Global Partnerships (GP), a microfinance organization based in the United States, recently reported to MicroCapital that it made debt investments totaling USD 3 million in microfinance institutions in Latin America.

The Global Partnerships Social Investment Fund (SIF) 2010 loaned a total of USD 2 million to two Bolivian microfinance institutions (MFIs). Fundacion Sembrar Sartawi, which was established in 1989, received a USD 1.5 million loan while Fondo de Desarrollo Comunal (FONDECO), which was established in 1995, received a USD 500,000 loan from GP. In 2009, Sartawi reported to the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the US-based data provider, total assets of USD 4.3 million, a gross loan portfolio (GLP) of USD 3.5 million, return on assets (ROA) of -6.88 percent, return on equity (ROE) of -199 percent and 3,650 active borrowers. During the same period, FONDECO reported to MIX total assets of USD 12.5 million, GLP of USD 10 million, ROA of 2.31 percent and ROE of 8.31 percent.

In Ecuador, GP made a USD 1 million debt investment in Fundacion Espoir, a nongovernmental organization that was established in 1992. As of 2009, Espoir reported to MIX total assets of USD 22.6 million, GLP of USD 20.5 million and 43,300 borrowers

By Julie Moksim, Research Associate

About Global Partnerships (GP): Global Partnerships (GP) raises capital through a microfinance investment fund strategy. The company has staff based in Seattle, Washington and Managua, Nicaragua. As of June 30, 2010, GP invests in 27 microfinance institutions in seven Latin American countries that serve 845,000 borrowers.

About Global Partnerships Social Investment Fund 2010:
Social Investment Fund 2010 (SIF 2010) is a USD 20 million, five-year debt fund created by Global Partnerships (GP), a microfinance organization based in the United States, which aims to provide affordable loan capital to up to 20 microfinance institutions in Latin America. The goals of the fund are to increase access to microcredit for people living in poverty in Latin America; to support the growth and development of microfinance institutions (MFIs) that are achieving exceptional levels of social impact; and to return capital to investors with fixed-income returns.

Forty-one investors are participating in SIF 2010, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC); foundations including Linked Foundation, Perls Foundation and the Brown Family Private Foundation; Seattle University; faith-based institutions such as the Mercy Partnership Fund; and 23 accredited individual investors.

About Fundacion Sembrar Sartawi: Fundacion Sembrar Sartawi is a Bolivian microfinance institution (MFI) that was established in 1989. The MFI aims to contribute to the development of urban and rural micro- and small-scale enterprises by providing financial services to underserved communities. In 2009, Sartawi reported to the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the US-based nonprofit data provider, total assets of USD 4.3 million, a gross loan portfolio of USD 3.5 million, return on assets of -6.88 percent, return on equity of -199 percent and 3,650 active borrowers.

About Fondo de Desarrollo Comunal (FONDECO): FONDECO is a nongovernmental organization that was established in 1995 in Bolivia. FONDECO provides individual and group loans to rural communities in Bolivia. Its clients consist primarily of small producers, micro-entrepreneurs and rural traders, and loan durations are typically between two and five years. In 2009, FONDECO reported to the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the US-based data provider, total assets of USD 12.5 million, a gross loan portfolio of USD 10 million, return on assets of 2.31 percent and return on equity of 8.31 percent.

About Fundacion Espoir: Fundacion Espoir is a nongovernmental organization that was established in Ecuador in 1992. Espoir’s mission is to contribute to the economic and social development of poor female entrepreneurs. The organization also offers health education and financial education to their entrepreneurs. As of 2009, Espoir reported to the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the US-based data provider, total assets of USD 22.6 million, a gross loan portfolio of USD 20.5 million and 43,300 borrowers.

Sources and Additional Resources:

Information provided to MicroCapital by Global Partnerships

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe Profile: Global Partnerships (GP)

http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Global+Partnerships

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe Profile: Global Partnerships Social Investment Fund 2010

http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Global+Partnerships+Social+Investment+Fund+2010

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe Profile: Fundacion Sembrar Sartawi
http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=IFD…

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe Profile: Fondo de Desarrollo Comunal (FONDECO)
http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Fon…

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe Profile: Fundacion Espoir

http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Fundacion+Espoir

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