WE CELEBRATE THE 2021 EUROPEAN MICROFINANCE AWARD TO FONKOZE
The UnPoverty family is incredibly proud of the work Fonkoze has done with inclusive healthcare through microfinance and we would like to highlight them now in the new year. Fonkoze, the largest microfinance organization in Haiti, won the prestigious European Microfinance Award (EMA) for Inclusive Finance and Healthcare. More specifically, Fonkoze’s health program, Boutik Sante, was recognized for its innovative approach to addressing the many challenges faced by poor households throughout Haiti, including lack of access to healthcare and education. The award from the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs was presented at a ceremony attended by Her Royal Highness, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
As part of its collaboration with Fonkoze, Opportunity International has been providing funding and technical assistance to support its empowering program for ultra-poor families, CLM. Currently, the two organizations are collaborating to develop an education financing product and to measure the impact of the microfinance operations.
Fonkoze was among three organizations shortlisted out of 43 to receive the 2021 European Microfinance Award, which focused on projects that promote access for vulnerable populations to high-quality healthcare at an affordable price.
“Our financial inclusion collaboration in Haiti is a powerful combination. Opportunity’s understanding of complex technology to manage operations, and Fonkoze’s collaborative approach are uniquely positioned to facilitate how global teams with aligned missions should work to help the communities around the world who need it the most,” said Atul Tandon, CEO, Opportunity International. “We applaud the announcement that our partner, Fonkoze, works to promote access for vulnerable communities, especially during the pandemic. This need for financial tools that are tailored to their specific needs is felt deeply by those who are in the hardest to reach communities, and every loan helps to make a tangible difference to their families.”
Since 2005, the European Microfinance Award rewards innovative inclusive finance initiatives, and has two goals: to reward excellence and to disseminate the most suitable practices so that they can be applied by others. The award is a joint initiative organized by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg – Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) and the Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg (InFiNe.lu).
Opportunity has helped families break the cycle of poverty, increase their earning capacity, support themselves, and build sustainable livelihoods for more than 50 years. Read more about how Opportunity deploys innovative financial services, training, and support to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses, support themselves, and provide for their families.
ABOUT OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL
Opportunity International is a global non-profit celebrating more than 50 years of equipping people to work their way out of poverty. Opportunity provides 19.4 million families with innovative financial resources, training, and support to grow their small businesses and send their children to school. In 2020, Opportunity International and its partners released $2.3 billion in capital across 30 countries and helped fund 8,800 schools that reached 2.8 million children.
Discover more at opportunity.org or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Make sure to check out our past blog posts here at UnPoverty.org.
