Discover SIDI’s new 2024 Social and Environmental Report

Sidi rapport PSE 2024

What does solidarity finance produce in concrete terms? SIDI's 2024 Social and Environmental Report answers this question in figures and stories, through the results and initiatives of our partners in over 30 countries.

SIDI’s new Social and Environmental Report provides a concrete assessment of our progress towards our three mission objectives: promoting economic equality, reducing poverty and supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Beyond the figures, this report illustrates ouradditionality approach: SIDI acts where the needs are greatest, with partners who often receive little or no support from other investors. By combining adapted financing and customized support, we strengthen the social and environmental impact of our operations and provide targeted support to vulnerable populations.

Here you’ll find :

  • Precise data from our social and environmental performance management system, showing concrete results in the field;

  • Examples of support in a variety of contexts, revealing the diversity of our partnerships: SICSA (Central America), Ugafode (Uganda) or Al Majmoua (Lebanon) for example;

  • Initiatives by our partners that empower thousands of families and improve their living conditions: notably Asoprocam (Ecuador) and Financiera FDL (Nicaragua).

In 2024, SIDI invested 56 million euros with 127 partners in 33 countries, reaching over 10 million final beneficiaries.
This report highlights how we support our partners to increase their autonomy, improve their practices and strengthen their social and environmental performance .

Immerse yourself in reading our new Report!

 

Plongez-vous dans le Rapport S&E 2024

FEFISOL II’s new 2024 social and environmental report

Supporting small farmers and rural entrepreneurs in Africa: highlights of the new FEFISOL II 2024 Social and Environmental Report!

FEFISOL II is a solidarity investment fund dedicated to financing rural microfinance and small family farms in Africa. Launched in 2022 by SIDI and Alterfin, and managed by Inpulse Investment Manager, the FEFISOL II fund has financed 43 partners in 17 African countries since its inception.

In its third year of operation, FEFISOLII has continued to grow and strengthen its impact-oriented approach:
✔️ Portfolio growth of 11%, reaching 18.5 M€, of which 15.6 M€ lent to partner institutions
✔️ 14 new partners in 4 additional countries – today, 43 active partners in 17 countries, reaching 3 million people with access to finance and fairer markets
✔️ Increased support for small farmers, rural entrepreneurs and vulnerable communities, including in fragile contexts
✔️ Innovative solutions, such as European Commission – TCX Pricing Facility, enabling low-cost local currency loans
✔️ A range of financial solutions to limit risk and strengthen the fund’s ability to support its partners in difficult situations

These results would not have been possible without the ongoing support of our valued shareholders: the European Investment Bank, BIO, Proparco, BRS, Banque Alternative Suisse, SOS Faim Luxembourg, Banca Etica, Caisse des Dépôts and Crédit Coopératif.

A major milestone: in July 2025, FEFISOL II completed its third closing, bringing the size of the fund to almost €28 million, thanks to renewed commitments from BIO – Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries and BAS – Alternative Swiss Bank.

👉 Read the full report and find out how FEFISOL II and its partners are making a real impact on the ground.

 

 

VOIR LE RAPPORT (version anglaise uniquement)

2024 Activity Report: A Year of Committed Solidarity

SIDI Activity report 2024

SIDI's 2024 activity report is now online! It retraces a year of actions in the service of local economic development actors in developing countries, for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations.

Thanks to the commitment of our partners, our solidarity-based shareholders and our entire ecosystem, SIDI is pursuing its mission: to make solidarity and patient capital a lever for the sustainable transformation of societies in order to build a more equitable and environmentally-friendly world.

A year of action for a fairer world

In 2024, SIDI continued to finance and support local economic actors – microfinance institutions, producer cooperatives, small businesses – working to improve the living conditions of populations excluded from traditional financial circuits, particularly women, young people and rural communities.

In the face of inequalities and climate challenges, our action is based on the principle of additionality:

  • intervene where others do not, i.e. where financing needs are greatest;
  • offer financing and support tailored to the specific needs of each partner.

Our efforts focus on three key objectives:

  • Promote economic equality
  • Reduce poverty
  • Supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation

A unique model of financial solidarity

At the heart of this model lies the commitment of thousands of individual shareholders who want to use the power they have with their money. Rather than a dividend, these shareholders are looking above all for social and environmental “added value” thanks to the activities of the partners financed by SIDI. They are thus part of a “chain of financial solidarity” which enables SIDI to target fragile partners and/or those operating in difficult contexts.

