latest updates

At Alterfin, we know that providing financing alone is not enough. We want to go the extra mile to strengthen our partners, ensure their long-term viability and to maximize their impact. That's why we've developed a technical assistance program, one of our cooperative’s greatest strengths.

Bailyk Finance, a partner of Alterfin for more than five years, is a perfect example of woman-led company. Spearheaded by Chinara Moldazhanova since 2013, this microfinance institution’s ultimate goal is to improve the lives of low-income populations in Kyrgyzstan. Chinara shares her views on how a predominantly female workforce ties in with the company’s pursuit of societal goals.

When it comes to our investment assessment criteria, societal and environmental impact is top of the list. Recently, we’ve taken another step to further our impact-focused efforts by including a new tool when assessing our potential partners: gender-lens investing. Caterina Giordano, Chief Impact Officer, explains how it works.

Our investment decisions are guided by our partners’ ability to improve the lives of local communities. But how do we measure the impact of their activities? Find out with Pallavi Hariharan, our Environmental & Social Impact Manager.

The impact of our investments — made possible by our co-op members— is at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to measuring this impact thoroughly. That’s why we do more than just collect data: we also regularly go out into the field to hear what the final beneficiaries have to say, so that we have a better understanding of how our work improves the daily lives of these people.

At Alterfin, we’ve just successfully completed the B Corp recertification process. Of course, we’re pleased with this result; it confirms that our approach is the right one and that our continuous improvement process is effective.

This year, Fair Trade Week runs from October 5 to 15. As you undoubtedly know, fair trade is at the heart of everything we have done since Alterfin was founded in 1994. Today, two-thirds of our partners in the agricultural sector have this certification.

Eximcruz is a Bolivian agricultural company involved in picking and selling Brazil nuts. This is an important activity that ensures a decent income for local communities and helps protect the Amazon rainforest.

We are proud to announce the launch of the FEFISOL II solidarity fund to support micro-entrepreneurs and small farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.