&P take equity stakes in agro-processor Agroserv in Burkina Faso
07 December 2022 The social-impact company will develop a new processing plant, diversify products, and serve more smallholder farmers and households full storyMicrofinance addresses the gap: interview with Brij Mohan
05 December 2022 Brij Mohan is the former Executive Director of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and the founding Chair of ACCESS Development Services. full storyOikocredit looks forward to 2023 with a new capital-raising model
02 December 2022 Oikocredit is planning to introduce its new capital-raising model on 1 March 2023, to allow any eligible organisations and individuals to invest directly in the cooperative. full storyOikocredit invests US$7 million in Solarise Africa to support affordable solar access for businesses in Africa
01 December 2022 The investment will support Solarise Africa’s solar and energy efficiency solutions for small and medium enterprises and other commercial and industrial (C&I) businesses. full storyPrioritising impact and maintaining balance: interview with Gwen van Berne
28 November 2022 Gwen van Berne joined Oikocredit as Director of Finance & Risk in May 2022. In this interview, she shares a bit about herself, her new role and the cooperative’s latest quarterly financial report. full storyOikocredit invests in Ivorian fintech Djamo to support its growth and expansion in francophone West Africa
23 November 2022 Oikocredit and other investors will assist the fast-growing fintech in offering affordable financial services to many more financially excluded people. full storyQ3 2022 quarterly report: Moving in the right direction
21 November 2022 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the third quarter of 2022. full storyMobilising investments in water and sanitation | Interview with Josien Sluijs
14 November 2022 Oikocredit has signed a two-year partnership with Aqua for All to mobilise investments in water and sanitation – an area that Oikocredit is exploring as part of its 2022-2026 strategy. We recently sat down with Aqua for All’s Managing Director, Josien Sluijs, to talk about the partnership with the foundation and to understand more about the sector. full storyOikocredit invests US$ 1,000,000 in Standard Life Organisation to support low-income entrepreneurs in Nigeria
10 November 2022 Three-year term loan will support Nigerian NGO and microfinance institution’s work with low-income women, men and children full storyAqua for All interviews Oikocredit’s Managing Director on new partnership
01 November 2022 Oikocredit and Aqua for All joined forces to help increase access to water and sanitation in Asia and Africa. In this interview, Aqua for All sits down with Mirjam 't Lam, Oikocredit's Managing Director, to discuss the new partnership and how it can help impact low-income communities. full storyOikocredit General Meeting votes for new capital-raising model
31 October 2022 Oikocredit is planning to change its capital-raising model to create a simpler and more direct way for people and organisations to invest in the international cooperative. full storyA better world for women entrepreneurs in Côte d’Ivoire: Marina’s story
12 October 2022 In Côte d’Ivoire, women suffer extremely high levels of discrimination. Whether it’s access to education, healthcare, jobs or financial inclusion, they are constantly faced with inequality issues.... full storyDave Smit appointed as Director of Impact Investments at Oikocredit
10 October 2022 Social impact investor Oikocredit has appointed Dave Smit as its Director of Impact Investments, effective 10 October 2022. full storyFarmerline Group reaches Pre-Series A second close with US$ 1.5 million from Oikocredit in funding round worth US$ 14.4 million
26 September 2022 Oikocredit is delighted to announce an investment of US$ 1.5 million in Farmerline Group, an organisation partnering with agribusinesses and farm associations to support African farmers with ... full story
Oikocredit to hold Extraordinary General Meeting on 14 October 2022
19 September 2022 Oikocredit’s Managing Board and Supervisory Board have announced an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to be held with its cooperative members on Friday, 14 October 2022. There will also be a ... full storyDave Smit appointed as Director of Impact Investments at Oikocredit
13 September 2022 Social impact investor Oikocredit has appointed Dave Smit as its Director of Impact Investments, effective 10 October 2022. full storyCaroline Mulwa appointed as Regional Director for Africa
29 August 2022 Experienced impact investment professional Caroline Mulwa promoted to Regional Director Africa from 16 August 2022. full storyQ2 2022 quarterly report: Mixed outcomes as economic uncertainty persists
23 August 2022 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the second quarter of 2022. full storyChanging our world view | Why Oikocredit is switching to the Gall-Peters projection map
