News & stories

Kenya: ideal conditions for solar installations

Carrying out a routine inspection of the ground-level solar installation at Central University23 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 story

Oikocredit Live: Learning from the Voices of Finca Perú and its Beneficiaries An online event with Finca Perú on 28 March 2023

FINCA-PE-128_©Opmeer Reports.jpg21 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 story

How low-income women are creating change in Honduras

Lourdes Valeriano15 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 story

Oikocredit launches a new capital-raising model

AGM-2019-17.jpg01 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 story

Oikocredit confirms implementation of new capital-raising model

AGM-2019-17.jpg15 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 story

An Indonesian food entrepreneur’s journey: Sanah’s story

MBK-ID-44.jpg09 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 story

Oikocredit and Triodos IM provide € 10 million Tier II capital to Bridge Bank Group Côte d’Ivoire

Bridge Bank Logo.jpg06 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 story

MyCredit and Oikocredit US$ 2.6 million partnership to fund SMEs in Kenya

Logo MyCredit.jpg02 February 2023 This loan facility from Oikocredit will support Kenyan financial company MyCredit to offer affordable, medium-term financing to local SMEs full story

Oikocredit invests US$ 5 million in Yellow to support solar energy in Africa

Yellow_logo.jpg31 January 2023 Yellow will use Oikocredit loan to provide electricity and mobile connections to more households in Africa full story

Creating more positive change! Interview with Dave Smit

Dave Smit.jpg25 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 story

Oikocredit Equity partner Avanti wins prestigious Indian award

Avanti logo.jpg24 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 story

Projects in Action with Banco da Familia

Banco da Familia logo1.jpg10 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 story

Being mindful about adding value and realising impact is essential for Oikocredit’s success

mirjam web.jpg03 January 2023 Oikocredit’s Managing Director, Mirjam ‘t Lam, shares her thoughts as the New Year begins. full story

Creating a sustainable future [video]

Ecozen seasons greetings.jpg21 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 story

Oikocredit sold equity investment in Indian microfinance institution Fusion

Untitled (200 × 200px) (8).png19 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 story

Oikocredit supports smallholder cocoa farmers in Côte Ivoire

FEDCO-GH-036.jpg14 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 story

Oikocredit and I&P take equity stakes in agro-processor Agroserv in Burkina Faso

Logo Agroserv.jpg07 December 2022 The social-impact company will develop a new processing plant, diversify products, and serve more smallholder farmers and households full story

Microfinance addresses the gap: interview with Brij Mohan

Oikocredit_India_31.jpg05 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 story

Oikocredit looks forward to 2023 with a new capital-raising model

AGM-2019-17.jpg02 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 story

Oikocredit invests US$7 million in Solarise Africa to support affordable solar access for businesses in Africa

Solarise l.png01 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 story

Prioritising impact and maintaining balance: interview with Gwen van Berne

Gwen-van-Berne.jpg28 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 story

Oikocredit invests in Ivorian fintech Djamo to support its growth and expansion in francophone West Africa

Djamologo.jpg23 November 2022 Oikocredit and other investors will assist the fast-growing fintech in offering affordable financial services to many more financially excluded people. full story

Q3 2022 quarterly report: Moving in the right direction

CRES-BR- (8) (2).jpg21 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 story

Mobilising investments in water and sanitation | Interview with Josien Sluijs

Josien Sluijs.jpg14 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 story

Oikocredit invests US$ 1,000,000 in Standard Life Organisation to support low-income entrepreneurs in Nigeria

Logo Standard Life.jpg10 November 2022 Three-year term loan will support Nigerian NGO and microfinance institution’s work with low-income women, men and children full story

Aqua for All interviews Oikocredit’s Managing Director on new partnership

aqua for all web asset.png01 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 story

Oikocredit General Meeting votes for new capital-raising model

AGM-2019-17.jpg31 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 story

A better world for women entrepreneurs in Côte d’Ivoire: Marina’s story

FIN-CI-31.jpg12 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 story

Dave Smit appointed as Director of Impact Investments at Oikocredit

Dave Smit webversion.jpg10 October 2022 Social impact investor Oikocredit has appointed Dave Smit as its Director of Impact Investments, effective 10 October 2022. full story

Farmerline Group reaches Pre-Series A second close with US$ 1.5 million from Oikocredit in funding round worth US$ 14.4 million

