EIB and Microfinance

EIB and Microfinance

10 July 2019

The EIB Microfinance Unit was at the House of Microfinance to present to InFiNe.lu members the work the EIB is doing in microfinance. Olivier Edelman, Head of EIB Microfinance Unit, provided an overview of the importance of microfinance within EIB. EIB supports direct operations of large microfinance institutions (Tier 1 MFIs) through medium/long term loans and direct equity investments in financial intermediaries; and indirect operations of smaller institutions (Tier 2 and 3 MFIs) and specific themes, such as agriculture through equity and debt investments in Microfinance Investment vehicles and Investments Funds. In addition, EIB provides technical assistance to its microfinance partners.

According to the EIB microfinance unit, the current challenges in the microfinance sector are:

• To lend to MFIs in local currency
• To strengthen the social responsibility of MFIs
• To strengthen the regulation. Indeed, the absence of regulation in the microfinance sector in some countries is a constraint
• To take into account the impact of Fintech companies entering into the microfinance market.

Hannah Siedek, Microfinance Investment Officer EIB, focused her presentation on EIB facility to finance smallholder farmers who cultivate a small amount of land and dependent on family labour. The total amount of the facility is EUR 25m equivalent in local currencies. The goal of the facility is to strengthen financial inclusion of smallholder farmers, to refinance smallholders (less than 5 HA) and agri-food companies and to improve agricultural practices. To invest in that field, EIB applies strict environmental and social guidelines.

The second case study presented by Sonja Mohnen, Microfinance Investment Officer EIB, focussed on support refugees and the specific case of Microfund for Women (MFW) in Jordan. MFW is the 1^st MFI in Jordan to offer financial services (only group lending) and non-financial services to Syrian refugees. MFW started its activity with refugees in 2016 with shareholder decision to allocate JOD 1m to refugee financing. The results were impressive. Indeed, the Portfolio at Risk (PAR) 30 for refugees loans was smaller than the PAR30 for the remaining portfolio. Therefore, MFW decided to increase the funding allocated to refugee financing. EIB has provided a 2^nd loan to MFW and decided to provide specific technical assistance.