Program: Purpose: Amount: Term: Start date: Location:

Microfinance Expand access to microfinance in rural areas $8 million Four years November 2009 Sub-Saharan Africa

Why We Partnered

Established in 1997, Opportunity International (OI) Canada is part of the Opportunity International Network which has been operating to serve the poor since 1971. OI has over 1.2 million clients currently and operates in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Its mission is to provide opportunities for people in chronic poverty to improve their lives.

The majority of poor people in Sub-Saharan Africa live in rural areas and have agricultural-based livelihoods. The access of rural micro-entrepreneurs and farmers to microfinance services is limited. It is estimated that the rural poor constitute less than 10 percent of microfinance clients in the region.

This program will scale up comprehensive microfinance products and services to the rural poor in Malawi, Ghana and two other African countries. It includes the expansion of a successful approach to agriculture microfinance that has been piloted in Malawi. OI will deploy a range of delivery channels including satellite branches, kiosks, mobile vans, ATMs, and Point-of-Sale (POS) devices in rural areas.

Anticipated Impact

• Expand access to savings, particularly in rural areas, to a combined 1.4 million people
• Deliver comprehensive agricultural microfinance services and technical assistance to 94,000 farmers
• Document and share learnings about the model