Farmerline1.jpg26 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

Rebuilding and rebalancing: Oikocredit publishes Impact Report 2022

IR2022 eng cover.jpg21 September 2022 Oikocredit publishes its Impact Report 2022 full story

Oikocredit to hold Extraordinary General Meeting on 14 October 2022

EGM image small19 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 story

Dave Smit appointed as Director of Impact Investments at Oikocredit

Dave Smit webversion.jpg13 September 2022 Social impact investor Oikocredit has appointed Dave Smit as its Director of Impact Investments, effective 10 October 2022. full story

Caroline Mulwa appointed as Regional Director for Africa

Caroline Mulwa.JPG29 August 2022 Experienced impact investment professional Caroline Mulwa promoted to Regional Director Africa from 16 August 2022. full story

Q2 2022 quarterly report: Mixed outcomes as economic uncertainty persists

CRE-BO-24 (1).jpg23 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 story

Changing our world view | Why Oikocredit is switching to the Gall-Peters projection map

map snippet.jpg19 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 story

Reflecting on 2022: 3 Articles to re-read this Summer

3ArticlesToRe-Read.png10 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 story

Oikocredit invests € 2.7 million in Africa Negoce Industries to support Benin cashew value chain

Logo ANI.jpg25 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 story

Oikocredit and ElectriFI support off-grid power for low-income Kenyans with Solar Panda

Logo SP.jpg06 July 2022 The new partnership will help sustain in-country growth of clean, safe and affordable domestic electricity. full story

Oikocredit strengthens leadership with new Executive Committee

Executive Team gallery01 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 story

Oikocredit supports new coffee platform for impact lenders

Beyco.jfif29 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 story

Oikocredit teams up with DFC, Norfund and responsAbility on a financing vehicle investment to ‘impact millions'

d.light logo17 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 story

Oikocredit holds 46th annual general meeting

46th AGM asset.png15 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 story

New Aqua for All and Oikocredit partnership to invest in community water and sanitation

Aqua for All logo PNG.png14 June 2022 Collaboration will develop innovative and affordable financing solutions for water, sanitation and hygiene in Africa and Asia. full story

Cultivating cotton for communities

IVO-CI-13.jpg02 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 story

Q1 2022 quarterly report: International events influence results

Ivoire Coton.jpg30 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 story

Oikocredit invites members to Annual General Meeting in June

AGM45thSocialMediaAsset.PNG16 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 story

Celebrating 15 years with Oikocredit: interview with Caroline Mulwa

Caroline Mulwa1 - SMALLVERSION.jpg11 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 story

Oikocredit supports digital financial services in Latin America

bankingly.png09 May 2022 Oikocredit has acquired a minority stake in Bankingly as part of a funding round for USD 10 million full story

Reflecting and pushing forward for impact: blog by Mirjam 't Lam

Mirjam 't Lam.jpg02 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 story

Financial results for 2021: achievement and recovery

Financial results 202121 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 story

Q4 2021 quarterly report: Achievement and recovery

Untitled design (7).png21 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 story

Gwen van Berne appointed as Director of Finance & Risk

Gwen-van-Berne.jpg19 April 2022 Gwen van Berne has been appointed as Director of Finance & Risk from 9 May 2022. full story

Impacting investing in West Africa [interview]

Yves14 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 story

Latest investment to power West African communities with solar energy

Renewable energy.jpg12 April 2022 Oikocredit invests € 1.4 million in Weziza Benin to support the growth of distributed energy in West Africa. full story

A cooperative caring for local communities: Simone and Jonas' story

Simone and Jonas in their greenhouse28 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 story

Cool concepts for rural energy [interview]

Vivek and Kiran (RE).png14 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 story

Empowering low-income women is at the heart of Oikocredit’s mission [interview]

Marilou Juanito.jpeg08 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 story

Journey of the heart: the impact of seedlings for years to come

Elikanah photo Part 2-2.jpg03 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 story

Journey of the heart: visiting the Rwanda Tea Seedlings Project

Elikanah Ng'ang'a28 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 story

Proud to have worked for Oikocredit [interview]

Bart-van-Eyk-web.jpg08 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 story

Oikocredit and Opportunity International collaboration will support affordable quality education for under-served families [interview]

Hans_1697_web.jpg31 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

ecoligo Solar System Kenya.jpg25 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 story

