Projects and assignments

Over 20 years of experience supporting the world’s most vulnerable communities

Europe

Project / Assignment

Client

Area

Lenght

SDG

InFUELencer – Promoting Alternative Paths for Fuel Retailers

Status: ongoing
Staff provided: 3
Value: medium

Origin of funding
European Union – Erasmus+ KA220-VET

Countries
Germany, Poland, France, Greece, Italy
Region
Europe

Approval date
November 2025
Closing date
April 2028

More information

The project aims to strengthen the fuel retail sector’s transition to sustainability by improving stakeholders’ understanding of current challenges and opportunities, equipping VET trainers with a tailored training curriculum, and providing fuel retailers with the skills and strategic tools needed for sustainable business transformation.

Objectives

  • Provide a deep understanding of fuel retail context, challenges, and prospects to policymakers & fuel retail stakeholders
  • Equip VET trainers with a concrete curriculum in line with fuel retailers’ needs for business viability & transformation
  • Equip fuel retailers with the necessary knowledge, skills, & tools for exploring sustainable business transformation options
  • Increase partners staff & TGs’ knowledge on business viability

Key activities

  • Management activities
  • Implementation activities: content development, evaluation; training sessions, national piloting workshops
  • Dissemination activities

Project partners:

LIFE D2R-GreenUA – Debris2Resource: Green Recovery Ukraine

Status: ongoing
Staff provided: 3
Value: large

Origin of funding

European Union – LIFE Programme

Countries
Ukraine and Europe
Region
Ukraine and Europe

Approval date
June 2025
Closing date
June 2027

More information

The Russian invasion has caused extensive destruction in Ukraine’s urban areas, generating millions of tons of debris and hazardous waste. Efficient management of this debris is essential to enable safe reconstruction, protect the environment, and promote circular economy models.
The LIFE D2R-GreenUA (Debris2Resource) project addresses these challenges by developing and demonstrating innovative, sustainable, and replicable methods for debris collection, sorting, recycling, and reuse. The initiative serves as a model for Ukraine’s green and resilient recovery, ensuring compliance with EU environmental standards and contributing to circular urban regeneration.

Objectives

Establish efficient, safe, and sustainable debris management practices that support Ukraine’s green reconstruction and circular economy transition.

  • Develop a replicable methodology for debris valorization and urban reconstruction.
  • Strengthen institutional and local capacities through training and technical assistance.
  • Promote policy alignment between Ukrainian and EU environmental frameworks.
  • Foster multi-stakeholder collaboration for circular economy-based recovery.
  • Ensure sustainability and replication of project results at national level.

Key activities and Services

  • Application of circular economy principles to debris management and material recovery.
  • Safe removal and treatment of hazardous substances (including asbestos).
  • Policy development and adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to EU environmental standards.
  • Capacity building for municipalities, institutions, and technical experts.
  • Pilot implementation in Borodyanka, Irpin, and Hostomel (Kyiv region).
  • Final conference and development of a replication strategy for other Ukrainian cities.

Project partners:

  • NEO ECO (France) 
  • Borodyanka, Irpin, Hostomel Councils (Ukraine) 
  • IRS (Institute for Community Development, Ukraine) 
  • KNUCA (Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, Ukraine) 
  • Kramar Eko (Ukraine) 
  • Lviv City Institute (Ukraine) 
  • ReThink NGO (Ukraine) 
  • CERN (Switzerland) 
  • CCIPU (Italy–Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and Industry) 
  • Emmanuel Lowe (France) 
  • GBC Italia (Italy) 
  • Microfinanza (Italy) 
  • WUA (Women of Ukraine Association, Ukraine)

    Empowering Small Social Enterprises in Italy

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 4
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding

    European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI)

    Countries
    Italy
    Region
    Europe

    Approval date
    October 2020
    Closing date
    September 2022

    More information

    Objectives

    The objective of the project is to contribute to the development of the Italian social finance market, by designing and launching a financial instrument and generating effective demand for social finance among Italian Social Enterprises.
    There’s the need for expanding tools and chances of action for social entities, prioritizing access to funds and for strengthening linkages between the key activities run by social enterprises and the policies of local administrations: the initiative aims to pave the way for creating cooperation between different types of private and public investors, which could provide a different source of finance, enabling real opportunities of access to finance for Social Enterprises, and fostering the creation of territorial network and Social Enterprises clusters.
    The importance of non-financial support is key for the success of those Social Enterprises and the initiative looks at the suitability of the different financial sources, by promoting blended finance for social enterprises, following the growing awareness that finance has the responsibility to consider the positive impact generated and not only to focus on the paradigm of the financial risk/return.
    The initiative also intends to address the demand side by supporting the emergence, the growth and the awareness of social enterprises: providing the right educational tools, soft skills, coaching and mentoring services in order to settle a clearer and most efficient business model and to bridge the gap of social enterprises on financial literacy and transparency.

    Services

    Microfinanza Srl will be involved in the market analysis and assessment of the social finance market in target territories in Italy, together with the analysis of the “supply” and “demand” as a complement of the research. The partnership identifies Social Enterprises to be supported in the build or scale-up phase, their needs regarding mentoring and support, and provides training, coaching and mentoring services to them, to help them becoming investment-ready. The provision of financial support to Social Enterprise will follow the training and coaching phase and will be parallel to the mentoring phase. The company will also work on the evaluation of the social impact.

    Project partners:

    Other information

    Official website

    The project has received financial support from the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation “EaSI” (2014-2020).

    YES! Young Entrepreneurs Succeed

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 6
    Value: large

    Origin of funding
    EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment
    Countries
    Multi country
    Region
    Europe

    Approval date
    October 2018
    Closing date
    January 2024

    More information

    Objectives

    The aim of the programme is to activate unemployed youth to access the labor market and promote entrepreneurship.
    Despite significant investment, young people in many regions face systemic challenges to start, grow and sustain a business. This is intensified by the lack of documented evidence on what kind of entrepreneurship support is most effective in different contexts, and a scarcity of tested and scalable models.
    The project aims to pilot the Trust based Partnership Model, based on a specific local experience made by one of the project partners, and provide direct services to underserved youth who will benefit from dedicated and highly specialized financial and non-financial business development services, resulting from evidence-based research, in Greece, Italy, Spain and Poland: YES! will provide youth NEETs from these 4 countries with various services to start & grow business or to find a job, such as training, coaching, mentoring, and access to finance.

    Services

    Microfinanza Srl supports a total of 400 NEETs (youth Not in Education, Employment or Training) from Italy, to start and grow their own business or to find a job. In particular, it provides training, coaching, mentoring and access to finance services. Microfinanza also works together with its partners in the research phase, to gather evidence on target group needs and existing gaps in services provided, support the general management of the programme implementation, networking and reporting activities.
    Counting on two decades of experience in the national context, Microfinanza can exploit close relations with a wide range of partners throughout the country, especially with partners operating in the South of Italy and usually provide services to NEETs and vulnerable categories. Microfinanza’s satellite office is located in Siracusa (Sicily), the Region with one of the highest % of NEETs in Italy. The organization is research-oriented to fight financial barriers of vulnerable people and communities, strongly focused on youth, and can count on a young and dynamic team which develops new ideas and approaches and escapes old ones, pursuing innovative projects

    Project partners:

    Other information

    Official website

    The project benefits from €2,3M grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment. The EEA and Norway Grants Fund For Youth Employment

    Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

    Status: Cycle 13 and 14 – ongoing 
    EYE to The Future Program – ongoing
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    European Commission – DG GROWTH
    Countries
    Multi country
    Region
    Europe and Outermost Regions of the EU and Outermost Countries and Territories

    Cycle 10: 2018-2020

    Cycle 12: 2020-2023

    Cycle 13: 2023-2027

    Cycle 14 /EYE for Future: 2023-2026

    More information

    Objectives

    The programme helps provide aspiring European entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to start and/or successfully run a small business in Europe. New entrepreneurs gather and exchange knowledge and business ideas with an experienced entrepreneur, with whom they stay and collaborate for a period of 1 to 6 months. The stay is partly financed by the European Commission. It aims at supporting the development of new SME enterprises, increasing cooperation between European entrepreneurs, through the exchange of experiences and information and stimulating the networking among the European business community. The specific objectives of the projects are: (i) to provide on-the-job training to new SME entrepreneurs to start up new businesses, or foster innovation with existing businesses, with a focus on young entrepreneurs, ensuring future sustainability; (ii) to enhance market access and identification of potential partners to the final beneficiaries.

