Oikocredit Recognized for Contributions
to Socially Responsible Investing

November 10, Amsterdam – Oikocredit, an international loan fund, has been recognized by the   Consultation Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) for its commitment to integrating environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) factors in its investment decisions.

Oikocredit was one of only three microfinance investment vehicles (MIV) to receive the 2010 CGAP MIV ESG Award. Thirty-two microfinance organizations had applied. The award was presented to Ging Ledesma, Oikocredit’s Manager of Social Performance, during an October 12 ceremony in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Specifically, CGAP commended Oikocredit for its outstanding achievement in innovation and engagement with the organizations that they invested in, and with other industry groups. CGAP is an independent policy and research center, working to advance financial access to low-income people throughout the world.  

The Adrian Dominican Sisters, through the Portfolio Advisory Board (PAB) Community Investment Fund, have been partnering with Oikocredit for years, granting them loans that they, in turn use in making microfinance loans throughout the world. Their loans help people to become more self-sufficient and to lead better lives through such areas as education, training, small farms and small businesses.

Microfinance provides basic financial services to low-income people who would have no hope of improving their lives without credit or savings. Oikocredit currently has investments in 579 microfinance projects, reaching 17 million people through its partners. Of the businesses and enterprises that receive these loans, 85 percent are owned by women and 63 percent are in rural areas. Oikocredit staff members serve in 30 offices around the world.   

In addition to private funding in the microfinance sector, Oikocredit provides credit to trade cooperatives, fair trade organizations, and small to medium enterprises in the developing world.