Desjardins International Development (DID) projects
We work with partners in developing and emerging countries to provide disadvantaged populations access to financial services that fit their needs. In this way, we promote financial inclusion around the world.

DID projects in Africa
Support for Developing, Professionalizing and Revitalizing Microfinance (ADAPAMI) Benin
This project aims to improve the economic situation of vulnerable populations of Benin, particularly women and youth.
Start date
January 2017
End date
January 2023
Funding partner
Global Affairs Canada
Impact
10 microfinance institutions supported
Project description
The team supports the state in supervising and modernizing the microfinance sector, which counts 2.2 million members (50% women). It also aims to promote the financial inclusion of approximately 500,000 people, especially people living in rural areas, women and young adults.
We can rightfully take our place alongside men in the workplace. We can lead an all-male or mixed team. The training reassured us and gave us this confidence.
Results as of December 31, 2022
Greater financial inclusion
- 1,505,805 people started using community financial services (48% women).
- 744,649 new bank accounts were opened through the project (64% by women).
- 353,440 people started using digital services (72% women).
Increased financial literacy
- 94,385 vulnerable people have been educated on financial literacy (76% women).
- Among target populations, knowledge of basic financial concepts increased from 7.5% to 76%.
More autonomy for women
- 477,320 accounts were opened by women.
- 253,625 women started using digital services.
- 71,739 women have been educated on financial literacy.
Supporting the Development of Agricultural Value Chains (AVCs) and Entrepreneurship through the Pineapple Sector Entrepreneurship Development Program (DEFIA) Benin
Start date
April 2020
End date
April 2023
Funding partner
Enabel, Belgian development agency
Project budget
CAN$2 million
Project description
This project aims to support agricultural entrepreneurship by strengthening the financial services offered by inclusive finance institutions to pineapple processors and crop producers in the sector. The first step is to help set up an entrepreneur financial centre (EFC) to serve commercial and agricultural clients.
Then we will participate in the development of specialized financial services, including mobile savings with online tools, and train staff at relevant institutions. Finally, we will create a strategy to promote the services to agriculture and agri-food entrepreneurs.
Results as of December 31, 2022
- 6,100 people have been educated on basic financial concepts and financial literacy.
- 61 locations hosted courses on basic financial concepts.
- 107,562 people have used mobile deposits in the pineapple production zone.
Establishing 2 Data Centres Ivory Coast and Niger
Start date
March 2021
End date
June 2024
Funding partner
African Development Bank
Project budget
CAN$1,488,560
Project description
This project aims to establish 2 data centres to encourage the use of electronic payment methods and increase the financial inclusion of populations.
It involves working with Senegal's data centre to establish similar centres based on its model, but in Niger and Ivory Coast. This will happen in 2 phases: The first is to complete studies and preliminary analyses; the second, to launch 2 centres in Niger and Ivory Coast. The centres will provide IT services and advice, enabling institutions to automate their operations and provide their clients with new electronic and mobile services.
Objectives
- Provide affordable IT services and technical advice to inclusive financial institutions
- Improve quality of financial information
- For the financial institutions involved:
- Improve performance
- Streamline operations
- Increase transparency, reliability and security of transactions
- Offer new payment methods and services to clients
Economic and Social Empowerment of Women and Young People in Senegal
Start date
2022
End date
2028
Funding partner
Global Affairs Canada
Project description
The goal of the project is to promote gender equality and financial inclusion by helping women and young people access digital services and give women more social and economic power. Over the course of 6.5 years, it will focus on 3 regions in southern Senegal and 2 departments in Dakar.
The project aims to strengthen the economic power of 6,000 young graduates (60% women) and 60,000 women, including 2,000 women business leaders and 58,000 women from village or suburban groups. We estimate that the project will have an indirect impact on 500,000 people.
