Lending criteria

Oikocredit finances Microfinance Institutions, cooperatives,

small and medium-sized enterprises, fair trade organisation and other NGOs or business

enterprises with proven social relevance if the following conditions are met:

Lending Criteria:

• Your organization should have at least 50 registered members and have been in existence for at least three years
• Project must be economically viable, with appropriate management and technical leadership, and become self-sufficient within a reasonable period of time
• The enterprise supported must benefit disadvantaged people
• There must be a clear need for the type of financial service (s) requested from Oikocredit
• Financial benefits must be widely distributed and not result in the enrichment of a few
• The enterprise must contribute to the social and/or economic advancement of the larger community in which it is located
• Preference is given to enterprises in which women are direct beneficiaries and where they participate in decision-making structures and procedures
• Special attention is paid to the ecological impact and the protection of animals and species. The project should meet the environmental criteria adopted by Oikocredit.