How does Oikocredit select its project partners?

Before any organization becomes an Oikocredit project partner it undergoes extensive analysis to ensure it is financially and socially in line with Oikocredit values. We carefully measure the enterprise against eight points of Oikocredit criteria.

These include the extent to which the enterprise:

1. benefits poor and disadvantaged people
2. widely distributed its benefits and does not result in the enrichment of only a few organizers or investors
3. contributes to social and economic advancement of the larger community in which is it located
4. gives special attention to the ecological impact and the protection of animals and plant species
5. favours a cooperative structure as much as possible so economically disadvantaged people can participate directly in the operation and management of the business.
6. gives preference to women in participation and as direct beneficiaries
7. is economically viable and able to become self-sustaining within a reasonable period of time, thus allowing Oikocredit's financial participation to be phased out
8. needs foreign investment which can be provided within terms that can secure the necessary government approvals and that are beneficial to the project partners.

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