19 August 2022 In this blog, Nina Alff, from Oikocredit Support Association Baden-Württemberg, explains why Oikocredit has decided to switch to the Gall-Peters projection of the world map. full storyReflecting on 2022: 3 Articles to re-read this Summer
10 August 2022 Oikocredit has stayed busy this year. As we continue developing and implementing our 2022 – 2026 strategy under the direction of our recently formed Executive Committee, let us reflect on the progress we made so far. full storyOikocredit invests € 2.7 million in Africa Negoce Industries to support Benin cashew value chain
25 July 2022 The loan to the cashew processing company will sustain up to 500 jobs and support the work of 2500 cashew producers in Benin full storyOikocredit and ElectriFI support off-grid power for low-income Kenyans with Solar Panda
06 July 2022 The new partnership will help sustain in-country growth of clean, safe and affordable domestic electricity. full storyOikocredit strengthens leadership with new Executive Committee
01 July 2022 The new committee comprises existing Managing Board members and newly appointed directors and will oversee implementation of the cooperative’s 2022-2026 strategy full storyOikocredit supports new coffee platform for impact lenders
29 June 2022 Oikocredit is among the first impact lenders active on Beyco, a coffee trading platform based on blockchain technology launched by non-profit organisation Progreso Foundation in 2018. full storyOikocredit teams up with DFC, Norfund and responsAbility on a financing vehicle investment to ‘impact millions'
17 June 2022 The new financing vehicle is the largest off-balance-sheet financing facility of its kind in the industry and will pave the way for d.light to sustainably expand its PayGo operations across Africa. full storyOikocredit holds 46th annual general meeting
15 June 2022 On 09 June 2022, Oikocredit held its annual general meeting (AGM) in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, with members and others joining and participating through a web-based conferencing and electronic voting system. full storyNew Aqua for All and Oikocredit partnership to invest in community water and sanitation
14 June 2022 Collaboration will develop innovative and affordable financing solutions for water, sanitation and hygiene in Africa and Asia. full storyCultivating cotton for communities
02 June 2022 The cultivation of cotton by West African communities has brought better infrastructure¹, more job opportunities and is an essential export of the region. But the crop’s greatest contribution is ... full storyQ1 2022 quarterly report: International events influence results
30 May 2022 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the first quarter of 2022. full storyOikocredit invites members to Annual General Meeting in June
16 May 2022 Every year in June, Oikocredit holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM). This year it will be held as a hybrid meeting in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, on 9 June 2022. full storyCelebrating 15 years with Oikocredit: interview with Caroline Mulwa
11 May 2022 Caroline Mulwa, Oikocredit’s Investments Manager East Africa, celebrates 15 years with our cooperative this year. We took the opportunity to ask Caroline about her experience of working with us for the last decade and a half, the changes she has seen and the relevance and impact of our work. full storyOikocredit supports digital financial services in Latin America
09 May 2022 Oikocredit has acquired a minority stake in Bankingly as part of a funding round for USD 10 million full storyReflecting and pushing forward for impact: blog by Mirjam 't Lam
02 May 2022 As our cooperative recently published its annual results for 2021 our Managing Director Mirjam ‘t Lam shares her thoughts about some of the key highlights and challenges of the year and provides insight into the new strategy for 2022-2026. full storyFinancial results for 2021: achievement and recovery
21 April 2022 Oikocredit has today announced its financial results for 2021 and reports on a successful year of rebuilding and rebalancing after the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic. full storyQ4 2021 quarterly report: Achievement and recovery
21 April 2022 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the fourth quarter of 2021. full storyGwen van Berne appointed as Director of Finance & Risk
19 April 2022 Gwen van Berne has been appointed as Director of Finance & Risk from 9 May 2022. full storyImpacting investing in West Africa [interview]
14 April 2022 Oikocredit’s support associations in the United States and Canada recently met (virtually) with Yves Komaclo, Oikocredit’s Investment Manager for West Africa, to get his perspective on our work in West Africa. This article is based on the conversation that took place. full storyLatest investment to power West African communities with solar energy
12 April 2022 Oikocredit invests € 1.4 million in Weziza Benin to support the growth of distributed energy in West Africa. full storyA cooperative caring for local communities: Simone and Jonas' story