Highlights from the 2024 Report

This report presents the key milestones, results achieved, and challenges faced. You will discover

Key focus areas of our work

  • A double-page spread on SIDI’s commitment to Palestinian partners
  • East Africa: supporting partners on social and environmental issues
  • Sahelian zone: initial insights from our prospective study

Perspectives on our actions

  • Anne-Sélime de Murard: insights from a dedicated volunteer consultant
  • Anne-Sophie Bougouin: a strategic look at the FEFISOL II European Solidarity Fund for Africa

Partners in sustainable transitions

  • RUFI (Uganda): Social innovation for the financial inclusion of refugees
  • APODIP (Guatemala): Organic cocoa processed locally, in partnership with Ethiquable
  • Soluna Energia (Colombia): Solar energy, a driving force for local development
  • Yeyasso (Ivory Coast): A cooperative committed to more sustainable cocoa production
  • MVE (Madagascar): A responsible vanilla industry supported by a family business

We would like to extend our warmest thanks to all those who make this initiative possible: partners, shareholders, savers and volunteers. It’s thanks to you that financial solidarity comes to life, year after year.

Read the 2024 activity report

FEFISOL II’s new 2023 social and environmental report

FEFISOL II is a socially responsible investment fund dedicated to financing rural microfinance and small-scale family farming in Africa.

Launched in 2022 by SIDI and Alterfin, and managed by Inpulse Investment Manager, the FEFISOL II fund has financed 40 partners in 16 African countries to the tune of €33 million since its inception.

The SIDI,Alterfin andInpulse teams are proud to present the results of FEFISOL II’s second year of activity, which are once again in line with the fund’s strong social and environmental mission:

  • 100% focus on Africa and fragile countries, with a strong presence in rural areas
  • More than 2 million final beneficiaries, 61% of whom are women
  • Support tailored to the needs of partners in the field, with projects focused on social and environmental performance
  • Partner organizations committed to the financial inclusion of the poorest, the creation of local added value and the promotion of sustainable agriculture.

Immerse yourself in the details of the fund’s activity in 2023, as well as its partners’ results, and discover inspiring testimonials from the field in this new social and environmental report.

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Discover SIDI’s 2023 social and environmental report

Couverture Rapport social et environnemental 2023

Every year, SIDI publishes its social and environmental report, which describes the impact of SIDI's activities and those of its partners.

In 2023, SIDI celebrated 40 years of commitment to solidarity finance and the ecological and social transition. Throughout the year, the organization pursued its mission to support local economic players in the world’s most vulnerable regions, maximizing its social and environmental impact through an approach focused on additionality and support for diversified partners.

Additionality at the heart of impact strategy

Thanks to its solidarity-based resources, SIDI has confirmed its additionality compared with traditional investors, by continuing to support its partners in difficult country contexts and in remote regions poorly served by the banking system. The diversity of its financial products and the wide range of support it offers have been crucial in adapting to the needs of each partner and the realities on the ground. The year 2023 was also marked by the development of crucial new partnerships, such as the one with Ethiquable, which will forge SIDI’s added value in the future.

Promoting economic equality

The year was marked by significant results at partner level, illustrating the concrete effects of SIDI’s strategies in the territories where it operates. SIDI’s first objective, to promote economic equality, has enabled us to support organizations that create formal, stable jobs, particularly in rural areas where access to financing and markets remains a major challenge. Agricultural cooperatives and local businesses have played a crucial role in improving food security, and offering local processing opportunities, adding value to agricultural produce.

Promoting poverty reduction

In terms of poverty reduction, SIDI has reinforced its actions in favour of the financial inclusion of the poorest populations. By collaborating with MFIs targeting vulnerable populations, SIDI has facilitated access to adapted financial services, such as microcredit and savings products, which are essential for improving the living conditions and economic empowerment of women and people living in rural areas. By 2023, the number of final beneficiaries had reached 10 million, 52% of whom were women and 42% of whom lived in rural areas, testifying to the impact of these initiatives.

Supporting mitigation and adaptation to climate change

At the same time, SIDI continued to support climate change mitigation and adaptation, a key pillar of its development strategy. Efforts to develop green finance have been stepped up, notably by financing renewable energy projects and supporting partners in implementing sustainable agricultural practices. These initiatives aim to contribute not only to reducing our partners’ greenhouse gas emissions, but also to increasing community resilience to the impacts of climate change.

All in all, SIDI’s results for the year 2023 demonstrate a strong commitment and a constant capacity to adapt to the challenges of sustainable development. As SIDI enters its fifth decade, it remains determined to pursue this mission with the same passion and dedication, always seeking to maximize its social and environmental impact by combining financial support and technical assistance, to build a more equitable and sustainable world.

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Discover SIDI’s 2023 Social and Environmental Report

Partenariat et pse en 2023

Partnerships to enhance social and environmental performance

The Social and Environmental Report brings together figures and data on the social and environmental performance of SIDI and the partners it supports. Each year, it is presented to SIDI shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

Social and Environmental Performance (SEP) consists of measuring how an organization – SIDI, like its partners – puts its mission into practice and achieves its social and environmental objectives in relation to the populations it targets. It complements economic and financial performance.

SIDI’s PSE guides the team’s actions at every stage of the partnership, from partner selection to impact assessments. By 2023, we will be supporting 124 partners in 33 countries.

