DID - Développement international Desjardins

Published purpose

This project aims to reduce poverty and to foster economic growth in targeted countries in Africa and Latin America by improving microenterprises and small enterprises’ access to financial services that suit their needs. The project puts in place four new Entrepreneurs Financial Centers (EFCs) in Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Colombia, and Nigeria and strengthens three existing EFCs in Zambia, Tanzania and Panama. EFCs offer more elaborate services than microfinance institutions and reach to entrepreneurs that do not fit the requirements of mainstream banking. The project seeks to benefit 75,000 men and women entrepreneurs and to help maintain and create close to 80,000 jobs. The main activities of this project include : 1) drafting business plans for new EFCs; 2) implementing technological solutions related to operations; 3) recruiting and training EFC staff; 4) developing credit products for entrepreneurs and technologies that enhance their accessibility; 5) developing innovative financial services; and 6) strengthening EFCs’ internal audit and governance capacity.