28 March 2022 Oikocredit’s team in Brazil is passionate about investing in cooperatives that have strong ties to local communities. To help explain why, we’re introducing you to Cresol Tenente Portela and some of their clients. full storyCool concepts for rural energy [interview]
14 March 2022 Solar cold storage is just one of the products that Oikocredit's new Indian partner, Ecozen Solutions, uses to improve agriculture. The world’s seventh largest country needs innovative solutions to meet its rapidly growing energy demand. Kiran Kodi, Renewable Energy Manager at Maanaveeya, Oikocredit's Indian subsidiary, and Vivek Pandey, co-founder of Ecozen, explain that the aim of their partnership is to ensure that farmers and entire value chains also benefit from innovative renewable energy solutions. full storyEmpowering low-income women is at the heart of Oikocredit’s mission [interview]
08 March 2022 To mark International Women’s Day 2022, we asked Marilou Pantua-Juanito, Oikocredit’s Capacity Building & Social Performance Coordinator in Southeast Asia, about working with Oikocredit for women’s empowerment. full storyJourney of the heart: the impact of seedlings for years to come
03 March 2022 In part two of this blog, Elikanah Ng'ang'a, Oikocredit’s Social Performance and Capacity Building Officer for Eastern Africa, reflects on the transformation of Rwanda and the Rwanda Tea Seedlings Project. full storyJourney of the heart: visiting the Rwanda Tea Seedlings Project
28 February 2022 In this blog, Oikocredit’s Social Performance and Capacity Building Officer for Eastern Africa, Elikanah Ng'ang'a, takes us on a journey from his home in Kenya to Rwanda and reports on Oikocredit’s Rwanda Tea Seedlings Project. full storyProud to have worked for Oikocredit [interview]
08 February 2022 After over six years at Oikocredit, Bart van Eyk, Director of Investments, is leaving to explore new ventures in the world of impact investing and social enterprises. In this interview he shares about his highlights, challenges, learnings and more. full storyOikocredit and Opportunity International collaboration will support affordable quality education for under-served families [interview]
31 January 2022 Oikocredit has been working with stakeholders to develop a new multi-year strategy for launch later in 2022 with an innovative approach to meeting low-income communities’ needs in education, housing, health and public infrastructure. In November 2021 we launched a new education partnership with Opportunity International in Nairobi, Kenya, attended by more than 30 financial institutions. We recently interviewed Hans Perk, Oikocredit’s Regional Director Africa, about the new venture. full story€ 5 million loan to power African SMEs with solar energy
25 January 2022 Oikocredit has provided Ecoligo with a € 5 million loan to grow the use of solar energy used to power small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana and Kenya full storyDigital surveying shows social changes from perspective of Oikocredit partners’ clients
12 January 2022 Oikocredit and five financial services partner organisations have undertaken a systematic, digital survey of the partners’ clients to assess significant changes in their lives over the past twelve months. full storyBecoming Oikocredit’s new Managing Director: interview with Mirjam ‘t Lam
10 January 2022 Mirjam ‘t Lam took up her new post as Managing Director of Oikocredit on 1 December. She had served as Interim Managing Director for several months after joining the cooperative in November 2020 as Director of Finance & Risk. We interviewed Mirjam about her professional background, her personal motivation, and her thoughts about Oikocredit, 2021 and the coming year. full storyNew Year’s Message: Looking back and moving forward
04 January 2022 Oikocredit’s new Managing Director, Mirjam ‘t Lam, reflects on her first year at Oikocredit and shares about what we can look forward to in 2022 and beyond. full storyThe season of joy and Mercy’s story
17 December 2021 It doesn’t matter where you are in the world or what you are celebrating this holiday season, striving to make a positive impact in the lives of low-income people is something that everyone can take part in. full storyOikocredit joins FIRST+ programme to help generate work opportunities for 60,000 Ghanaians
15 December 2021 Oikocredit is teaming up with CapitalPlus Exchange (CapPlus) and the Mastercard Foundation on their Financial Institution Resilience and Strengthening (FIRST+) programme to strengthen financial institutions and create work opportunities in Ghana. full storyOikocredit held General Meeting to discuss strategy and capital-raising model
07 December 2021 On 2 December Oikocredit held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, with members and others participating through a web-based conferencing and electronic voting system. full storyOikocredit invests € 2 million to support growth of solar energy in Africa