Digital surveying shows social changes from perspective of Oikocredit partners’ clients

Client self-perception survey coverpage.png12 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 story

Becoming Oikocredit’s new Managing Director: interview with Mirjam ‘t Lam

Mirjam 't Lam.jpg10 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 story

New Year’s Message: Looking back and moving forward

Mirjam 't Lam.jpg04 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 story

The season of joy and Mercy’s story

UNAI-KE-65.jpg17 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 story

Oikocredit joins FIRST+ programme to help generate work opportunities for 60,000 Ghanaians

First+.png15 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 story

Oikocredit held General Meeting to discuss strategy and capital-raising model

EGM image small07 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 story

Oikocredit invests € 2 million to support growth of solar energy in Africa

Spark.jpg07 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 story

Introducing Oikocredit’s new community-focused approach: learning from partners

MVP.png06 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 story

Call for Supervisory Board applications

Newsletter November screenshot01 December 2021 Oikocredit intends to appoint new members to its Supervisory Board during its annual general meeting in June 2022. full story

IDH Farmfit Fund and Oikocredit co-investment in Aldea Global to support Nicaraguan coffee smallholders

ALD-NI-50.jpg30 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 story

Symbiotics and Oikocredit invest in ETG to support West Africa cocoa and cashew value chains

ETG17 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 story

Q3 2021 quarterly report: Cautious optimism

Untitled design (7).png16 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 story

Mirjam ‘t Lam appointed Oikocredit’s Managing Director

Mirjam 't Lam.jpg16 November 2021 Mirjam ‘t Lam has been appointed Managing Director of Oikocredit, effective 1 December 2021. full story

Oikocredit 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

EGM image.png05 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 story

Capacity building for agriculture [interview]

Barbara.jpg04 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 story

Oikocredit expands its financial inclusion portfolio with the latest investment in Senegal

CMS.jpg03 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 story

Oikocredit and Opportunity International announce impact investment of USD 100 million to advance education in low-income countries

logo.jpg01 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 story

Oikocredit investment in Valency Agro Nigeria Ltd will create jobs and improve farmers’ livelihoods

cashews27 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 story

Stories from Brazil [part 2]: Crediluz

CRED-BR- (40).jpg21 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 story

Stories from Brazil [part 1]: Sulcredi

Vilson Ghisleri in his vineyard21 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 story

Oikocredit invests in Fundación Génesis Empresarial, Guatemala's leading microfinance institution

Genesis Empresarial20 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 story

Gladys’ story: financing for families and flavour

COOP-EC-032.jpg13 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 story

Oikocredit signs new loan guarantee agreement with AGF

Screenshot 2021-10-08 110039.png08 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 story

Celebrate International Coffee Day with a cup of sustainable coffee!

Jose Augusto Cordón, Oikocredit’s Senior Investment Officer in Central America01 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 story

Changes to the Supervisory Board

Org announcement.png01 October 2021 Joseph Patterson has submitted his resignation as Chair of Oikocredit’s Supervisory Board effective 1 October 2021. full story

Oikocredit joins DFC and USAID in USD $55 million Covid-19 relief loan financing programme for sustainable agriculture development in India

AMCC-IN-018.jpg24 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 story

Change to Oikocredit’s Managing Board

Bart-van-Eyk-web.jpg23 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 story

Supporting partners’ innovative responses to Covid-19

response asset 1.png22 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 story

Oikocredit is partnering with Sidian Bank to support SMEs in Kenya

Sidian Bank logo.jpg22 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 story

Making a difference: our Impact Report 2021

Elikanah asset.png20 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 story

Impact Report 2021 is live!

fb.png15 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 story

Carlos and Esteban’s story: Securing a better future

JARD-EC-047.jpg03 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 story

Q2 2021 quarterly report: Performing acceptably in an unpredictable environment

Untitled design (7).png23 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 story

Overcoming Covid-19 challenges in India [interview part 2]

AGM-2018-05.jpg20 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 story

Overcoming Covid-19 challenges in India [interview part 1]

AGM-2018-05.jpg19 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 story

Oikocredit appoints new Regional Equity Manager for Asia

Anirudh_1.jpg19 August 2021 Oikocredit has appointed Anirudh Sarda as Equity Manager for investments in Asia. full story