Financing MSMEs Through Capital Investment Tunisia
Investment date
December 2014
Supported institution
Entrepreneur Financial Centre Tunisia
Total capital investment
CAN$2.5 million
Project description
Entrepreneur Financial Centre (EFC) Tunisia is a microfinance institution that provides financing to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in and around Tunisia's urban areas. We created the centre in 2015 and acted as promoter, investor and operator until December 2019 when we handed over the reins to a local team, marking our fifth and last successful EFC transfer.
EFC Tunisia has a process in place for assessing the social and environmental risk of the projects it finances, as well as an entrepreneur support program. In 2019, the centre also developed an official gender equality approach. It has 13 locations and more than 6,700 clients.
Financing MSMEs Through Capital Investment Uganda
Investment date
January 2012
Supported institution
Entrepreneurs Financial Centre Uganda
Total capital investment
CAN$2.2 million
Project description
Entrepreneurs Financial Centre (EFC) Uganda is a microfinance institution that has been helping increase access to funding for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in and around urban centres in Uganda. We established the centre in 2012 and acted as promoter, investor and operator until 2018 when we handed over operations to a local management team. EFC Uganda serves 8,600 entrepreneurs, 35% of whom are women. It has 131 employees, 44% of whom are women.
Financing MSMEs Through Capital Investment Zambia
Investment date
January 2008
Supported institution
Entrepreneurs Financial Centre Zambia
Total capital investment
CAN$2.4 million
Project description
Formerly Pulse Financial Services Limited Entrepreneurs Financial Centre (EFC) Zambia is a microfinance institution established in 2009. Our investment helps them provide financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in urban and rural areas of Zambia. We acted as EFC Zambia's promoter, investor and operator for 7 years until 2016, when the institution began operating autonomously under new local management. The institution serves nearly 213,000 companies, 43% of which are led by women, and employs 200 people, more than 54% of whom are women.
,DID projects in the Americas
FEMPRESA FEMPRESA Bolivia
Start date
August 2022
End date
August 2027
Source of financing
Global Affairs Canada
Value of project
CAN$4,791,495
Local partners
- Hábitat para la humanidad en Bolivia
- Fundación Innovación en Empresariado Social (IES)
- Instituto de Formación Femenina Integral (IFFI)
Project description
Foster the development of female entrepreneurship by giving women entrepreneurs access to entrepreneurial support services, in order to strengthen their managerial, financial and digital capacities (demand), and increase their access to financial and digital services adapted to their needs (supply). More specifically, the project would mitigate the gender inequalities experienced by women entrepreneurs in urban and peripheral areas in the La Paz region (including El Alto) and the Cochabamba region.
Expected results
The project will directly benefit 1,500 women-led MSMEs and contribute to creating, preserving and improving 7,500 jobs that depend on them. It would also benefit the families of these companies' employees and women leaders.
Anticipated intermediate outcomes:
- Strengthening the managerial, financial and digital performance of women entrepreneurs. To contribute to this impact, the project is expected to bring about the following changes:
- Increased ability of women to develop their businesses
- Increased ability of women to make informed financial decisions
- Increased awareness of gender issues among women entrepreneurs and their families
- Increased access for women entrepreneurs to financial and digital products and services tailored to their needs. To achieve this, it's expected that the project will lead to the following changes:
- Increased ability of IFPs to offer products and services that are adapted and sensitive to gender and environmental issues
- Increased capacity of IFPs to integrate a digital services (DS) offering for women entrepreneurs
Bolstering the Economic and Social Power of Women and Young People in Rural Areas (PROFEM) Colombia
With this project, we support the financial inclusion and capacity-building of women and young people living in rural areas in order to help them reach their full potential.
Start date
March 2020
End date
March 2024
Funding partner
Global Affairs Canada
Project budget
CAN$4,897,236
Project description
This initiative is focused on giving rural women and young people the opportunity to establish a credit history, gain financial literacy and build confidence so they can complete their personal and business projects.
Through this project we receive training on financial issues. I have found it excellent because the information is very diverse, very easy to understand. They also teach you that you are not alone, that there are more people out there who can support you when you need it. The program enables us to strengthen our capacities, taking advantage of the skills we each have.