07 December 2021 Our investment in solar electricity innovators Spark will enable last-mile distributors to bring affordable, sustainable off-grid solutions to hundreds of thousands of low-income households full storyIntroducing Oikocredit’s new community-focused approach: learning from partners
06 December 2021 Oikocredit has been working with its stakeholders for some time to develop a new purpose-driven multi-year strategy for launch in 2022. full storyCall for Supervisory Board applications
01 December 2021 Oikocredit intends to appoint new members to its Supervisory Board during its annual general meeting in June 2022. full storyIDH Farmfit Fund and Oikocredit co-investment in Aldea Global to support Nicaraguan coffee smallholders
30 November 2021 IDH Farmfit Fund and Oikocredit are providing a syndicated US$ 3.2 million loan to Asociación Aldea Global Jinotega, a Nicaraguan small farmers’ association that produces and exports speciality ... full storySymbiotics and Oikocredit invest in ETG to support West Africa cocoa and cashew value chains
17 November 2021 The loan will help create an additional 200 jobs and support the work of 70,000 smallholder farmers in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria full storyQ3 2021 quarterly report: Cautious optimism
16 November 2021 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the third quarter of 2021. full storyMirjam ‘t Lam appointed Oikocredit’s Managing Director
16 November 2021 Mirjam ‘t Lam has been appointed Managing Director of Oikocredit, effective 1 December 2021. full storyOikocredit partners Crecer and Fonkoze shortlisted for European Microfinance Award 2021 for Inclusive Finance and Healthcare
15 November 2021 Two Oikocredit partners, Crecer IFD in Bolivia and Fonkoze in Haiti, are among the shortlisted finalists for the European Microfinance Award 2021 for Inclusive Finance & Healthcare. full story
Oikocredit holds general meeting in December
05 November 2021 Oikocredit’s Managing Board and Supervisory Board are pleased to announce to the cooperative's members the convention of an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to be held on 2 December 2021. full storyCapacity building for agriculture [interview]
04 November 2021 Barbara Rademaker started at Oikocredit in January 2021 as the cooperative’s Global Agriculture Specialist. In this interview we find out about Barbara’s past experience, present work and future ambitions at Oikocredit. full storyOikocredit expands its financial inclusion portfolio with the latest investment in Senegal
03 November 2021 Union des Caisses de Credit Mutuel du Sénégal will use the loan to develop its lending portfolio, focusing on rural and agricultural income-generating activities full storyOikocredit and Opportunity International announce impact investment of USD 100 million to advance education in low-income countries
01 November 2021 The collaboration is expected to reach up to 1.6 million children by increasing access to capital for schools and families with students in Africa, India and Latin America full storyOikocredit investment in Valency Agro Nigeria Ltd will create jobs and improve farmers’ livelihoods
27 October 2021 The loan to the cashew processing company will generate more employment and improve the livelihoods of both rural women and smallholder farmers in Nigeria. full storyStories from Brazil [part 2]: Crediluz
21 October 2021 Currently, Oikocredit has 22 partner organisations in Brazil. To give you a glimpse of the type of organisations we support in the region, we’re introducing you to Crediluz and some of their clients. This is the second part of a three-part series featuring our partners in Brazil. full storyStories from Brazil [part 1]: Sulcredi
21 October 2021 Currently, Oikocredit has 22 partner organisations in Brazil. To give you a glimpse of the type of organisations we support in the region, we’re introducing you to Sulcredi and some of their clients. This is the first part of a three-part series on our Brazilian partners. full storyOikocredit invests in Fundación Génesis Empresarial, Guatemala's leading microfinance institution
20 October 2021 Stable and successful Central American microfinance institution helps low-income rural clients and their families improve lives with microfinance services and training. full storyGladys’ story: financing for families and flavour
13 October 2021 Oikocredit invests in organisations that support women like Gladys Arcos, an entrepreneur leading a family business in Ecuador. Here we see how access to finance matched with her entrepreneurial drive, helped provide for her family in difficult times and created opportunities for a better future. full storyOikocredit signs new loan guarantee agreement with AGF
08 October 2021 African Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (AGF) is enhancing its loan guarantee to Oikocredit by US$ 25 million, bringing its total 10-year loan guarantee to US$ 43 million. full storyCelebrate International Coffee Day with a cup of sustainable coffee!