Oikocredit’s work and plans in Brazil

Nicolas Viedma12 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 story

Oikocredit invests € 1.6 million in Comafruits to support Mali mango value chain

mango03 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 story

PowerGen partners with Oikocredit and others to connect 55,000 people to electricity in rural Nigeria

Powergen_Portfolio.png22 July 2021 The electricity will be provided by 28 distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems, designed as solar PV and battery-powered mini-grids. full story

Oikocredit makes interim changes to its Managing Board

Org announcement.png20 July 2021 Oikocredit will make two interim changes to its Managing Board while the cooperative continues its search for a new Managing Director. full story

Oikocredit’s new investment in Unaitas will support farmer cooperatives in Kenya

Unaitas Logo15 July 2021 Oikocredit is providing a new loan to Unaitas, the fastest growing savings cooperative in Kenya with over 378,000 members. full story

Oikocredit appoints new Regional Equity Managers

Valeria and Sebastien.png08 July 2021 Oikocredit has appointed two new Equity Managers, Valeria Gelsi and Sébastien Rigaud, with responsibility respectively for Latin America and Africa full story

A better life in the cooperative

Coops day asset02 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 story

Oikocredit is ready for the future [interview]

Thos Gieskes_web28 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 story

Oikocredit invests in Fin’Elle to support women entrepreneurs in Côte d'Ivoire

logo.jpg24 June 2021 Oikocredit’s loan to Fin’Elle will help provide microfinance and mesofinance loans to 10,000 households in Côte d'Ivoire. full story

Looking for our new Managing Director

Appointment of MD brochure.jpg23 June 2021 Oikocredit is looking for an inspirational and visionary Managing Director to lead our impact into the future. full story

Specialty coffee making an impact

CARA-UK-020.jpg16 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 story

Oikocredit holds 45th annual general meeting

45th AGM asset.png14 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 story

Oikocredit invests in Grace and Mercy to expand lending to women in rural communities across Nigeria

cropped-GnM-LOGO.png10 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 story

Oikocredit invests in FCMB Limited to support low-income communities in Nigeria

FCMB_Logo.png03 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 story

Building resiliency among partners [blog]

latest.png31 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 story

Oikocredit invests in cashew cooperative, supporting nearly 5,000 farmers in Côte d'Ivoire

ANAT-BF-03.jpg27 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 story

Q1 2021 quarterly report: Steady recovery

Untitled design (7).png25 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 story

Carmiña’s story: Building a family business

COOP-EC-008.jpg14 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 story

Protecting smallholder farmers and building resilience [interview part 2]

SSNUP interview 3.jpg03 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 story

Protecting smallholder farmers and building resilience [interview part 1]

SSNUP interview 1.jpg03 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 story

Resilience, solidarity, loyalty: Oikocredit publishes its Annual Report 2020

annual report 2020 asset.png15 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 story

Maanaveeya 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

ani1617801681.jpg08 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 story

Managing Board Change at Oikocredit

Petra Lens.jpg08 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 story

Interview: Swift action safeguarded results

Mirjam 't Lam-Jet van Gaal.jpg06 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 story

Oikocredit invests in Banco Caribe to promote sustainable development of SMEs in Dominican Republic

Dennis Simó Alvarez (Banco Caribe’s Executive Chairman) and Karina Vasquez (Oikocredit’s country representative).jpg01 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 story

Financial results for 2020 reflect resilience and solidarity

press release news item asset.png30 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 story

Q4 2020 quarterly report: Proving our resilience

Untitled design (7).png30 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

Nina Alff.JPG16 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 story

Change to Oikocredit’s Managing Board

Thos Gieskes.jpg15 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 story

The eyes of Oikocredit

20190930_005.jpg10 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 story

Oikocredit’s women that empower women

IWD 2021 - Facebook (1).png08 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 story

Dreaming of coffee trees

CHAJU-GT-116.jpg22 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 story

Wake up and smell the coffee

IMG_8446.jpg04 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 story

Meet our Côte d'Ivoire SME entrepreneurs

CAC-CI-10 (1).jpg21 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 story

Cooperative conversations: with Peter Ohligschläger of the Members’ Council

Peter Ohligschläger12 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 story

This testing year has proved Oikocredit’s resilience, our partners’ courage and our investors’ trust

Thos Gieskes_web04 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

cocoa beans.jpg17 December 2020 Oikocredit’s recent new loans will help with exporting the 2020-21 cocoa production for up to 35,000 smallholder farmers. full story

Flowers and meal deliveries: how Indians on low incomes use loans to grow

AMCC-IN-038.jpg15 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

Oikocredit expands its commitment to Mexican SMEs with investment in Aspiria

Aspiria logo.png04 December 2020 Social impact investor Oikocredit has acquired a minority stake in Aspiria, an online SME lender in Mexico full story

Why are SMEs important to Oikocredit?

