In 2000, social entrepreneur Gregory Casagrande founded South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) to bridge the financial gap in the South Pacific region. Many people in this region live in remote areas without access to traditional banks.
SPBD Tonga, established in 2009 as part of SPBD Group, supports women who are unable to secure bank loans. The organization focuses entirely on female entrepreneurs and has already reached a large portion of households in Tonga.
Women who receive a loan from SPBD Tonga meet every week to repay part of their loan and attend financial training sessions. Additionally, SPBD Tonga offers a savings program, helping women build a more stable financial future.
General information
| Borrower | South Pacific Business Development Microfinance Ltd |
| Country | Tonga |
| Head office | Nuku’alofa |
| Website | https://www.spbdmicrofinance.com/spbd-network/tonga |
| Founded | 3 September 2009 |
| Active on Lendahand since | 10 October 2023 |
| Credit Score | A |
Financial information per 2024-12-31
| Portfolio Overview | €9,080,503 |
| Leverage ratio | 39.44% |
| Write-off ratio | 0.00% |
| % investment amount in arrears (>90 days) | 0.00% |
About Tonga
Tonga (officially the Kingdom of Tonga (Tongan: Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Almost two-thirds of Tonga's population live on the main island Tongatapu, where also the capital city Nuku'alofa is located.Tonga was first inhabited roughly 2,500 years ago by the Lapita civilization, Polynesian settlers who gradually evolved a distinct and strong ethnic identity, language, and culture as the Tongan people.
Last funded project
TongaIn Tonga, women like Lepolo use traditional crafts to generate income. But access to finance remains limited. With a group loan from SPBD Tonga, Lepolo was able to strengthen her business. Invest in this project and support women on their path to financial independence and stronger communities.