Written by Lynn Hamerlinck on 25 September 2020
Over the past few years, the Lendahand portfolio has diversified significantly. You can directly fund entrepreneurs from several different industries, such as agriculture or solar energy. Additionally, you can also visit our platform for perhaps the best-known form of financing in emerging markets: microfinance institutions (MFIs).
Our newest investment opportunity comes to us from Kenya in the form of iProcure, the largest agricultural supply chain platform in rural Africa.
After almost 10 years I have decided to step down from the Lendahand Board. Thanks to my wife Esther, I had the opportunity to follow my heart and become a social entrepreneur. Thanks, Pipi Longstocking :), for that advice. Without much relevant knowledge or experience, I began on my journey to make an impact in the world, especially those who really need it.
As you may already know, Lendahand, in collaboration with Solidaridad, ICCO Cooperation, and Truvalu, has launched the new platform PlusPlus—the crowdfunding platform dedicated to improving food security in the agricultural sector in emerging countries. Sounds great, but why did Lendahand decide to start with PlusPlus? We’re happy to explain.
The housing market is volatile and sensitive, no matter the country. While this fragility makes buying or selling property complicated enough already, this process is even more difficult for people in developing countries like Cambodia. Most Cambodian households don’t have access to formal housing finance, and commercial banks that do provide home loans generally only offer them to wealthier Cambodians. Luckily, there are some organizations that function as a safety net for these underserved families. A fine example of one of those organizations is our newest partner First Finance Cambodia.
As of today, we are introducing a new partner on our platform: YAK Fair Trade. With this new addition, not only are we diversifying our portfolio of partners, we are also opening the door to an entirely new sector on Lendahand.
Here are some astonishing numbers. Approximately three billion people lack access to clean cooking solutions. They are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. On top of that, 840 million people live without electricity, of which 50% live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The United Nations wants to ensure access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all. We’re proud to introduce you to three of our partners who do just that.
As we are all tragically aware, a health emergency such as COVID-19 can cause bankruptcy in both developed and developing countries. However, in the Netherlands we are fortunate enough to rely on a social safety net. Also, we are able to physically distance ourselves from one another and work from home. In developing countries, there isn’t space to socially distance yourself. What can we do to ensure healthy lives for all?
Good news: there’s no need for you to go outside to make an impact. There are tons of things you can do from the comfort of your home. So put on your pajamas, pour yourself a beverage of choice and raise your glass. Here’s to solidarity!
Hello everyone, I just wanted to send you a brief note on the status of us here at Lendahand as it relates to the Coronavirus. As I am sure you are aware, the Coronavirus pandemic has escalated rapidly...
We’d like to introduce you to Georgian Credit: a microfinance organization established in 2006. By funding projects from Georgian Credit, you’ll empower hard-working entrepreneurs across Georgia.
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