    Services

    Microfinanza Srl, as Lead Intermediary Organisation, coordinates the programme implementation, networking and reporting activities. In addition, the company promotes the programme and recruits New and Host Entrepreneurs by: providing on-the-job training, fostering exchange of experiences, stimulating the cooperation and networking among the European business community, supporting new entrepreneurs by providing mentoring and training by senior entrepreneurs in order to start and develop new businesses, fostering innovation to already running businesses bringing fresh ideas from young entrepreneurs, enhancing market access and identification of potential partners for new and established businesses, and providing strategic advice and mentoring to support the growth of new businesses and to ensure their future sustainability.

    In addition to the general programme cycles, we run project activities with a target group of Ukrainian entrepreneurs (EYE fot FUTURE).

    Consortium Members:

    Cycle 10

    Cycle 12

    Cycle 13

    Cycle 14 – EYE for FUTURE

    Other information

    Official website

    An initiative of the European Union

    SALUS SPACE

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    European Commission – Urban Innovative Actions Initiative
    Countries
    Italy
    Region
    Europe
    Approval date
    January 2017
    Closing date
    January 2021
    More information

    Villa SALUS as a new Sustainable Accessible Livable Usable Social space for intercultural Wellbeing, Welfare and Welcoming in the metropolitan City of Bologna

    Objectives

    The main aim of the project is converting Villa Salus, an abandoned former hospital for elderly into an innovative core-space for Wellbeing, Welfare and Welcoming-S.A.L.U.S. ‘W’ Space – operating towards the social, cultural and economic inclusion of migrants/refugees and as a multi-level services facility to the whole metropolitan area of Bologna.

    The intervention also aims to recognize and enhance individual skills of migrants and refugees living in the area of Bologna Municipality by supporting start- up of micro-enterprises and job placements.

    Services

    The component lead by Microfinanza aims to foster social and economic inclusion of the targeted beneficiaries through the joint provision of entrepreneurial training programs, financial education, business mentoring and access to microcredit. Services delivered include selection of business tutoring to potential and existing entrepreneurs for the start-up and development of microenterprises among disadvantaged groups (migrants/refugees, unemployed, youth, women). Project outcomes include provision of training and tutoring to 25 preselected refugees and migrants and financial support for at least 3 selected entrepreneurial projects.

     

    Learning how to become an entrepreneur

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding

    Emilia Romagna Region

    Countries
    Italy
    Region
    Europe

    Approval date
    January 2020
    Closing date
    December 2020

    ENISIE – Enabling Network-based Innovation through Services and Institutional Engagement. Assessment on the state of the art of social innovation and social services in Sicily and Malta.

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    Interreg
    Countries
    Italy-Malta
    Region
    Europe
    Approval date
    October 2018
    Closing date
    Decembre  2019

    Measuring Microfinance Impact in the EU. Policy Recommendations for Financial and Social Inclusion (MeMI)

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    EIB-Universities Research Sponsorship (EIBURS)
    Countries
    Multi country
    Region
    Europe
    Approval date
    October 2016
    Closing date
    October 2019
    More information

    Objectives

    The project aims to paint a picture of the degree of financial and social inclusion in the European Union (EU), and to evaluate the impact of microfinance on financial and social inclusion at the micro and macro level.

    It aims to achieve objective by also establishing whether the promotion of microfinance programmes, providing financial and social inclusion, should be preferred compared to the financing of welfare programmes. This will be achieved relying, for the microeconomic analysis, on a quantitative measure of the Social Return On Investment (SROI), which is capable of quantifying the externalities which arise from fostering the provision of microfinance and welfare, in a region and through a particular implementation, on top of the more traditional financial and economic gains.

    Services

    (i) Assessing financial and social exclusion in the EU through the creation of a protocol for the definition and measurement of financial and social inclusion and microfinance markets development, building a map of financial and social inclusion; (ii) Assessing the channels of influence of financial inclusion on social inclusion, and vice versa in selected EU MSs, obtained via microfinance or welfare programmes; (iii) Quantifying and measuring the impact of microfinance on financial and social inclusion; (iv) Sensitivity analysis: validated estimates of the calculated SROI, definition of a set of feasible and “absorbable” policy recommendations to maximise the impacts of MeMI results as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of microfinance and welfare tools/programmes.

    Consortium members:

    • Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
    • Research Centre “Centro Studi di Politica Economica e Monetaria (CeSPEM), Mario Arcelli”
    • Department of Economics, University of Parma
    • Department of Economics, University of Genova
    • European Microfinance Network (EMN)
    • Italian Microfinance Network (Rete Italiana di Microfinanza – RITMI

    Other information

    Official website

    Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

    Project / Assignment

    Client

    Area

    Lenght

    SDG

    Origin of funding
    Government of the Netherlands, managed by World Bank

    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa

    Approval date
    June 2025
    Closing date
    December 2026

    More information

    Visit the official page: www.microfinanza.com/trace-padeo

    Technical assistance in implementing financial education activities for microfinance institutions and theirs customers in Tunisia

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    ADA – Appui au Développement Autonome a.s.b.l.

    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa

    Approval date
    July 2023 
    Closing date
    June 2024

    More information

    Objective

    The technical assistance provided by Microfinanza is part of ADA’s activities to develop a National Financial Education Programme (PNEF), promote responsible microfinance and build the capacity of microfinance institutions.

    •  Meet the greatest needs in terms of financial education, particularly those of vulnerable populations, in order to reduce obstacles and dependence on the informal economy;
    • Promote responsible financial behaviour in Tunisia to better prepare young people for the increasingly complex economic environment;
    • Strengthen financial education throughout the country, including in rural areas;
    • List concrete measures to be carried out under the PNEF and provide Tunisians with the tools, resources and support measures to improve their financial skills and culture;
    • Disseminate financial education to target groups, especially in the school system and among women, in particular to increase people’s confidence in financial services, especially digital services;
    • Strengthen consumer protection measures and promote digital access / digital literacy.

    Expected Results

    Outcome 1: Provide training materials, methodologies and tools to be shared with inclusive finance and the financial sector actors.

    Outcome 2: Strength the capacity of the operators of MFI to provide financial education to guarantee the financial health of their clients.

    Outcome 3: MFI customers have adopted the principles of financial education.

    Mid-term assessment of the program to Relaunch Investment and Modernization of Agricultural Holdings (PRIMEA)

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 1
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    European Commission

    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa

    Approval date
    July 2022
    Closing date
    November 2022

    More information

    Objective

    The aim of the PRIMEA program is to help boost investment in agriculture by leveraging the State budget with co-financing from banks and contributions from farmers, enabling the modernization of some 60,500 farms and improving the system for granting subsidies and credit.

    The specific objectives of the PRIMEA intervention are to improve: 

    • the access of agricultural holdings to the financing of their productive investments, through support for the agricultural implementation of the policy plan to stimulate investment in Tunisia, through the Investment Code; 
    • the quality of modernization projects and the productivity of farms, through a high-performance and mass-based technical and economic advisory system; 
    • the environment for agricultural investment in Tunisia

    Expected Results

    Outcome 1: Reduction of development inequalities between rural areas in the interior of the country and urbanized coastal areas.
    Outcome 2: Improved individual welfare through increased EA household income, access to employment through economic sustainability of EA and its transfer, and improved farmers’ skills.
    Outcome 3: Improved social cohesion through maintaining the main economic activity in rural areas, thus stabilizing their population
    Outcome 4: assurance of social welfare through the creation of a sustainable system of financing and technical and economic support for agriculture, preventing the marginalization of the rural population and the development of areas of hardship and insecurity.

