Microfinance

Hundreds of thousands of people achieve financial stability thanks to microfinance schemes facilitated by Plan through its partners - helping them to protect their households from emergencies and plan for the future.

When already vulnerable households or individuals experience ‘shocks' - sudden price fluctuations, disasters, illness, or death - children are often the first to suffer, being forced to go without food, water or education.

Through small loans and savings schemes, Plan's programmes offer assistance to the very poor with a special emphasis on access for women.

By providing access to useful lump sums and the opportunity to accumulate savings over time, our schemes allow families greater flexibility in managing their resources and help them to become resilient and provide for their children.

Working in partnership

Plan works in partnership with local microfinance service providers as well as other organisations on poverty-breaking initiatives.

In Peru, for example, our work through partnerships has helped 8,000 families to access financial services and receive educational support.

One such partner is Arariwa, a non-governmental organisation with expertise in microfinance projects. Together we have helped bring village banks to rural areas of the Cusco region and complemented these services with educational projects on business management, participation in the community and children's and women's health.