Inclusive finance

We finance microfinance institutions because they help build inclusive financial sectors, where people can access financial services. This leads to more sustainable and balanced social and economic development.

Our vision on inclusive finance

Access to finance offers a lifeline to millions of people enabling them to better manage their daily life, cope with unexpected difficulties, fulfil aspirations and plan for the future. Yet, there are still two billion people worldwide who are excluded from basic financial products and services.

The choices we make

We have set priorities about what to finance and how to extend our impact through our activities based on our experience and expertise in these sectors.

Evolving and expanding sector

As an early and pioneering investor (since 1994), inclusive finance has always been a key priority for us. We have seen the inclusive finance sector rapidly evolve and expand, especially over the past decade. The sector has shown that those with low incomes are bankable and can be offered financial services in a sustainable way.

A rising number of global, national and local leaders have come to acknowledge that access to financial services is an important prerequisite for economic and social development in developing countries and emerging economies. Financial inclusion is therefore increasingly a priority for many governments and international forums, and also reflected in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Not as a goal in itself but as a powerful tool to reach many of the most important development objectives.

What does the future of inclusive finance hold?

Two global trends in particular will impact and shape the inclusive finance sector with important implications for our activities. New technologies will impact on the financial services industry and the growth in purchasing power of lower income populations developing countries and emerging economies. The sector focuses on fulfilling basic needs, such as housing, water and sanitation, education and healthcare. As they have matured, financial institutions have also embraced opportunities to finance projects that have a positive impact on the environment. This makes inclusive finance a cross-cutting theme, taking in a range of issues.

We are also looking forward to further developing and executing multiple strategies to engage the small and medium enterprise market segment for their job creation capacity, with a particular interest in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. By investing in these sectors and building on the in-depth knowledge and experience of Triodos Group as a result, we want to promote access to renewable energy and contribute to sustainable development of the agricultural sector in developing countries.

Managing and reporting impact

We aim to be a leader in impact-driven reporting in the financial industry. Our focus is on managing impact in ways that improve people’s quality of life and on communicating this impact to our stakeholders.

Annual Report 2017

Case study

Al Majmoua is a Lebanese non-profit microfinance institution that focuses on supporting micro-entrepreneurs, particularly women, in developing sustainable businesses all over Lebanon.

Making impact together

Information for investors in Triodos Bank

Impact in different sectors

We finance multiple sustainable sectors. Take a look around.

Inclusive finance

Our vision on inclusive finance

The choices we make

Managing and reporting impact

Case study

Making impact together

Impact in different sectors

Health care

Community and housing

Food and farming

Renewable energy

Sustainable property

Arts and culture

Education