As part of its social mission, SIDI has set itself three main objectives:

  • Promoting economic equality
  • Promoting poverty reduction
  • Supporting the fight against climate change

These three major mission objectives are complemented by a cross-functional strategic axis: maximizing our additionality. SIDI’s additionality strategy is at the heart of its impact strategy. SIDI’s ability to create additionality with its partners is essential to generate a strong social and environmental impact.

Once again this year, SIDI is responding to this ambition through two types of action:

Intervene where other investors won’t, by targeting areas where the need for financing is greatest:

  • 62% of SIDI’s portfolio is invested in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • 68% of SIDI’s partners are located in low-HDI countries.
  • 79% of partners are located in high-risk countries.
  • 65% of partners target rural areas

Adapting our offer to the needs of our partners:

  • 35% of the portfolio in equity investments (compared with 15% for other microfinance vehicles)
  • Long-term partnerships and loan durations tailored to needs: 39 months on average for loans granted to microfinance institutions (compared with only 29 months for other microfinance vehicles).
  • Financing amounts adapted to the size of partners: SIDI in particular has the capacity to offer smaller tickets (for example, 402 k€ on average for agricultural entities when other lenders offer an average of 990 k€).
  • A comprehensive range of support services: SIDI’s partnership approach is based on the complementary nature of financing and support.

 

SIDI favours structures with a strong social and environmental impact, mainly rural or mixed microfinance institutions, and agricultural entities that are mainly certified organic and fair trade. Their social vision is aligned with that of SIDI. It supports them in achieving their own social and environmental objectives, which in turn contribute to SIDI’s objectives.

 

Find all the data compiled in Bilan Social et Environnemental 2023

Voir le Bilan

Discover SIDI’s Social & Environmental Report 2022

We are pleased to share with you SIDI’s new social and environmental report, which presents the partners’ results in 2022!

This report is organized around SIDI’s mission objectives, defined this year as part of the new strategic plan.

  • Through its financing and support activities, SIDI aims to reduce economic inequalities in developing countries through the emergence and empowerment of local economic players.
  • It seeks to combat poverty through an approach focused on the most vulnerable, in particular people living in rural areas, women and young people, who are the lifeblood of these countries and the promise of a more equitable, fairer and more united world.
  • Finally, SIDI is firmly committed to building a more sustainable world that respects the environment and is capable of adapting to climate change.

The team is proud to present the results of its partners from the point of view of its mission objectives, results which are the fruit of in-depth analysis made possible by the high-performance PSE evaluation system developed by SIDI in recent years. This system makes it possible to analyze the contribution of partners to SIDI’s objectives, highlighting their progress as well as areas where there is still room for improvement.

This report is an opportunity to find out more about SIDI’s partner organizations, and to delve into an analysis of their evolution in terms of economic, social and environmental performance.

  • Discover the results of two impact studies financed by SIDI in 2022
  • Find out more about gender mainstreaming at SIDI and its partners
  • Find out more about SIDI’s commitment to environmental protection, through its promotion of agroecology and sustainable practices among its partners, as well as through the development of a new “climate” portfolio, a key focus of the new strategic plan.
Voir le rapport

Discover FEFISOL’s Social & Environmental Report 2022

The social & environmental report on the first year of activity of the FEFISOL II fund has just been published!

FEFISOL II is an investment fund dedicated to financing rural microfinance and small-scale family farming in Africa. This is the successor fund to FEFISOL I, launched on the initiative of SIDI and Alterfin for 12 years.

The team is very proud to present achievements that are fully in line with the fund’s ambitious social and environmental objectives:

  • The fund has already financed 18 partners (12 agricultural entities, 6 microfinance institutions) in 11 sub-Saharan African countries.
  • 83% of the farms financed are certified fair trade and/or organic.
  • 69% of the portfolio is invested in countries with a low HDI (Human Development Index)
  • 85% of the microfinance portfolio is dedicated to Tier 2 and Tier 3 institutions: small and medium-sized institutions with assets of less than $50 million and less than $5 million respectively.
  • 1.2 million final beneficiaries, 51% of whom are women
  • The fund is aligned with the 2X Challenge, the multilateral initiative whose aim is to deploy unprecedented volumes of capital in support of projects that empower women.

The first closing of FEFISOL II took place in May 2022 for 22.5 million euros with the founders (SIDI, Alterfin), European development agencies (BIO, EIB, Proparco) and European private players (Banque Alternative Suisse, Banca Etica Populare, Crédit Coopératif, SOS Faim Luxembourg). This closing is accompanied by a technical assistance package of 1.3 million euros from Proparco and Bio.

On the strength of these results, the FEFISOL II fund aims to close a second closing with new investors by the end of the year.

Voir le rapport

Discover the new 2022 Business Report

Vignette RA EN 2022

The publication of the annual report is always a very important moment. In a transparent way, we present to you the actions and achievements of this year 2022. It was intense!

We remain fully committed to our mission: to support and finance economic players in developing countries, through innovative and sustainable partnerships, with a view to improving the living conditions of vulnerable populations, particularly in rural areas, and promoting virtuous ecological practices.

Voir le rapport