    Partners

    • DT Global
    • ACK International

    Tunisia ADAPT – Mission to structure and digitise a support fund for private investments and services

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 1
    Value: high

    Origin of funding
    AICS Tunisi

    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa

    Approval date
    October 2021
    Closing date
    September 2028

    More information

    Objectives

    The mission contributes effectively to the operational start-up of the ADAPT programme by providing the required expertise on two key innovative elements such as i) the Private Investment Support Fund and ii) the setting up and maintenance of a digital platform facilitating the access of potential economic promoters to the programme’s financial scheme.

    Services

    The mission consists of four phases as follows: 1. Definition of the eligibility criteria for accessing the Fund; 2. Elaboration of the procedures for granting resources from the Fund via the Associated Financial Partners and other sources of credit; 3. Support activities and technical assistance to the Project Management Unit; 4. Design, implementation and maintenance of a digital platform for the management of the Fund

    Project partners

    • ACK International (France)

    Origin of funding
    Donation of the Government of the Netherlands, managed by World Bank

    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa

    Approval date
    March 2021
    Closing date
    February 2024

    More information

    Objectives

    The programme T.R.A.C.E. is financed by a donation of the Government of the Netherlands through a trust fund managed by the World Bank, whose objective is to create employment targeting especially young people and women, in the rural, agricultural, and agri-food sectors, by enhancing productivity and resilience of small Tunisian producers. Furthermore, it aims at strengthening professional organisations’ and SMEs competitiveness thanks to a better access to knowledges, to innovation and to financial services.
    The realization of the proposed interventions is done by selected partners after due diligence by the World Bank in partnership with public, private, and professional institutions in Tunisia, and in coordination with other complementary programmes. The programme T.R.A.C.E. covers the Governorates of Jendouba, Kairouan and Gabes.
    In this framework, the creation of a fund supporting the job creation in the rural entrepreneurship, agricultural and agri-food sectors is foreseen. This fund will provide with technical and financial assistance to producers organisations, to small and medium enterprises, and to young entrepreneurs for enhancing their business, their professionalization and for creating new jobs.
    The fund supporting the employment amounts to USD 2.83M in view of financing around 250 investment projects with a high potential for job creation, more specifically 85 projects in Jendouba, 80 projects in Kairouan and 85 projects in Gabes.

    Services

    Microfinanza provides technical assistance services and management in the Governorate of Jendouba as:

    • Fund manager in support of job creation in the sector of rural entrepreneurship, agriculture and agri-food
    • Technical assistance provider to professional organizations, to entrepreneurs and SME for preparing and selecting investment projects that are technically, financially and commercially robust and consistent, as well as sustainable from the environmental and social point of view
    • Guide in the realization of investment projects in order to ensure durability and sustainability of created jobs, and in the support to professionalization of entrepreneurs
    • Follow-up of socio-economic and environmental indicators

    The main activities are the following:

    • Selection of potential beneficiaries
    • Analysis and final selection
    • Support to realization
    • Professionalization

    Project partners

    • ACK International (France)
    • AGER (Tunisia)

    Other information

    Official website. Here you can find more information regarding the project and view the main documents, available for download.

    Sfax Integrated Agricultural Development Project

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    Islamic Development Bank 

    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa

    Approval date
    March 2020
    Closing date
    2024

    Enhancing a Financial Consumer Protection Framework in Microfinance

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 5
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding

    SANAD TA Facility

    Countries
    Jordan
    Region
    MENA

    Approval date
    June 2020
    Closing date
    May 2021

    Realization of a study in favour of five Moroccan microcredit associations for the implementation of the project fighting the poverty in Moroccan rural areas through the support of microcredit sector

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 4
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    AICS
    Countries
    Morocco
    Region
    MENA

    Approval date
    October 2019
    Closing date
    February 2021

    More information

    Objectives

    • To strengthen past lessons learnt
    • To work on the weaknesses of the five microcredit associations;
    • To develop new innovative niche markets concerning green microfinance and strategical partnerships.

    Our activities

    • Needs Assessment of the microcredit associations
    • Training and institutional reinforcement
    • Green microfinance needs analysis
    • Strategies and financial partnerships

    Other information

    The project is financed by the Italian Development Cooperation Agency

    Formulation of the indirect management component of the 2019-2020 program “Support for rural development in Tunisia” financed by the European Union

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    AICS

    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa

    Approval date
    February 2020
    Closing date
    December 2020

    Conflict-affected and vulnerable Syrian people particularly women and youth have increased access to water, resilience and dignified lives in Syria and Lebanon

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 4
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    DANIDA
    Countries
    Lebanon
    Region
    MENA
    Approval date
    January 2019
    Closing date
    February 2020
    More information

    Context

    This project in Lebanon is in line with the objectives of the “Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP 2017 – 2020)”, the “Syria Humanitarian Needs Overview” (HNO) and the “Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) 2018”.

    Objectives

    The objectives of the project are as follows:

    1. To improve access to education for protection and a dignified life for the affected populations, especially women, young people and small farmers.
    2. Improving access to WaSH provisions for the most vulnerable people living in informal camps (ITSs) in Lebanon
    3. Strengthening the role of civil society in humanitarian work (affected populations, local actors, Oxfam)

    Activities

    • Analysis of the financial habits and behaviours of the target beneficiary group
    • Organization of training of trainers for local operators
    • Organization of financial education training for beneficiaries
    • Training and follow-up on the use of the savings book within households
    • Support for the establishment of community savings groups and asset-building programmes
    • Provision of monitoring and assistance services to ensure the sustainability of the actions implemented

    Start Up Palestine, Assessment and development of a Regional Credit Guarantee Fund

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: large

    Origin of funding
    AICS – Italian Cooperation
    GIZ

    Countries
    Palestine
    Region
    Middle East

    Approval date
    May 2016
    Closing date
    2020
    More information

    Context

    Within the framework of the “Start Up Palestine – financial tools and technical assistance to promote employment and income generation in Palestine” program, a project component is dedicated to the set-up a mechanism for a Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS), jointly supported by AICS and GIZ.

    Objectives

    After having accomplished the pre-feasibility study for the set-up of the CGS, Microfinanza developped the feasibility study and the operational pilot of the CGS.

    The overall objective of the assignment was to establish the CGS structure and launch the operations. Once operating, the CGS is expected to be managed in a transparent and efficient way, reaching the pre-set goals in terms of enabling access to credit to economic sectors and entrepreneurs who, until now, are left aside of the financial market.

    Services

    The Microfinanza consultants implemented the following tasks:

    • Pre-feasibility: Desk review and preliminary field visit and drafting an assessment of the possible schemes for at least two different CGSs
    • Road Map: identification of the steps to be implemented according to the selected scheme
    • Pre-assessment of economic sustainability, outreach and additionality of the scheme, proposal on the governance, legal status, organizational structure, financial products and active involvement of the regional stakeholders through a participatory approach.
    • Business plan of the scheme
    • Technical Assistance for the implementation of the scheme

    Market Research on Social Performance Management amongst Jordanian Microfinance institutions and its Impact on the Clients

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 1
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    Europaid
    Countries
    Jordan
    Region
    Middle East
    Approval date
    May 2019
    Closing date
    July 2019
    More information

    Context

    Within the framework of the activities conducted by Tanmeyah network an impact study was requested to MFR and Microfinanza. The aim of the study was ‘To collect information on the tools and systems that Jordanian MFIs use to realize their social goals and how these tools are being used to implement their social mission, as well as the impact that the social performance practices has had on their clients’.

    Services

    For conducting the assignment, the Team gathered information on social performance management (SPM) practices and procedures followed by MFIs willing to adhere to the process and analysed the link between SPM practices in place and the achievement of social impact. Moreover, the Team l highlighted a set of outcomes indicators that can be followed to track changes at client’s level.

