In 1996, Kosmosbek founded his own “GalenPharm” company in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to produce ointments and tinctures from locally grown medicinal herbs. With a series of five loans, he has been able to develop the business, improve production facilities and expand distribution throughout Kyrgyzstan. Today, Kosmosbek employs 50 full-time and 15 part-time employees. His future plans include specialized drugstores providing consultation and treatment with herbal remedies. GalenPharm produces more than 60 ... Read More »

Just a few years ago, Agusta had lost everything she owned due to the disastrous effects of El Niño and the bankruptcy of her local bank. Fortunately she ran into a former neighbor who had become a credit officer for one of our partner MFIs. Augusta asked for $250 to start a food stand on the street. Soon she was soon able to move from the streets to a house. ... Read More »

Flora lives in a region of Kenya where 90% of people in the area live below the poverty line on less than $2 a day. When Flora’s husband was killed and their cattle stolen in 2001, all she could do was cry. But with four young children to support, she desperately needed to rebuild her life. With a series of loans – and a lot of hard work – she ... Read More »

Microfinance offers poor people access to basic financial services such as loans, savings, money transfer services and microinsurance. People living in poverty, like everyone else, need a diverse range of financial services to run their businesses, build assets, smooth consumption, and manage risks. Poor people usually address their need for financial services through a variety of financial relationships, mostly informal. Credit is available from informal moneylenders, but usually at a ... Read More »

For the Bolivian company of Guaguazú S.A, the sustainable use of the native Cusi Palm is the key to success. Guaguazú employs mainly indigenous women from the Guarayos region, who work in the gathering and processing of the Cusi nut. The objective of Guaguazú S.A. is to develop a sustainable industry around the fruit of the Cusi Palm in the small regions of Guarayan and Chiquitana in Santa Cruz. At ... Read More »

According to a very much debated research paper, access to microcredit might have little impact on increasing the amount of money that borrowers spend on educating their kids. Those Indian slum dwellers who got credits and those who didn’t spent about the same on tuition, schools fees, or uniforms. Note though, that the authors warn that a period of 14-18 months, the period of the study, might be too short ... Read More »

When Juan Marquez came up with the concept of 1M Agro-Fuel, the aim went beyond traditional business. Not only did the project need to be profitable, it had to be sustainable, create opportunities for local employment and be in tune with the environment. Juan found the solution among the masses of rotting coconuts polluting the waterways of the Philippines. “I got the idea because I saw a problem with the ... Read More »

Oikocredit project partner PAWDEP is leading the way in microfinance pricing transparency in Africa. The Kenya-based Pamoja Women’s Development Programme was the first African microfinance institution to submit data to MFTransparency Transparent Pricing Initiative. Oikocredit project partner PAWDEP is leading the way in microfinance pricing transparency in Africa. The Kenya-based Pamoja Women’s Development Programme was the first African microfinance institution to submit data to MFTransparency Transparent Pricing Initiative. MFTransparancy allows ... Read More »