In October 2022 Dave Smit joined Oikocredit as Director of Impact Investments. Here he reflects on his first 100 days and the fact that low-income people in developing countries are hit hard by global headwinds.

Oikocredit has approved a loan facility of US$ 2.6 million (KES 325 million) to non-bank financial institution MyCredit Limited. MyCredit serves 10,000 clients throughout Kenya, providing affordable medium-term financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

With this funding, MyCredit plans to bring more financial opportunities through tailor-made loans to local SMEs. In turn, this supports SMEs to create more job prospects in the local community and contributes to economic growth.

Oikocredit announced a € 10 million co-investment to Bridge Group Côte d’Ivoire (BBG CI). This subordinated facility is provided in partnership with Triodos Investment Management through its Triodos Microfinance Fund.

The investment will allow BBG CI to increase its lending capacity to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.

The Ivorian bank is an affiliate of Bridge Group West Africa and is committed to providing clients with greater access to financial services and improving financial inclusion for the SMEs it serves.

Oikocredit Canada Support Association (OCSA) is led by a volunteer board of directors.

Though we know them professionally today, we dig deep and ask them some informal questions to get to know them better and learn more about their passions and hopes for the future.

Know your Director will be an ongoing blog series. 

This month we get to know OCSA director Will Postma.

The Government of Canada is taking steps to encourage innovative approaches to address persistent social inequalities and environmental challenges faced by Canadians. The Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy aims to provide better support for community organizations working to achieve positive solutions to persistent social problems, including those faced by marginalized populations.

The vast majority (90 per cent) of institutional investors say they’re planning to increase allocations to sustainable and impact investments over the next five years, according to a survey by Cambridge Associates.

The survey, which polled more than 140 institutional investors, found two-thirds (65 per cent) of respondents reported engaging in sustainable and impact investing, up significantly from 36 per cent in 2018.

Oikocredit published its Impact Report 2022. In this report you can learn about Oikocredit's social impact - how we measure it, and what this looks like in our focus sectors and regions, our capacity building and more