Achievements
The Foundation has been a key player in the growth of the microfinance industry. With the entry of more donors and commercial funders in the sector, it has decided to drastically reduce its support to microfinance and focus on other underserved development areas.From 1992 to 2005, Argidius Foundation has:
- been a key supporter in proving the sustainability of microfinance, especially supporting the transformation of MFIs from non-profit to sustainable commercial institutions
- supported organisations to prove the potential for commercialisation of microfinance and the case of microfinance as a viable investment alternative
- provided simultaneous support to other institutions, reaching the very poor through community microfinance
- provided funding at a critical time in the history of a number of innovative institutions - either as working capital, to capitalise loan funds, or to support expansion
- been a key supporter of the importance of measuring social impact by MFIs, a still- emerging area
- supported the work of international networks improving framework conditions in Latin America
- supported entrepreneur training and helped to increase the acceptance of education in entrepreneurship for youth and adults.
- participated in the development of the social enterprise field.