Hansjpg (3).jpg25 November 2020 Hans Perk, Oikocredit’s Regional Director Africa and Global Agricultural Sector Specialist, talks here about the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and how Oikocredit supports them. full story

Call for Supervisory Board applications

Supervisory board23 November 2020 Oikocredit is seeking skilled and experienced individuals to be appointed to its Supervisory Board during its annual general meeting to be held in June 2021. full story

Cooperative conversations: with Anita Clemons of the Members’ Council

Anita Clemons18 November 2020 We recently had a conversation with Anita Clemons from the Presbyterian Foundation, one of the latest members of the Oikocredit Members’ Council (MC). She talks about what it means to be a members’ council, cooperative values such as transparency, about her hopes for the MC and the Oikocredit cooperative. full story

Q3 quarterly report: Maintaining stability

Untitled design (7).png12 November 2020 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 2020. full story

Mirjam ‘t Lam joins Oikocredit as Director of Finance & Risk

Mirjam 't Lam09 November 2020 Mirjam ‘t Lam is joining social impact investor and worldwide cooperative Oikocredit as Director of Finance & Risk, effective 16 November 2020. She joins Oikocredit from African investment company... full story

Does your investment portfolio have “the quan”?

Eduard Walkers02 November 2020 Eduard Walkers, Oikocredit Regional Director Latin America and Caribbean, looks at what is needed for sustainable development finance and takes inspiration from an unusual source: the film Jerry Maguire. He proposes a “quan” scale of investment levels and asks: does your investment portfolio have the quan? full story

How Oikocredit is supporting smallholder farmers through the pandemic [video]

Oikocredit Unocace Solidarity fund14 October 2020 In this short video you will see how with the help of our partner (Unocace) the Oikocredit solidarity fund is supporting cocoa farmers thorough the pandemic, and our partners are showered with gratitude and blessings. full story

A stitch in time [video]

Screenshot 2020-09-24 142018.jpg25 September 2020 Through partners like U&I Microfinance Bank, Oikocredit’s coronavirus solidarity fund is reaching those who most need it. Like Loice Nyambura, the owner of a small tailoring business in Nairobi, Kenya. full story

Behind the Impact Report 2020 [interview]

Kawien Ziedses des Plantes - for use with Impact Report 2020 interview (2).jpg15 September 2020 We interviewed Kawien Ziedses des Plantes, Oikocredit’s Global Social Performance Specialist, to find out what’s behind the recently published Impact Report 2020. After 45 years, we still see Oikocredit’s sharp focus on end-clients and its determined drive for continuous improvement. full story

Oikocredit launches its Impact Report 2020

Oikocredit-Impact-Report-2020_EN-cover.jpg08 September 2020 Oikocredit’s Impact Report is now live and ready for downloading. Our latest report showcases our social impact data from across all Oikocredit’s activities. full story

Group lending: Cristiane and Helena show how it works

27 August 2020 A woman finds herself in crisis and is supported by another making a success of her business. In this story of solidarity amongst women you can discover how group lending works, and through our Brazilian partner BPCS, how Oikocredit serves hard to reach people. full story

Q2 quarterly report: Responding with resilience

Untitled design (7).png20 August 2020 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 2020. full story

Launch of CEO Forum for Oikocredit Partners in Africa

Ging Ledesma28 July 2020 CEOs with a dedication to continuous improvement, a passion for people and an appreciation of the extraordinary challenges of our time, came together online last week to launch Oikocredit’s forum for CEOs in Africa. The launch of this programme comes at a time when it is becoming evident that the situation brought on by Covid-19 is not something that will be resolved in a matter of a few months. full story

Oikocredit invests USD 5 million in M-KOPA to support growth of solar energy in Africa

AG0_6654.jpg21 July 2020 With this loan, M-KOPA is able to provide electricity and mobile connections to 10,000 households in Africa full story

Blog: Could microfinance help prevent a health crisis from becoming an even greater food crisis?