    The research framework focused on the following key areas:

    1. Social performance goals of Jordanian MFIs,
    2. Social Performance Management Practices within Jordanian MFIs;
    3. How are SP practices transformed into relevant products and services for clients;
    4. Impact of SPM of the MFIs adhering to Tanmeyah network on clients and their families according to a specific set of indicators

    Final Evaluation of the MicroMED Programme – Capacity building in the Tunisian microfinance sector

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 1
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    ADA – Appui au Développement Autonome
    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa
    Approval date
    July 2017
    Closing date
    November 2017

    Integrated and coordinated protection and WASH response for Syria Crisis-affected populations in Lebanon

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    ECHO (European Union Program)
    Countries
    Lebanon
    Region
    Middle East
    Approval date
    April 2017
    Closing date
    January 2018
    More information
    Objective

    The objective of the project is to enhance paths of economic independence of Syrian refugee households hosted in Informal Tented Settlements by improving their capacity of managing private financial resources.

    Activities

    Project activities consist in providing financial education training and support to Syrian Refugees, Lebanese and Palestinian living in the Beqaa Region and in the urban area of Tripoli in the North of Lebanon and are organized as follows:

    1) Interviews and focus groups to identify literacy level of beneficiaries, financial management habits and behaviors, income opportunities, financial needs and aspirations.

    2) Savings notebook tool and training program development.

    3) Training sessions on the saving notebook’s use.

    4) Training sessions on financial education related to the needs arisen during the previous phases and skills improvement.

    5) Follow up on the field with peer group sessions to evaluate direct and indirect impact

    Technical Assistance to the Tunisian Finance Ministry and formulation of a private sector support program under the AICS 2017/2020

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    AICS, Italian Cooperation Agency

    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa
    Approval date
    May 2017
    Closing date
    September 2017
    More information

    Context

    The Technical Assistance is the prosecution on the path set up by AICS – Tunis in 2016 and recently strengthened, which provides continuity in supporting Tunisian local authorities on the financial inclusion theme, through the development of the private sector, which represents one of the objectives set out in the 5th Annual Development Plan 2016-2020.

    Objectives

    The technical assistance mission is composed of two axes:

    • Supporting the Tunisian Ministry of Finance in the facilitation of round tables on the Social and Solidarity Economy, with the aim of improving the SSE component of the new national strategy for financial inclusion ;
    • Develop the new AICS 2017/2020 private sector development program, which covers the themes related to financial inclusion with a special focus on small and medium enterprises, including social enterprises.

    Services

    • Evaluation: coordination of SSE theme groups and secondary data analysis
    • Finalization of the document: interview and data collection in the field
    • Feasibility study of the 2017/2020 programme and development of the strategy: meeting with stakeholders and reporting on objectives, results, activities and allocation of funds for each component
    • Elaboration of a first version of the 2017/2020 programme and preparation of the final proposal: finalization of the AICS 2017/2020 private sector development programme within the framework of the Italy-Tunisia cooperation programme

    Start Up Palestine, Financial Vehicles and technical assistance to boost employment and income generation in Palestine. Definition of a disbursement mechanism for the Capitalization Fund

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    AICS – Italian Cooperation
    Countries
    West Bank and Gaza
    Region
    Middle East
    Approval date
    May 2015
    Closing date
    March 2017
    More information

    Context

    Within the framework of the program “Start-Up Palestine” – Financial Vehicles and Technical Assistance (TA) to Boost Employment and Income Generation in Palestine”, a work plan for the year 2016 focusing on several TA components has been jointly identified with the client UCASC, the Italian Cooperation Office Team and the Italian TA providers (Cassa Padana, Banca Popolare Etica, Microfinanza and FederCasse).

    Objectives

    The objective of the assignment, to be implemented in close coordination with the Union of the Palestinian Credit and Saving Cooperatives as well as with the Ministry of Finance and Palestine Monetary Authority, has focused at conducting a set of activities focused on the definition of a disbursement mechanism for a 3M capitalization fund within the framework of the SetUp Palestine Program.

    Services

    The TA components have been the following: i) Design of the 3M capitalization fund project component – disbursement mechanisms (inclusive of procedures & and risk mitigation strategy), ii) Data Asymmetry, iii) Strategic Planning Process, iv) Business Planning.

    Consortium members:

    • Banca Popolare Etica
    • Cassa Padana
    • Associazione Microfinanza e Sviluppo

    IESS! Initiatives for employment in Social and Solidarity Economy in Tunisia

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    UE
    Countries
    Tunisia
    Region
    North Africa
    Approval date
    2017
    Closing date
    2017

    Institutional and capacity building of microcredit associations for improving rural microfinance in Morocco

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 8
    Value: large

    Origin of funding
    Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – DGCS – Italy
    Countries
    Morocco
    Region
    North Africa
    Approval date
    July 2014
    Closing date
    July 2016
    More information

    Objectives

    The initiative directed by the Moroccan Ministry of Economy and Finance had two specific objectives: i) contributing to an inclusive financial system in providing support to micro-entrepreneurs in rural areas excluded from the formal credit system, and ii) promoting the sustainable development of Micro-Credit Associations (AMCs) through parallel access to technical and financial support. Particularly, with this intervention Microfinanza aimed at consolidating and strengthening 5 local rural financial institutions (AMCs) to improve the availability of financial services in rural areas and the competitiveness of the AMCs at national level. The first phase has been focused on the update of the operational plan, the benchmark definition and the start-up of the Institutional diagnostics.

    Services

    • Institutional Diagnostics: data gathering and analysis
    • Training and Technical Assistance needs assessment
    • Definition of project monitoring system
    • Rural microfinance product design
    • TA/ Training on: Governance, Planning and management of human resources, IT systems and MIS, Planning / Implementation of a strategy for positioning the AMC in the market, Improving Financial Management, Management of risks and internal audit of social performance, Business Planning and procedures design, Monitoring and development of quarterly reports

    Consortium members:

    • Agriconsulting Maroc

    Coordination of the technical assistance to the Saving and Credit Cooperatives within the framework of the Start – Up Palestine Programme – Capitalization Fund.

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    AICS – Italian Cooperation Development Agency
    Countries
    West Bank and Gaza
    Region
    Middle East
    Approval date
    2016
    Closing date
    2016

    Sub-Saharan Africa

    Origin of funding

    • MAEPE – Djibouti
    • The World Bank

    Countries
    Djibouti
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    August 2025
    Closing date
    August 2028

    More information

    Djibouti Agri-Food Value Chain Development Project (PAFAD/FAR) is a 5-year initiative supported by the World Bank and the Government of Djibouti. It aims to strengthen the private agricultural sector in Djibouti by improving rural infrastructure, the regulatory framework, and access to finance for SMEs. The project seeks to increase local food production, reduce imports, create rural jobs, and enhance the country’s food security, notably through training farmers in sustainable practices.

    Objectives of the Technical Assistance

    The technical assistance for the projet “Support for Resilient Agri-Food Chains in Djibouti” (PAFAD/FAR) aims to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of Djibouti’s agro-food value chains. The Technical Assistance provided by Microfinanza seeks to empower agricultural actors and their organizations (cooperatives, TPE/PME) by building their capacities, improving access to adapted financing, and supporting them throughout the identification, formulation, financing, and implementation of sustainable investment projects.

    Our activities

    • Capacity building & training: strengthen the capacities of agricultural actors and their organizations, such as cooperatives and small enterprises.
    • Support to investments: facilitate access to adapted financing, enabling rural actors to carry out sustainable investments. Provide continuous support to beneficiaries throughout the implementation of their sub-projects to ensure long-term success and resilience.