01 October 2021 International Coffee Day takes place every 1 October. It’s a day to appreciate the hard work of coffee growers around the world and to renew efforts to ensure that they earn a fair income for their efforts. There can be no better day to drink a cup of sustainable and fair trade coffee with friends and family! full storyOikocredit joins DFC and USAID in USD $55 million Covid-19 relief loan financing programme for sustainable agriculture development in India
24 September 2021 The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are jointly sponsoring a $55 million credit guarantee with Maanaveeya, our subsidiary in India, and other lenders to support the Indian agriculture sector hit by Covid-19. full storyChange to Oikocredit’s Managing Board
23 September 2021 Bart van Eyk, Director of Investments, will be leaving Oikocredit at the end of February 2022 to explore new ventures in the world of impact investing and social enterprises. full storySupporting partners’ innovative responses to Covid-19
22 September 2021 Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Oikocredit has helped partners and their clients and members stay safe, be informed and cope with the crisis. Building on from our coronavirus solidarity fund, our Innovation in Response to Covid-19 programme supports partners in developing adaptive solutions with the people they serve. full storyOikocredit is partnering with Sidian Bank to support SMEs in Kenya
22 September 2021 Sidian Bank, a mid-tier bank focusing on SMEs in Kenya has secured a deal with the Netherlands based social impact investor, Oikocredit, to support lending to the SME sector in Kenya. full storyMaking a difference: our Impact Report 2021
20 September 2021 We interviewed Elikanah Ng'ang'a, Oikocredit’s Social Performance and Capacity Building Officer for Africa, to get behind the numbers in our latest Impact Report 2021. He provides us with insights into the many aspects of his work supporting our partners and the difference Oikocredit is making. full storyImpact Report 2021 is live!
15 September 2021 Oikocredit just published its Impact Report 2021. In this report you can learn all about Oikocredit’s social impact: how we measure it, what this looks like in our focus sectors and regions, our capacity building support and more. full storyCarlos and Esteban’s story: Securing a better future
03 September 2021 How can access to finance help dreams become a reality? We follow the story of Carlos Cajas and his son, Esteban, who established a family business that transformed their lives and positively impacted their community. full storyQ2 2021 quarterly report: Performing acceptably in an unpredictable environment
23 August 2021 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the second quarter of 2021. full storyOvercoming Covid-19 challenges in India [interview part 2]
20 August 2021 India, the second most populous country in the world, has been hit incredibly hard by Covid-19. In the second part of this interview with Gouri Sankar, the Managing Director of Oikocredit’s subsidiary in India (Maanaveeya), we learn about: how Maanaveeya has been supporting its partners and how our partners have been serving their clients. We also learn about Maanaveeya’s outlook for the near future. full storyOvercoming Covid-19 challenges in India [interview part 1]
19 August 2021 India, the second most populous country in the world, has been hit incredibly hard by Covid-19. What is the situation like now? Has Oikocredit’s subsidiary in India (Maanaveeya) been able to cope? What about our staff and our partners and their clients? Gouri Sankar, Managing Director of Maanaveeya, answers these questions and more. full storyOikocredit appoints new Regional Equity Manager for Asia
19 August 2021 Oikocredit has appointed Anirudh Sarda as Equity Manager for investments in Asia. full storyOikocredit’s work and plans in Brazil
12 August 2021 Oikocredit’s office in Brazil is one of several country offices the global cooperative has in Latin America and the Caribbean. We recently interviewed our Brazil Country Manager, Nicolas Viedma, to talk about some of the most pressing issues and plans for Oikocredit in the country. full storyOikocredit invests € 1.6 million in Comafruits to support Mali mango value chain
03 August 2021 The loan to the mango processing company will sustain up to 500 jobs and support the work of 3,000 mango farmers in Southern Mali full storyPowerGen partners with Oikocredit and others to connect 55,000 people to electricity in rural Nigeria
22 July 2021 The electricity will be provided by 28 distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems, designed as solar PV and battery-powered mini-grids. full storyOikocredit makes interim changes to its Managing Board
20 July 2021 Oikocredit will make two interim changes to its Managing Board while the cooperative continues its search for a new Managing Director. full storyOikocredit’s new investment in Unaitas will support farmer cooperatives in Kenya
15 July 2021 Oikocredit is providing a new loan to Unaitas, the fastest growing savings cooperative in Kenya with over 378,000 members. full storyOikocredit appoints new Regional Equity Managers