Hans Perk16 July 2020 The United Nations (UN) recently published a report estimating that 130 million more people may face chronic hunger in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. full story

Solidarity: the strength of our network

Thos Gieskes & Laura Pool.jpg01 July 2020 In this interview we catch up with our Managing Director, Thos Gieskes, and our Director of Finance & Risk, Laura Pool, to reflect on the June annual general meeting (AGM). They talk about the decision to not pay a dividend for 2019, how Oikocredit supports its partners during the pandemic, and more. full story

Oikocredit holds annual general meeting, members decide on dividend

asset 2.jpg15 June 2020 Last week the cooperative’s 44th annual general meeting (AGM) was held in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, with members and others participating through a web-based conferencing and electronic voting system. full story

MFIs Covid-19 awareness training

Comic09 June 2020 Oikocredit is supporting its partners during the pandemic with several initiatives. Maanaveeya, Oikocredit’s subsidiary in India, worked with MicroSave Consulting who developed a pamphlet to promote awareness of Covid-19 for microfinance institutions (MFI) full story

Video tour of Oikocredit’s work in Ghana

Study tour 2020.png08 June 2020 A short video is now available to provide you with insight on the work of Oikocredit in Ghana. At a time of social distancing and with few people traveling, it is useful to remind ourselves of how useful our investors find these tours. full story

With Renewable Energy: an Interview with David ten Kroode

David ten Kroode - Renewable Energy Manager - Oikocredit2.jpg28 May 2020 In mid-2014 Oikocredit welcomed renewable energy (RE) financing expert, David ten Kroode, to build up and manage what was then a new sector for Oikocredit: financing RE projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We spoke with David, now RE Manager at Oikocredit, about the developments of the past five years and what the future may bring. full story

Quarterly report: Withstanding the crisis

25 May 2020 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. full story

The main thing is sustainability [interview]

CPFAM-BR-23.jpg08 May 2020 Aldo Risco Mejia is responsible for agriculture investments in northern South America at our Oikocredit office in Lima. We spoke with him about his practical experience of fair trade. full story

Oikocredit revised its dividend proposal for 2019 from 1% to 0%.

06 May 2020 Social impact investor and worldwide cooperative Oikocredit has revised its dividend proposal for 2019 from 1% to 0%. full story

Oikocredit foundation creates coronavirus solidarity fund

Coronavirus solidarity fund item.jpg05 May 2020 With more government measures in place to combat the spread of Covid-19, many small business in Africa, Asia and Latin America are struggling to find the means to comply with regulations. To support these businesses, Oikocredit’s foundation has launched a coronavirus solidarity fund. full story

Change to Oikocredit’s Managing Board

04 May 2020 Laura Pool, Director of Finance & Risk, has decided to leave Oikocredit for personal reasons to pursue a career change. She will continue in her position until the end of the year. full story

Social impact in the pandemic: how Oikocredit is helping partners fight back [blog]

Ging Ledesma09 April 2020 As the coronavirus crisis continues to spread across the globe, Ging Ledesma, Oikocredit’s Director of Social Performance Innovation, is helping lead Oikocredit’s rapid response to the evolving needs of our partners, going beyond the financial support we offer them. Here Ging shares the steps Oikocredit has already taken to support our partners at this critical moment, and why innovation and community are crucial in these extremely challenging times. full story

Nomination for appointment to the Supervisory Board

joseph-patterson.jpg09 April 2020 Joseph Patterson has been nominated as candidate for appointment to the Supervisory Board of Oikocredit International by the Supervisory Board, to be voted on at the General Meeting of members in June. full story

It's not just about growth [interview]

06 April 2020 Laura Pool, Director of Finance & Risk says: “It's not only about growth in the portfolio, but the quality.” In this interview she provides her insights into the financial results, reflects on Oikocredit’s development as an organisation, and talks about how these results and developments will help Oikocredit face the ongoing coronavirus crisis. full story

Oikocredit publishes its annual report for 2019

Cover Annual Report 2019 cover02 April 2020 Today we published our annual report which informs investors and other stakeholders about our financial performance from the past year. full story

Message from the Managing Director: “Working together through uncertain times”

Thos-Gieskes-web.jpg26 March 2020 Thos Gieskes, Managing Director of Oikocredit, has the following message for Oikocredit’s stakeholders. full story