Bolivia

CRECER is a Bolivian microfinance institution (MFI) that has been a pioneer in leveraging the credit platform to successfully provide integrated services sustainably and at scale.  The organization uses a group lending methodology to reach the most marginalized populations, providing them with access to credit, education, and health services. The organization serves principally women in rural and semi urban areas that often lack access to information that could help them pull themselves out of poverty. In turn CRECER capitalizes on monthly village bank meetings, utilizing trained credit officers to provide education and refer clients to existing health and social services.

CRECER was founded in 1985 by Freedom from Hunger as part of its Credit with Education Program. From these humble beginnings the organization emerged as an independent entity, growing to serve over a hundred thousand clients, but maintaining all the while its commitment to mission. In fact the organization has become known as an industry leader in education, developing an innovative curriculum that addresses the actionable areas of nutrition, health, schooling, housing, and social security. In order to link preventative health education with access to treatment, CRECER maintains partnerships with third party providers that offer clients access to discounted screenings for prevalent conditions such colon and cervical cancer.

IDEPRO is a Bolivian microfinance institution (MFI) whose mission is to improve the productivity and competitiveness of small farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises through the provision of specialized and integrated services. Founded in 1991, the organization has pioneered an innovative, value chain approach that provides underserved producers with the tools and resources needed to lift themselves out of poverty.

To further its mission, IDEPRO identified six productive value chains that rely on a large base of small producers. These value chains include Brazil nuts, quinoa, wood, grapes/wine, textiles and tourism. Within these value chainsIDEPRO builds strategic partnerships with primary producers and secondary processors, offering tailored credit, education, and technical assistance that helps them increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods. For example, in the quinoa value chain IDEPRO provides producers with working capital loans coupled with technical assistance, while also helping them pre-sign fair purchase agreements with both suppliers and traders. In doing so IDEPRO ensures that small farmers have access to lower cost, high quality inputs as well as predictable, higher priced markets. These interventions are sustainable because they also benefit suppliers and traders who seek consistent, high quality sales.

Sembrar Sartawi is a Bolivian microfinance institution (MFI) that serves mostly small agricultural producers in rural areas. The organization has developed a framework that addresses the risks associated with agricultural lending and mitigates those risks by providing non-financial services that help producers increase and/or stabilize their income. These services include tailored credit, technical assistance and access to markets. In order to facilitate market access, Sembrar Sartawi builds alliances with key value-chain actors who enter into purchase agreements with clients.

To ensure that clients can fulfill their obligations, Sembrar Sartawi offers technical assistance focused on product quantity and quality requirements. Furthermore the organization helps secure contract fulfillment by setting up triangulated payment agreements, whereby clients payback their loans through product delivery. As a result, buyers can rely on consistent production while clients see improved incomes through stable and competitive pricing. In short Sembrar Sartawi innovates to provide low cost, mutually beneficial services that show promise for not only impact, but also scale and sustainability.