Alterfin

Development impacts

• Private sector consolidation/innovation

  Alterfin serves smallholder farmers and cooperatives that have been underserved so far (missing middle) and that crucially need financing in form of trade, harvest finance to stabilize their income streams.

  Alterfin is an established partner of BIO with experience working with MFIs and a focus on rural populations.

  Alterfin provides technical assistance through a TA facility to enhance the investees' productivity, support certifications and improve governance. Alterfin also manage TA facility from third party fund where it acts as fund manager.

• Financial inclusion

  Financing Agri-focused MFIs is one of the three investee types of Alterfin which can invest up to 65% in MicroFinance Institutions active in the agri space.

• Food security & rural development

  Alterfin's focus on sustainable and fairtrade certifications ensures that farmers receive a premium on their produce, insuring them against fluctuations in the world prices and providing sustainable incomes. 73% of agriculture partners are certified fair trade, 76% organic. Certification can however be costly for smallholder and not profitable when products are sold on local market (10% target of portfolio), Alterfin is then watching mosly for sustainability rather than certification itself.

• Promotion of ESG best practices

  73% are fairtrade and/or sustainable certified or in the process of obtaining the certification. Certification can however be costly for smallholder and not profitable when products are sold on local market (10% target of portfolio), Alterfin is then watching mosly for sustainable practice rather than certification itself.

  73% are fairtrade and/or sustainable certified or in the process of obtaining the certification. Certification can however be costly for smallholder and not profitable when products are sold on local market (10% target of portfolio), Alterfin is then watching mosly for sustainable practice rather than certification itself.

  Fairtrade Standards encourage democratic leadership, administrative efficiency, transparent accounting and improved governance.

• Gender

  Focus on MFI targeting poorer population (in which women). 66% of beneficiaries are women in microfinance, 25% women in agriculture

  STAFF : 42% women.
  3 out of 8 board members are women.
  2 out of 3 managers are women.