    Partners

    CapTech Consulting

    Program to Combat Irregular Migration through Support for Private Employment – PLASEPRI II

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 5
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – MAECI

    Countries
    Senegal
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    December 2024
    Closing date
    April 2025

    More information

    Plasepri II is a € 20M. facility set up by the partnership between the Italian and the Senegalese governments, to facilitate access to finance to local MSMEs and Senegalese diaspora entrepreneurs in the areas of Dakar, Thiés, Louga, Saint Louis, Diourbel, Kaolak of Senegal. It involves the setting up of different financial and non-financial structures such as credit lines, guarantees, micro-equity and TA to financial intermediaries and final beneficiaries. The programme is matched by a € 13M. EU funding (PASPED) to provide technical assistance, under the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

    Objectives

    The objective of the evaluation is to assess the results achieved by the initiative, particularly its impact, both to ensure transparency and accountability (a particularly important goal given the amount of funding) and to gather useful insights for guiding future development cooperation strategies and programming, as well as for improving the quality of interventions.

    The evaluation is useful for understanding to what extent the enhancement of local economic potential and the Senegalese community in Italy, along with the experimentation of new financial products to facilitate credit access for more vulnerable individuals, have contributed to strengthening the private sector in Senegal, creating new long-term employment opportunities, especially in the regions most affected by migration.

    Specifically, the evaluation aims to:

    • Highlight how and to what extent the initiative has improved employment levels, with particular attention to women (female entrepreneurship).
    • Assess whether the benefits of the granted funding have been sustainable over time and, in particular, whether they have been compromised by the impact of the business crisis caused, most recently, by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Verify whether the success factors previously identified in the evaluation of PLASEPRI I are still present.
    • Evaluate whether the strengthening of Senegalese SMEs and the local productive fabric can serve as an “incubator” for the application of Article 27 of Law 125, which, in its version modified by Law 234/21 (2022 Budget Law), allows access to funding from the revolving fund for development cooperation for businesses to participate in the risk capital of enterprises in partner countries.

    Preparation of Operational Manual & Designing Credit Line in Ethiopia – UNIDO

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    AICS, Italian Cooperation Agency

    Countries
    Ethiopia
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    February 2024
    Closing date
    January 2025

    More information

    The Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has made the development of industrial parks (IPs) a top priority, focusing primarily on the agro-processing, leather, textile, and pharmaceutical sectors. Leveraging the country’s inherent strengths, the GoE aims to enhance international competitiveness in selected agro-industrial value chains. To facilitate this structural transformation of the economy, the GoE is actively working on establishing multiple Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks (IAIPs) and interconnected Rural Transformation Centers (RTCs). This transformation will hinge on transitioning the current fragmented and supply-driven practices in Ethiopian agricultural production to an organized system rooted in quality and market demand. Such a shift is expected to bolster agro-processing, generate employment opportunities, and encourage a reallocation of investment and human resources from agriculture to agro-industries.

    In this framework, the overall objective of the “Operationalization and Sustainability of Integrated Agro-industrial Parks in Ethiopia” Project is to enhance the agro-industrial sector in Ethiopia by generating quality employment opportunities in rural regions of the country and boosting the export of agricultural commodities.

    Objectives
    Based on the scenario presented, the assignment is scheduled as follow according to the approach described below. The project aims at:

    • Engage relevant government institutions and key stakeholders within the IAIP ecosystem in Ethiopia to (i) formulate selection criteria and (ii) identify potential financial institutions (FI) suitable to participate to the credit line.
    • Evaluate the current state of the financial ecosystem supporting Ethiopian agro-enterprises in accessing credit for equipment and process upgrades. This assessment includes a review of the existing financial institutions’ processes for granting and recovering loans from agro-enterprise clients.
    • Develop an operational manual for initiating and managing a dedicated credit line for agro-enterprises. The manual will include the selection criteria, the list of potential financial institutions, and a specific risks analysis. These risks include those directly affecting agricultural producers and agro-industrial processors’ capacity throughout the value chain, as well as risks related to various stages of fund disbursement and repayment processes.

    Technical Assistance to Financial Intermediaries under the ESFD Guarantee ‘Nasira’. Internal capacity building for MSME Lending
    Equity Bank Kenya

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    FMO
    EQUITY BANK Kenya

    Countries
    Kenya
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    June 2023
    Closing date
    October 2024

    More information

    Technical assistance services to Equity Bank Kenya and Equity Group Foundation in establishing non-financial services (NFS) and business development support services (BDS) in agricultural and agro-industrial value chains.

    Objectives

    The main objective of the assignment is to expand and enhance Equity Bank Kenya’s (EBK)/ and Equity Group Foundation’s (EGF) non-financial services (NFS) offerings, building on EGF’s existing set of programmes (in the food and agriculture, business development and financial inclusion sectors) and EBK’s market-leading MSME lending in the food and agriculture sectors.

    Phase 1: Assessment of EBK/EGF’s existing supply of NFS, as well as demand (agri-SME side) and supply (Kenyan competition and international best practices) of NFS in agriculture.

    Phase 2: Development of EBK/EGF’s NFS value proposition and a plan to reach 10,000 entrepreneurs (MPMIs) annually in the seven priority agricultural value chains. Co-design and accompany EBK/EGF’s implementation of dynamic pilot tests, incorporating them into EBK’s credit processes for long-term sustainability.

     

    Consortium members

    • NIRAS – Financial Access

    Drawing up a procedures manual for the national SME/SMI support fund (FONAP)

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    Appui au développement autonome ASBL – ADA

    Countries
    Niger
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    April 2023
    Closing date
    September 2023

    More information

    Objectives

    Financial Inclusion Development Programme in Niger (PADIF) provides the technical assistance and expertise needed to support the implementation of the National Inclusive Finance Strategy (SNFI). The specific objective of this Indicative Cooperation Programme  is to improve access to financial services for vulnerable communities and members of the agricultural sector, especially women and young people in rural areas.

    Services

    The services provided under this contract are part of a public cooperation project (between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Niger) for the benefit of a country outside the EU, in this case Niger. The purpose of this contract is to determine the terms and conditions of the consultant’s intervention (fees, other expenses) with a view to providing FONAP with manuals of procedures for the operations of its windows in addition to the administrative, financial and accounting manuals.

    Consortium members

    Diagnosis and improvement of the financing model for the agricultural sector

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    Direction du Développement et de la Coopération Suisse
    Direction de la Coopération au Développement et de l’action humanitaire du Ministère des Affaires étrangères 
    et européennes de Luxembourg

    Countries
    Camerun
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    September 2022
    Closing date
    December 2023

    More information

    Objectives

    1) Conduct a diagnosis of the current agricultural sector financing model.
    2) Formulate recommendations to improve the agricultural sector financing model and define a three-year rural finance development plan.
    3) Update the manual of agricultural finance procedures.
    4) Provide support in the implementation and monitoring of the recommendations adopted.

    Services

    A diagnosis will be carried out to assess the financing model used for the agricultural sector, supply, demand and the positioning of ACEP Cameroon on the local/national market. At the same time, the team will carry out field research aimed at ‘studying customer needs’, in collaboration with ACEP staff. This phase will enable the team to develop recommendations that will help to improve the institution’s performance, with a focus on customer needs and opportunities for Financial Institutions development and positioning. Supporting the updating of the agricultural funding procedures manual will help to consolidate the guidelines and procedures adopted by the institution in order to strengthen its financial and social positioning and performance. Finally, the team will support the institution in implementing key recommendations, ensuring that what is suggested can be implemented. Microfinanza propose a comprehensive and integrated solution to solve the main questions: diagnosing and improving the ACEP Cameroon’s agricultural sector financing model, assessing the existing tools and methods, identifying the expectations of the recipients and adapting it to the needs of the socio-cultural and economic context.

    Consortium members

    • ACEP Camerun
    • Grameen Crédit Agricole Microfinance Foundation

    Evaluation of the IDE Country Programme in Burkina Faso

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 5
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding: UNIDO – United Nations Industrial development Org.

