Espoir 14
Women in rural Ecuador often carry full responsibility for their families. Through Espoir’s group loans, they access financing to start or grow a business, creating more stable income and long-term opportunities. By investing, you support entrepreneurs who want to build a resilient livelihood.
The project
The NGO Espoir is committed to supporting women in Ecuador to become more economically independent through microloans. Many of their clients are single mothers who carry the full financial responsibility for their families. For them, access to credit through traditional banks is often difficult, as they lack sufficient collateral or a formal credit history.
Through group loans, Espoir makes financing more accessible. Within these groups, women guarantee each other’s loans and encourage one another to repay on time. This type of financing enables them to start or expand a business, for example in food sales, clothing trade, small-scale agriculture, or other local activities.
Each group also participates in workshops on financial literacy, health, and entrepreneurship. By sharing knowledge and exchanging experiences, the women strengthen their networks and build self-confidence.
The focus on equal opportunities is also reflected within the organization itself: 65% of Espoir’s staff are women, which aligns well with their mission to create more opportunities for women.
Your investment supports women in Ecuador as they build and grow their businesses, helping them achieve greater financial stability.
Espoir on Lendahand
- Active on Lendahand since: October 2023
- Total raised: €1,737,715
- Already repaid: €644,278
- Interest disbursed: €69,33
- Payments on time: 15 out of 15 (100%)
Your investment
- Annual interest rate: 8%
- With an investment of €1,000, the expected total repayment is €1,070
- Maturity: 18 months
- Repayments: quarterly. You will receive a repayment, including interest, every 3 months. Meaning there will be 6 repayments in total.
- Currency: Dollar. Please note that although you invest in euros, the loan is in dollars, so there is a risk of exchange rate fluctuations between dollars and euros. Visit our page on exchange rate risks for more information.
Espoir
Impact
In Ecuador, where Espoir operates, access to financing is a lifeline, especially in rural areas, where poverty affects nearly half the population and extreme poverty is alarmingly high. While financial hardship exists nationwide, rural entrepreneurs face even greater barriers to securing capital. Women, who make up the majority of Espoir’s borrowers, often have the hardest time accessing resources to grow their businesses. That’s why Espoir goes beyond microcredit, combining financial support with business education and health services across six provinces. By equipping low-income entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed, Espoir fosters long-term economic resilience and stronger communities.
- Percentage of female borrowers: 72%
- 94% of Espoir's borrowers say their quality of life improved in at least one way. Source: Survey conducted by 60dB.
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