Results as of December 31, 2022
- 13,304 women and young people have been educated on financial literacy.
- 9 financial institutions are better prepared to meet the needs of rural women and young people.
- 13 public and private funding partners have joined.
Solidarity-Based Finance Program Canada
Start date
March 2017
End date
Extended until further notice
Funding partner
Desjardins Group
Implementing partner
Participating budget advisory and entrepreneurship support organizations
Project description
As part of this project, we help Desjardins caisses coordinate, deploy, monitor and promote solidarity-based finance programs.
The caisses offer 3 solidarity-based finance products to promote financial inclusion:
- The Desjardins Mutual Assistance Fund for people experiencing financial difficulty
- The Desjardins Microcredit to Businesses program for entrepreneurs and self-employed workers who don't qualify for traditional financing
- Créavenir for entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39
These programs help organizations that support people who are financially vulnerable and entrepreneurs without access to the financial system.
Support is offered in the form of coaching and financial education through community organizations and, in many cases, a loan with generous terms.
2022 results
For the Desjardins Mutual Assistance Fund
- 25,773 people benefitted in 2022.
- 12,122 one-on-one budget consultations were held.
- CAN$391,669 was granted in loans, with an average loan amount of $785.
For Desjardins Microcredit to Businesses
- 1,093 businesses were helped in 2022.
- 424 jobs were created or maintained.
- 152 businesses received financing, for a total value of $1,213,382.
For Créavenir
- 282 new projects received financing, for a total value of $24,332,938.
- 659 jobs were created or maintained.
Financing MSMEs Through Capital Investment Colombia
Start date
July 2019
Supported institution
Crezcamos S.A.
Total capital investment
CAN$3.2 million
Project description
Crezcamos is a Colombian microfinance institution that was established in 2008. It provides financial services for micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) owners and their families, mainly in rural areas. It offers savings and credit solutions for the farming, commerce, services, production and housing sectors, as well as solutions to help clients plan for the future, including insurance products. It has about 1,700 employees and more than 97,500 clients.
Supporting Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Start date
2014
End date
2022
Funding partner
Global Affairs Canada
Project description
This was a large-scale project to help thousands of business owners by giving them better access to the support and financial services they needed.
The initiative was rolled out in Benin, Colombia, Panama, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zambia, where we helped set up 7 entrepreneur financial centres (EFCs), which are specialized financial institutions that provide financing and support services to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). These institutions are deeply rooted in their respective communities and have quickly become leaders in their markets.
I started from scratch. And I'm here today because of the loans I got.
Final results
Increased access to financial services
- 26,282 male entrepreneurs and 12,945 female entrepreneurs received support in 6 countries.
- Over 72,000 loans were granted to entrepreneurs, for a total of CAN$500 million.
- 7 entrepreneur financial centres (EFCs) were created.
Greater impact
- 109,800 jobs were created or maintained in the communities.
- For every dollar provided by the Canadian government for technical assistance, an additional $7.30 was contributed.
- Some 30 partnerships were forged with government entities, entrepreneur support service providers and local organizations.
Debt Investment to Help Increase Access to Credit and Financial Literacy and Health Services for Women Entrepreneurs Ecuador
Investment date
May 2012
Supported institution
Fundación ESPOIR
Total debt investment
CAN$1.5 million
Project description
Fundación para el desarollo integral ESPOIR is a foundation based in Quito, Ecuador. Our investment helps them achieve their mission of contributing to the country's economic and social development and improving the health of women micro-entrepreneurs. ESPOIR provides credit products and health and financial literacy services to nearly 550,000 clients, 68% of whom are women.
Climate Adaptation and Economic Development of Agricultural Sectors (AVETI) Haiti
Start date
March 2019
End date
February 2024
Funding partner
Global Affairs Canada
Implementing partners
- International Agricultural Alliance member organizations:
- Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI)
- SOCODEVI
- Union des producteurs agricoles – Développement international (UPA-DI)
Project description
The Climate Adaptation and Economic Development of Agricultural Sectors (AVETI) project aims to sustainably increase the value of cacao, yam and other crops mainly overseen by women to ensure their financial empowerment and food security for their families. The project also aims to develop innovative practices so crops are less impacted by climate change.