    Countries
    Burkina Faso
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    September 2022
    Closing date
    April 2023

    More information

    Objectives

    The objective of the contract is to evaluate the IDE (Inclusive Digital Economy) country strategy for Burkina Faso implemented by UNCDF.
    The overall country strategy is evaluated on the basis of the 6 DAC/OECD Criteria of pertinence, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, likely impact and sustainability. Microfinanza will evaluate the strategy in the context of overall UNCDF IDE strategy, of National Development strategies of the Government of Burkina Faso and of the Luxembourg Development strategy, which is the main donor.

    Services

    The evaluation exercise includes 2 micro-evaluations on PARI – – Programme d’Appui au renforcement de la Résilience et à l’Innovation (Resilience Building and Innovation Support Program) and CE4PR – Clean Energy 4 People Resilience, which is the implementation in Burkina of the worldwide Cleanstart program.
    IDE program, and the related project, aims to foster financial inclusion through the vehicle of digitalization, with a clear focus on contributing to green economy and empowerment of women, youth and migrants.

    Consortium members

     

    WE-RISE! – Financial Inclusion Scheme Establishment

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 5
    Value: big

    Origin of funding: European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF)/AICS Khartoum

    Countries
    Sudan
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    April 2022
    Closing date
    February 2025

    Financial Inclusion Assessment in Gedaref State

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 4
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    AICS Khartoum 

    Countries
    Sudan
    Region
    North Africa

    Approval date
    February 2021
    Closing date
    June 2021

    Internal Capacity Building for MSME lending – Equity Bank Kenya

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    FMO Entrepreneurial Development Bank

    Countries
    Kenya
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    August 2021
    Closing date
    November 2022 (reported)

    More information

    Context

     

    Objectives

    In the frame of the Programme financed by FMO (Entrepreneurial Development Bank) and NASIRA, a risk-sharing facility for financial institutions, the assignment proposes to support Equity Bank Kenya (EBK) and Equity Group Foundation (EGF) to realize an opportunity to provide non-financial (NFS) and business development services (BDS) to agricultural MSMEs and entrepreneurs in Kenya.

    The core objective of the assignment is therefore to expand and improve EBK/EGF’s NFS offering, building on EGF’s existing set of NFS/BDS programmes (in Food and Agriculture, and Enterprise Development and Financial Inclusion), and EBK’s market leading Food and Agriculture MSME lending portfolio.

    Services

    The project is composed of two main phases, in addition to the inception phase:

    1. A practical and efficient assessment of EBK/EGF’s existing NFS offer, and of the demand (agri-MSMEs) and supply (Kenyan competition and international best practice) of agri-focused NFS.

    2. Drawing on the conclusions from Phase 1, developing EBK/EGF’s NFS value proposition and a practical and implementable framework that can reach 10,000 MSME entrepreneurs annually in the seven priority agricultural value chains.

    Consortium members

    • Niras A/S

    • LFS Advisory GmbH

    • Financial access consulting services, middle east investment initiative

    Evaluation of the Ghana Digital Financial Services (DFS) Project

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    The World Bank

    Countries
    Ghana
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa

    Approval date
    June 2021
    Closing date
    December 2021

    More information

    Objectives

    The Assignment is guided by two overarching objectives, and namely: 1) Assessing the design and implementation of the Project, and, in particular, the achievement of results at output, outcome and, whenever feasible, impact level (accountability); and 2) Drawing key lessons from the experience of the Project, leading to the formulation of recommendations for a second phase of the Project, but also towards informing the design and implementation of similar future engagements (learning).

    Services

    The evaluation of the projet is composed of three phases as follows: 1) An initial phase, devoted to the firming up of the methodology and the initial review of documentation; 2) A data gathering phase, mostly consisting of fieldwork in Ghana; and 3) A final phase, involving the consolidation and analysis of findings and the preparation of the final report and of the case studies.

    Consortium members

    • Economisti associati (Lead)

    Other

    The World Bank

    Environmental strategy for ID Ghana

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    GCAMF/AFD
    Countries
    Ghana
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa
    Approval date
    January 2020
    Closing date
    June 2020

    Provision of consultancy services for the strategic design of a mutualistic financial mechanism programme in Kassala State

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 1
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    UNIDO
    Countries
    Sudan
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa
    Approval date
    October 2019
    Closing date
    November 2019

    ID Ghana Risk Management Assessment

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    GCAMF/AFD
    Countries
    Ghana
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa
    Approval date
    August 2019
    Closing date
    October 2019

    Technical Assistance Facility – REGMIFA, Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: large

    Origin of funding
    European Investment Bank, UE, AECID, OeEB, KfW

    Countries
    Multi country
    Region
    Sub Saharan Africa
    Approval date
    January 2011
    Closing date
    June 2015
    More information

    Context

    The investment fund Regional Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) for Sub-Saharan Africa (REGMIFA) is a specialized investment fund of 200 million of Euro with the aim to improve the medium and long-term needs of local financial intermediaries, by providing funds to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. In parallel with the Fund there is a Technical Assistance component (TA Facility) focusing on the provision of technical assistance services to financial institutions financed by the Fund.

    Objectives

    The Technical Assistance component linked to the Fund has developed, approved and supported 84 projects of technical assistance and training for microfinance institutions in 18 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. betzeen 2011 and 2015.

    Services

    The Technical Assistance component is managed by a team composed of a TA Project Manager (Symbiotics SA), a TA Field expert, a TA Analyst and a backstopping expert (Microfinanza).

    Services provided are the following: (i) Needs Assessment of TA and development of Terms of Reference (ii) Terms of References Drafting Process; (Iii) Evaluation and Monitoring of proposals; (iv) Management of a database of experts (individual and corporate); (V) Selection of consultants on the basis of a manual of procedures; (vi) Management of selection procedures and evaluation on technical and financial offers; (vii) Management of the TA process and evaluation of consultants; (viii) Monitoring of the TA component; (ix) Follow-up of TA projects; (X) Reporting.

    Outputs

    The 84 technical assistance projects approved in 18 Countries supported 40 Financial Institutions with a strong focus on: Information and management system, transformation processes, mobilization of savings, human resources, marketing and market studies, new financial products, social performance, non-financial product development, risk management, governance, business plan development, customer management, evaluation and impact studies, internal control, loan portfolio and credit products, financial education.

    Consortium members

    • Symbiotics SA (Leader)

    Asia

    Project / Assignment

    Client

    Area

    Lenght

    SDG

    Provision of services to establish and support the operationalization of an Investment Support Facility

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 7
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)

    Countries
    Cambodia
    Region
    Asia

    Approval date
    July 2021
    Closing date
    April 2022

    More information

    Objectives

    The project aims at:

    • Designing and supporting UNIDO in the creation of an Investment Support Facility (ISF) in order to channel financial and non-financial services on fishery value chain investments;
    • Supporting UNIDO in the operationalization of the ISF and assisting it through monitoring and evaluation for a four-months period.

    Services

    The activities are divided up into three phases as follows:

    Phase 1 – Inception Phase

    • Documentary review: analysis of the supply (MFI and banks) and demand side (MSMEs)
    • Draft of situational analysis based on preliminary desk review and meetings with relevant actors
    • Preliminary working assumptions
    • Proposed methodology and tools

    Phase 2 – Design and support UNIDO in establishing the Investment Support Facility (ISF)

    • Situational analysis and interviews with other stakeholders
    • Formulation of working assumptions to be validated by Project’s stakeholders
    • Establishment of ISF for managing FVC investment and technical support
    • Preparation of Terms of Reference for Technical Manager (TM) and Fund Manager (FM)
    • Preparation of documentation for the Expression of Interest (EoI) and the Call for Proposals

    Phase 3 – Promotion and operationalization of the ISF

    • Development of a tailor-made awareness campaign for promoting ISF
    • Support to UNIDO, TM and FM
    • Interim reporting
    • Final reporting

    Impact Assessment in Afghanistan – MISFA

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 4
    Value: large

    Origin of funding
    MISFA
    Countries
    Afghanistan
    Region
    Asia
    Approval date
    August 2018
    Closing date
    March 2019
    More information

    Objectives

    Based on MISFA’s request, the objective of the study is to determine the impact of microfinance interventions on the clients’ households in Afghanistan. Since 2007, when a previous impact study has been conducted, the social and economic environment drastically changed and the aim is to answer some research questions formulated by MISFA and to better understand the profile of the clients, the impact of microfinance services on clients’ activities and risk management strategies, the quality of the service offered as well as the role of microfinance within the creation of an inclusive financial sector. Given the peculiar feature of Afghanistan, the impact of economic, social and security environment will be also analyzed.