08 July 2021 Oikocredit has appointed two new Equity Managers, Valeria Gelsi and Sébastien Rigaud, with responsibility respectively for Latin America and Africa full storyA better life in the cooperative
02 July 2021 On the International Day of Cooperatives (#CoopsDay), 3 July, international cooperative and social impact investor Oikocredit is celebrating the principles of solidarity, cooperation and community – and its work with cooperatives worldwide. full storyOikocredit is ready for the future [interview]
28 June 2021 With Oikocredit’s Managing Director, Thos Gieskes, leaving later this year, we wanted to sit down with him to discuss his time at Oikocredit. We also recently held our Annual General Meeting, making this a good time to reflect on what Oikocredit was like when Thos first started, where the cooperative is today, where it’s headed and how the current and new strategy are connected to it all. full storyOikocredit invests in Fin’Elle to support women entrepreneurs in Côte d'Ivoire
24 June 2021 Oikocredit’s loan to Fin’Elle will help provide microfinance and mesofinance loans to 10,000 households in Côte d'Ivoire. full storyLooking for our new Managing Director
23 June 2021 Oikocredit is looking for an inspirational and visionary Managing Director to lead our impact into the future. full storySpecialty coffee making an impact
16 June 2021 Oikocredit partner Caravela Coffee is driven by two things: promoting delicious specialty coffee and supporting low-income communities in Latin America. The combination of these two elements has resulted in the support of 4,000 smallholder coffee farmers and a tastier market. full storyOikocredit holds 45th annual general meeting
14 June 2021 Last week Oikocredit held its 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, with members and others participating through a web-based conferencing and electronic voting system. full storyOikocredit invests in Grace and Mercy to expand lending to women in rural communities across Nigeria
10 June 2021 This is Oikocredit’s first loan to Grace and Mercy Households Improvement Initiative, a Nigerian microfinance institution (MFI) supporting marginalised and economically disadvantaged people. full storyOikocredit invests in FCMB Limited to support low-income communities in Nigeria
03 June 2021 This is Oikocredit’s first investment in First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited – a bank that focuses on poverty alleviation, empowerment and environmental sustainability in Nigeria. full storyBuilding resiliency among partners [blog]
31 May 2021 Many of our partner organisations in Southeast Asia have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, but they are learning how to become more resilient. This blog by Tes Pilapil, Oikocredit’s Regional Director of Southeast Asia, shares about how our partners are practicing solidarity and strengthening their organisations via Oikocredit’s digital webinars. full storyOikocredit invests in cashew cooperative, supporting nearly 5,000 farmers in Côte d'Ivoire
27 May 2021 Cashew cooperative Cavica received its first international loan of EUR1.5 million from Oikocredit. The loan will support the work of 4,900 farmers in the northern rural areas of Côte d'Ivoire. full storyQ1 2021 quarterly report: Steady recovery
25 May 2021 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the first quarter of 2021. full storyCarmiña’s story: Building a family business
14 May 2021 We meet with Carmiña López who we also highlight in our Annual Report 2020. Carmiña is an entrepreneur with a family business that has grown with funding from Cooprogreso, one of our financial inclusion partners in Ecuador. full storyProtecting smallholder farmers and building resilience [interview part 2]
03 May 2021 To protect food security and combat rural poverty, Oikocredit joined the Smallholder Safety Net Upscaling Programme (SSNUP). In the second part of this interview, Ging Ledesma, Director of Social Performance and Innovation at Oikocredit, shares about how Oikocredit is contributing to SSNUP with weather index insurance and the price risk management programme. full storyProtecting smallholder farmers and building resilience [interview part 1]
03 May 2021 As the agriculture sector and food security are threatened, low-income communities suffer. Ging Ledesma, Director of Social Performance and Innovation at Oikocredit, shares about these issues and how Oikocredit and others are responding with the Smallholder Safety Net Upscaling Programme (SSNUP). full storyResilience, solidarity, loyalty: Oikocredit publishes its Annual Report 2020
15 April 2021 Today Oikocredit published its Annual Report 2020. While effects of Covid-19 had implications for Oikocredit’s income, assets and portfolio, business continuity is secure – thanks to investors’ loyalty. full storyMaanaveeya awarded silver medal for ‘Investing in People’
12 April 2021 Maanaveeya, Oikocredit’s subsidiary in India, recently won SKOCH Group’s Environment and Sustainability silver medal and Order of Merit certificate for its work of ‘Investing in people’ in India. full story
Fintech Avanti Finance raises US$ 26 million in Series A funding round led by Oikocredit and others
