Social impact investor Oikocredit and IDB Invest are each providing US$ 10 million to Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Jardín Azuayo in Ecuador as a highly innovative gender, diversity and inclusion social bond with performance-based incentives.

Cooperativa Jardín Azuayo will use the finance to promote and expand access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Ecuador owned or led by women, people with low incomes or low educational attainment, members of Indigenous communities, ethnic minorities and migrants. Jardín Azuayo provides financial services and cooperative education in support of the solidarity economy and a caring society.

Oikocredit and Aqua for All are partnering to support Chamroeun Microfinance to develop a loan portfolio for private water operators in Cambodia. This blended finance agreement will help increase the much-needed flow of private capital and accelerate access to water and sanitation in Cambodia’s low-income communities.

Up to 40,000 off-grid households in rural and semi-urban areas across Côte d'Ivoire will soon have access to energy and digital platforms as a result of a new loan from Oikocredit to Baobab+ Cote d’Ivoire (Baobab+ CI). Oikocredit has made € 1.2 million available in fresh funding to the Ivorian affiliate of Baobab+ SAS, the renewable energy and digital entity member of global financial services company Baobab Group. 

Food prices are rising everywhere. While food insecurity is a global trend stemming from several strong macro-economic forces at play, certain unique market characteristics could be exacerbating the problem within Canada. If incomes fail to keep up with inflation, Canadian food insecurity is expected to worsen further. Authors  Sarah Morris Lang, Daniel Shannon, Rosa van den Beemt, BMO Global Asset Management outline the situation and suggest 7 actions investors can undertake to tackle the issue. 

Institutional investors should pay attention because the climate crisis will have a negative effect on financial markets and pose a material risk to investment portfolios. However, as the old adage goes, challenges can be turned into opportunities. Transitioning to low-carbon economies, provided that transition is just and equitable, will present real opportunities for institutional investors.

Oikocredit published its Annual Report and financial statements for 2022, reporting on solid financial and social results and other achievements during the year.