    Services

    The assignment covered different areas, as follows:

    • Desk review and tools design (questionnaire, data sheets, focus group discussion guidelines)
    • Organization of training sessions for survey enumerators
    • Interviews to >1540 clients in 5 Provinces
    • Data Analyisis
    • Reporting and final presentation of the survey

    Outputs

    Impact study

    Consortium Members

    • Tadbeer

    Downloads

    Executive summary of our research 

    Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI) survey

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 4
    Value: large

    Origin of funding
    MISFA
    Countries
    Afghanistan
    Region
    Asia
    Approval date
    December 2017
    Closing date
    May 2018
    More information

    Objectives

    The survey has been implemented within the framework of the Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA) that aims at regularly measuring the poverty level of the microfinance sector using the Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI tool)

    Services

    The assignment covered different level of analysis, as follows:

    • Desk review and tools design
    • Organization of training sessions on tools and reporting system for the local staff and workshops on PPI methodology
    • ToT on how to carry out the PPI survey
    • Training session on how to embed the PPI. Survey into the system
    • Reporting and final presentation of the survey

    Consortium Members

    • Timpoc
    • Ghani

    Evaluation of the IFC Vietnam Microfinance Programme

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Origin of funding
    IFC
    Countries
    Vietnam
    Region
    Asia
    Approval date
    July 2017
    Closing date
    November 2017

    Mid-term Evaluation of the “Making Access to Finance more Inclusive for Poor People” Programme

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 5
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    UNCDF
    Countries
    Laos
    Region
    Asia
    Approval date
    2016
    Closing date
    2016

    Latin America and Caribbean (LAC)

    Project / Assignment

    Client

    Area

    Lenght

    SDG

    Reinforcement of the actors’ capacities on financial education in the framework of the project “Assistance to vulnerable children identified at the four most frequently used border and unofficial points”

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    UNICEF

    Countries
    Haiti
    Region
    Carribbean

    Approval date
    January 2020
    Closing date
    June 2020

    Agricultural Microfinance and Environment in Haiti

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: large

    Origin of funding
    Direction du Développement et de la Coopération de la Confédération Suisse
    Countries
    Haiti
    Region
    Caribbean
    Approval date
    June 2016
    Closing date
    March 2019
    More information

    Objectives

    The focus is on climate and environmental risk prevention and reduction in order to protect and agricultural production in terms of quality and productivity of small rural producers. Following the pilot phase (2016-2017), the current project aims at reducing the vulnerability of the agricultural sector in relation to climate and environmental risks, as well as increasing the overall performance and efficiency of agricultural production. Moreover, our goal is to promote environmentally friendly practices among farmers involved in the project. Four Saving and Credit Financial Institutions are involved in the process.

    Services

    Data analysis of farmers’ dossiers received during the pilot phase; Further development and improvement of the software tool (Excel); Integrations of the Strategic Plans of the Savings and Credit Banks for 2016-2020; Introduction to the project of a new Savings and Credit Bank; Adoption of the software tool by the new financial structure; Launching of financial products; Technical training on the software tool to loan officers; Support and technical assistance to portfolio management; Issue table with stakeholders of the agricultural and rural sector (private and public); Organization of a national atelier for discussion.

    Local Partner:

    • Anacaph

    Fwontyè san fòs kote – Social and economic inclusion of vulnerable people working in the informal economy sectors in cross-border regions of Haiti

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 4
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    European Commission
    Countries
    Haiti
    Region
    Caribbean
    Approval date
    March 2015
    Closing date
    February 2019
    More information

    Objectives

    The project aims to contribute to the poverty reduction of the population living across the border Haiti – Dominican Republic, improving their living conditions, particularly targeting the economic and social inclusion of vulnerable people depending on the informal economy on the border areas of Ouanaminthe, Belladère and Malpasse.

    Specifically, the project wants to ensure the organizational strengthening of marginalized groups, the ownership of their rights, the extension of the social protection coverage, the entrepreneurship supporting and the creation of productive job around the boundary binational markets Haiti-Dominican Republic.

    Services

    Needs assessment on demand and supply sides of financial services in the border area; support in designing the program overall strategy, participation to coordination committee meetings; training delivery on financial education and programs and materials development and organization of field activities; support local institutions on new financial products development; support processes aimed to the improvement of partnership between popular credit banks and business-development service providers (BDS); development of appropriate indicators and monitoring; preparation of interim and activities’ final reports.

    Consortium members:

    • Oxfam Italia
    • Oxfam GB, Oxfam Quebec, CMAH (Chambre de l’Artisanat et Matiers d’Haiti)
    • GARR – Groupe d’Appui aux rétournés et Repatriées
    • ASOMURE
    • CMAH – Chambre de Métiers et d’Artisanat d’Haïti
    • GARR – Groupe d’Appui aux Rapatriés et Réfugiés
    • Asociación de los Municipios de la Región Enriquillo (ASOMURE)

    Website of the project

    http://www.fsfk.org/ 

    Downloads

    Edikasyon finansye

    Research paper on Women Empowerment in post-conflict Colombia

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 2
    Value: small

    Countries
    Colombia
    Region
    South America
    Approval date
    2018
    More information

    Research question

    ‘Microfinance as a Means for Women Empowerment in the Colombian Post Conflict Scenario: Transformational Development or a Tool for Better Managing Poverty?’

    Abstract

    Gender financial inclusion initiatives, such as facilitating access to financial resources or business opportunities, have recently been promoted as a key strategy to advance women empowerment in post conflict scenarios, especially regarding refugee and internally displaced women. Drawing on literature review, this paper attempts to provide an analysis of the potential role of microfinance as a means for empowerment of internally displaced women in Colombia. It argues that without challenging the structural conditions that create poverty and discrimination against women, usually deepened during transition processes, these initiatives will be tackling the symptoms rather than the underlying causes of gender inequalities, thus missing out their transformative potential and simply providing tools for women to better manage their poverty. Instead, engaging other members of the household and the community (men and children), the recognition of the socio-cultural dynamics in which women live and the acknowledgment of women’s agency may strengthen any effort of empowering women through financial inclusion during the post-conflict phase.

    As a result of this analysis a set of recommendations will be provided with the purpose of promoting virtuous cycles of female economic empowerment in the Colombian post-conflict scenario through transforming microfinance initiatives.

    Published on Peace Human Rights Governance (PHRG)

    Autors

    Downloads

    Annex I – Paper CDU

    Reinforcement of the actors’ capacities on financial education as part of the project fighting against child domestic labour in Haiti

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: medium

     

    Origin of funding
    UNICEF
    Countries
    Haiti
    Region
    Carribbean
    Approval date
    2018
    Closing date
    2018

    Multi country

    Project / Assignment

    Client

    Area

    Lenght

    SDG

    ERPAD – Eau ressource pour l’agriculture de demain

    Status: ongoing
    Staff provided: 4
    Value: large

    Origin of funding
    European Union

    EU Program Interreg Italie-Tunisie

    Countries
    Italy, Tunisia
    Region
    Sousse, Nabeul, Catania, Messina et Ragusa

    Approval date
    June 2025
    Closing date
    November 2027

    More information

    The Interreg NEXT Italy–Tunisia programme, co-financed by the European Union, promotes a greener, more resilient and low-carbon cooperation space. The programme supports cross-border actions aimed at increasing awareness, capacities, exchange of good practices, training and skills development, while encouraging the active participation of citizens, civil society organisations and the private sector in activities concerning the management and protection of water resources, freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, as well as drinking water.

