At year-end 2019, Triodos Investment Management’s specialised emerging markets funds provided finance to 109 financial institutions working for inclusive finance in 45 countries. These values-based institutions vary from very small NGOs working in underdeveloped markets to fully-fledged banks that offer a wide range of products and provide access to fair and transparent financial services for people and small businesses.
Together these organisations reached approximately 19.2 million individuals saving for their future (2018: 11.1 million). The substantial increase in the number of savers is due to the combined effect of existing institutions growing their savers’ base, as well as institutions that started reporting for the first time in 2019 using the new online investee portal.
Also, 19.1 million borrowers were reached who borrow to start or expand their business, generate income, and better manage their daily lives (2018: 19.2 million). Of these loan clients, 75% are female. Women are often in disadvantaged positions in many developing countries. Giving women the freedom to manage their income and to provide for their families empowers their position.