08 April 2021 Social impact investor Oikocredit’s investment in Avanti Finance will help accelerate credit and other financial products to 100 million unserved and underserved households in India. full storyManaging Board Change at Oikocredit
08 April 2021 Petra Lens, Director of People & Change, has decided to leave Oikocredit for personal reasons to pursue a career change. She will continue in her position until 1 September. full storyInterview: Swift action safeguarded results
06 April 2021 Oikocredit is getting ready to publish its Annual Report 2020, so we sat down with Mirjam ‘t Lam, Director of Finance & Risk at Oikocredit. In the interview, Mirjam gives us an overview of the cooperative’s financial results and shares about joining Oikocredit in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic. full storyOikocredit invests in Banco Caribe to promote sustainable development of SMEs in Dominican Republic
01 April 2021 Oikocredit’s investment of RD$150 million (USD 2.64 million) in Banco Caribe is the first international private subordinate loan that the Dominican Republic-based bank has obtained. full storyFinancial results for 2020 reflect resilience and solidarity
30 March 2021 Today Oikocredit announced its 2020 financial results. While effects of Covid-19 had implications for Oikocredit’s income, assets and portfolio, business continuity is secure – thanks to investors’ loyalty. full storyQ4 2020 quarterly report: Proving our resilience
30 March 2021 Four times a year Oikocredit publishes key facts and figures on the previous quarter. Here we provide our investors and others with additional background context on developments during the fourth quarter of 2020. full story‘I’m not frightened anymore’: supporting women’s empowerment
16 March 2021 In honour of International Women’s Day, we had Christina (Nina) Alff, from Oikocredit Support Association Baden-Württemberg, share her thoughts on “women’s empowerment” in this blog. Nina spends a lot of her time and expertise raising awareness on gender equality and shares about how this topic relates to Oikocredit’s work. full storyChange to Oikocredit’s Managing Board
15 March 2021 Thos Gieskes, Managing Director, will be leaving Oikocredit, having announced that he will explore new opportunities. Thos will continue to work for the cooperative until 1 October. full storyThe eyes of Oikocredit
10 March 2021 They have visited 184 partner organisations and met 800 people worldwide for Oikocredit International, more than any Oikocredit staff member. Dutch photographer couple, Pauline and Wim Opmeer, are the eyes of Oikocredit. full storyOikocredit’s women that empower women
08 March 2021 Today is International Women's Day! Gender equality is an important aspect of Oikocredit’s vision of a global, just society where all people are empowered with the choices they need to create a life of dignity. full storyDreaming of coffee trees
22 February 2021 The harvest promises to be good for coffee farmers who are members of the Chajul cooperative in Guatemala. Asociación Chajulense Va’l Vaq Quyol (Chajul) has organic and Fairtrade certifications and is always there when members need support. Chajul is one of Oikocredit's oldest partner organisations, and a good example of solidarity and sustainability. full storyWake up and smell the coffee
04 February 2021 Price volatility ranks alongside climate change as one of the most significant risks faced by smallholder coffee farmers in Latin America. Through an Oikocredit-led capacity building programme, smallholder farmer associations have been able to strengthen their price risk management (PRM) skills. full storyMeet our Côte d'Ivoire SME entrepreneurs
21 January 2021 Oikocredit supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the financing of SME lending partners. Here we invite you to take a closer look at our work, through two of our partners and their Côte d'Ivoire SME loan customers: Jean Koffi and Felix Kanga Yao. full storyCooperative conversations: with Peter Ohligschläger of the Members’ Council
12 January 2021 We recently had a conversation with Peter Ohligschläger from Oikocredit’s West German Support Association, and one of the latest members of our Members’ Council (MC). He talks about what it means to be a members’ council, cooperative values such as hearing the voice of the members, and about his hopes for the MC and Oikocredit. full storyThis testing year has proved Oikocredit’s resilience, our partners’ courage and our investors’ trust
04 January 2021 Oikocredit’s Managing Director, Thos Gieskes, reflects on one of the most challenging years in our cooperative’s history and considers what 2021 may bring. full story€ 7 million to support smallholder cocoa producers in Côte d’Ivoire
17 December 2020 Oikocredit’s recent new loans will help with exporting the 2020-21 cocoa production for up to 35,000 smallholder farmers. full storyFlowers and meal deliveries: how Indians on low incomes use loans to grow
15 December 2020 Vaishadi Rahul Hingmire and Asha Ashok Bhoite are business owners and clients of Indian credit cooperative Annapurna Mahila Coop Credit Society. We look at how the two women have used loans for the benefit of their businesses and the people around them. full story