    The ERPAD – Eau ressource pour l’agriculture de demain project addresses the growing water crisis affecting Sicily and Tunisia, territories strongly dependent on agriculture and increasingly exposed to adverse climatic conditions, aggravated by four consecutive years of drought. ERPAD seeks to develop innovative and shared solutions for sustainable water management, with a special focus on the fruit tree sector.

    Specific objectives

    • Strengthen skills in water management planning and in the design of sustainable investment plans.
    • Promote a cross-border approach to identify common solutions to shared challenges, particularly in the most vulnerable agricultural sectors.
    • Support the resilience of agricultural SMEs by encouraging rational water use and innovative financial models (blended finance).
    • Stimulate cooperation among farms, research centres, technology providers and financial institutions, integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria.

    Main activities

    • Development of water management and sustainable investment plans for participating farms.
    • Implementation of pilot and demonstration actions in at least 15 Sicilian and 15 Tunisian farms, focusing on arboriculture.
    • Creation of cross-border partnerships among enterprises, research institutions, technical suppliers and service providers.
    • Activation of support tools for agricultural SMEs, facilitating access to financial resources and innovative technologies.
    • Awareness-raising and training of local stakeholders on efficient water management and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

    Project partners

    • Microfinanza – Lead partner
    • University of Catania
    • Foris
    • Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott Mariem

    Mid-term evaluation of the UNCDF remittances migration and programme

    Status: closed
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: medium

    Origin of funding
    UNCDF

    Countries
    Multy-country
    Region
    Multy-country

    Approval date
    September 2023
    Closing date
    September 2024

    More information

    The objective of the Migrants’ Remittances Programme is to improve the financial resilience and economic inclusion of migrants and their families through low-cost digital remittance services and remittance-related financial products, with the aim of contributing to the sustainable development of countries of origin in the Global South.

    Microfinanza’s main activity for this contract is the mid-term evaluation of the programme.

     

    Consortium members

    • MFR
    • MDF
    • Timpoc

    ACP-EU PSD Knowledge Management technical Support Function 

    Status: ongoing
    Staff provided: 3
    Value: large

    Origin of funding
    European commission

    Countries
    ACP Countries: African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States
    Region
    ACP countries

    Approval date
    2018
    Closing date
    2025

    More information

    Objectives

    The program focuses on providing technical and administrative assistance to the ACP Secretariat and PSD platform in order to promote ACP-EU PSD knowledge management and to reinforce an effective private sector engagement framework with learning and collaboration between key stakeholders.

      Services

      Technical support offered for the implementation of the EUR 600 million intra-ACP/EDF envelop under the Joint Cooperation Framework for PSD evolves around the following four (4) program pillars:

      • Pillar 1: Support business-friendly and inclusive national and regional policies and strengthen productive capacities and value chains
      • Pillar 2: Increase financial inclusion
      • Pillar 3: Increase access to finance for enterprises, in particular SMEs
      • Pillar 4: Promote ACP-EU PSD knowledge management

        Partners

        IBS
        Microfinanza
        GOPA

         

        Engaging diaspora communities in Italy in collaborative efforts to support rural development and youth employment in Senegal and Morocco

        Status: closed
        Staff provided: 3
        Value: medium

        Origin of funding
        IFAD
        Countries
        Italy, Senegal and Morocco
        Region
        Europe, North and Sub Saharan Africa

        Approval date
        2017
        Closing date
        September 2018

        Study of Silatech-supported Financing for Microenterprises

        Status: closed
        Staff provided: 5
        Value: large

        Origin of funding
        Silatech
        Countries
        Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia
        Region
        MENA and Sub Saharan Africa
        Approval date
        December 2017
        Closing date
        February 2019
        More information

        Objectives

        The assignment aims at evaluating the effectiveness of Silatech microfinance activities, the extent to which the microloans have been used for their intended purpose and their contribution to business development, improving livelihoods and enhance employment outcomes for young clients and their families in three target countries (Morocco, Tunisia and Sudan).

        Services

        The assignment covered different level of analysis, as follows:

        • To assess the youth lending portfolio (performance, process and products of the FSPs)
        • To measure socio-economic features of youth that were served by FSP and track use of loans;
        • To measure which are the main determinants of business development, well-being and community improvements.

        The proposed research methodology includes a multidimensional approach including a mix of quantitative (statistics and econometric) and qualitative/descriptive methods based on primary sources of information (interviews clients and FSP staff, direct data extrapolation from FSPs’ management information systems [MISs]) and secondary sources (documentary desk review).

        Outputs

        Baseline Survey in three target countries and set up of a monitoring system on outcomes on youth employment and job creation.

        Refugees’ market assessment for financial inclusion in Uganda and Jordan

        Status: closed
        Staff provided: 3
        Value: medium

        Origin of funding
        Grameen Crédit Agricole Microfinance Foundation (GCAMF)
        Countries
        Jordan and Uganda
        Region
        Middle East and Sub Saharan Africa
        Approval date
        January 2018
        Closing date
        June 2018
        More information

        Context

        Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Swedish Development Agency (SIDA), appointed Microfinanza to carry out an assessment on the financial needs of refugees and the business case for serving them in Uganda and Jordan. Consultants made an in-depth analysis of the demand for financial and non-financial products and services among refugees and their host communities in the districts of West Nile and South West in Uganda, as well as in camps and urban areas in Jordan.

        Objectives

        The aim of the study is to gain a robust understanding of this market’s unmet financial needs and opportunities for financial service providers (FSPs) to profitably serving refugees.

        Services

        i) Developing a market study on the demand for financial and non-financial products and services among refugees in Jordan and Uganda, ii) Developing strategic confidential reports to the 3 MFIs involved in the program towards serving refugee clientele.

        Outputs:

        • Market study : market segmentation, demand evaluation, potential areas for future businesses for refugees, analysis of client’s affordability and creditworthiness, challenges and barriers in accessing self- employment opportunities, product prototype testing, conflict analysis and risk assessments of external risks that could pose an obstacle to the successful implementation of the intervention;
        • Strategic recommendations to Donor, Agencies and other market infrastructures on how to set up an effective strategy in response to the challenge of financial inclusion of refugees in Jordan and Uganda;
        • Strategic confidential reports to 3 selected Microfinance Institutions (1 Jordan, 2 in Uganda) to support them in designing credit products and other financial and non-financial services that can support business activities and consumption needs of the target market.

        Downloads

        GCAF Refugee market assessment Jordan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
        GCAF Refugee market assessment Jordan FINAL REPORT
        GCAF Refugee market assessment Uganda EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
        GCAF Refugee market assessment Uganda FINAL REPORT

        Mid-term Evaluation of the CleanStart UNCDF Programme

        Status: closed
        Staff provided: 6
        Value: Medium

        Origin of funding
        UNCDF
        Countries
        Uganda, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar, Ethiopia
        Region
        Sub Saharan Africa and Asia
        Approval date
        December 2016
        Closing date
        May 2017
        More information

        Context

        CleanStart, a UNCDF multiyear programme (2012-2020), aims to increase sustainable access to clean and affordable energy for more than 2.5 million people (low-income households and micro-entrepreneurs) through inclusive finance.

        Objectives

        The overall objectives of the independent mid-term evaluation are to: i) to allow UNCDF and funding partners to meet their accountability and learning objectives; ii) to ensure that the evaluation can support the ongoing attempts by the programme and its funders to capture good practice and lessons to date in a sector which is still relatively new and innovative; iii) to guide and inform the next years of CleanStart as well as the next phase of the programme.

        Services

        Desk review, refinement of evaluation methodology and preparation of data collection (and analysis) toolkit, drafting of inception report and validation of data collection (and analysis) toolkit, interviews with stakeholders (global, macro, meso, and market level), FSP/ESPs visits (micro and client level), preparation of brief presentation of preliminary field visit findings, data analysis and reporting phase, preparation of debriefing presentation, preparation of final evaluation report, preparation of dissemination presentation.

        Consortium Members:

        • MicrofinanzaRating Srl