Our role is to increase access to financing—an integral component of sustainable development—for people involved in the agricultural sectors targeted by the project. We advise and support financial institutions in implementing financial services, particularly for women and young people.
Through the project, I received agricultural training and became a member of a village savings and credit association, which helped me save money and obtain credit. The loan I received has allowed me to build up my small business, become self-sufficient and take care of my children.
Objectives
- Increase the market value of cacao, yams and other related crops
- Adopt innovative agricultural practices for greater resiliency in the face of climate change
- Increase issuance of loans tailored to farmers
- Improve living conditions overall for the department of Grand'Anse's rural populations
Results as of December 31, 2022
- 3,500 cacao and yam producers have benefitted directly from the project.
- 17,500 people have benefitted indirectly.
- 5 participating financial institutions and 63 Village Savings and Loan Associations were created.
Financing MSMEs Through Capital Investment Nicaragua
Investment date
April 2019
Supported institution
Fundeser
Total capital investment
CAN$1.2 million
Project description
Financiera Fundeser is an inclusive finance institution based in Managua, Nicaragua. The institution's client commitment is reflected in its high-quality services and proximity to the people it serves. It offers financial services to help increase the revenue of rural micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the pillars of Nicaragua's economic development.
Across its network of 22 locations in rural and urban areas, Fundeser serves more than 16,575 clients, 50% of whom are women. It offers individual and group loans mainly in agricultural industries, particularly coffee.
Financing MSMEs Through Capital Investment Panama
Investment date
December 2009
Supported institution
Centro Financiero Empresarial
Total capital investment
CAN$2.7 million
Project description
Centro Financiero Empresarial is a microfinance institution dedicated to financing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in and around urban centres in Panama. We established the centre in 2009 and handed over the operations to a local team in 2018. The centre serves nearly 4,500 businesses and has about 190 employees, more than 53% of whom are women.
Increasing Access to Financial Services Through Debt Investment Peru
Investment date
December 2018
Supported institution
Abaco
Total debt investment
CAN$2 million
Project description
Abaco is a savings and credit cooperative in Lima, Peru, whose goal is to help improve its members' quality of life by offering them basic financial products and services designed for their needs, while also contributing to sustainable development.
Founded in 1981, the institution has about 120 employees and more than 14,000 clients, 30% of whom are women.
DID projects in Asia
Increasing Access to Credit Through Capital Investment Tajikistan
Investment date
November 2014
Supported institution
Humo
Total capital investment
CAN$800,000
Project description
Humo is a socially responsible, community-based organization that was launched in June 2008 as part of a microcredit program aimed at bringing affordable financial services to vulnerable, low-income populations in Tajikistan.
Humo takes part in various projects to promote climate resilience and sustainable agriculture with partners such as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The organization is known for helping promote private sector investment in Tajikistan and supporting gender equality and climate resilience.
It's the third-largest microfinance institution in Tajikistan and provides loans to more than 64,450 clients, 41% of whom are women.
Strengthening the People's Credit Funds (PCF) Network
Start date
March 2016
End date
March 2024
Funding partner
Global Affairs Canada
Impact
2 million people supported across the PCF network
Project description
This project aims to improve the integration and performance of the Cooperative Bank of Vietnam (Co-opBank) and its People's Credit Funds (PCF) network to offer a range of financial products and services to a rural client base.
My family took out a loan at the PCF to start a fruit, livestock and aquaculture farm. After a few years, our farm began to generate regular income and our quality of life improved. I see the PCF as an effective source of funding for rural families to help stimulate the local economy.
Results as of December 31, 2022
- 1,188 credit unions have received support across Vietnam.
- The number of members reached 1,653,000 (45% women).
- Support has been provided across the country, changing the lives of millions of Vietnamese people.