SPBD Tonga 21

The rainy season in Tonga is slowly coming to an end. For Lepolo, that means she will soon be able to work again as a guide on tourist boats. But how does she earn an income in the meantime?

funding gap emerging markets
SPBD Tonga
Company
Tonga
Country

The project

From her home, Lepolo weaves traditional mats from pandanus leaves. This allows her to earn her own income, alongside her seasonal work in tourism.

Before Lepolo can start weaving, a lengthy process takes place. The pandanus leaves are washed in seawater and then need to dry for two weeks. In Tonga’s humid climate, this makes it difficult to consistently have enough material available.

The lack of materials limits how much Lepolo can produce and sell. Access to financing makes it possible to build up inventory and make her income less dependent on the season.

For women like Lepolo, access to financing is not a given. A bank loan is often not an option due to the lack of collateral. SPBD Tonga makes financing accessible through group loans. Women form a group, each receive their own loan, and guarantee each other’s repayments. This creates access to financing for more entrepreneurs.

In addition to loans, the financial institution also provides training in financial literacy. In this way, women gradually work towards greater financial stability.

Want to learn more about how entrepreneurs in Tonga live and work? Sailor Lynn visited these entrepreneurs during her journey. Read her travel story here.


Your Investment

  • Annual interest rate: 7%
  • With an investment of €1,000, the expected total repayment is €1,088
  • Maturity: 24 months, with repayments including interest every 6 months
  • Currency: Euro
     

SPBD Tonga

CEO
Fine Tu’ipulotu
Founded
2010-12-13
Location
Nuku’alofa
Sector
Financial services
Turnover
€1,469,079
Employees
38
€250,000raised
Fully funded in 48 minutes on 12 May 2026.
684investors
€250,000
target
7.0
%
Interest
24
months
Maturity
6
months
Repayments
A
B
C
D
E
Credit score
Group loans
Female entrepreneurs
Euro

Impact

144
Lives improved

Tonga's female entrepreneurs often struggle to access financing, business support, and opportunities for growth. SPBD Tonga directly addresses these challenges by providing microloans exclusively to women, enabling them to start and expand their businesses.

Since its founding, SPBD Tonga has disbursed thousands of loans, totaling millions in funding for female-led enterprises. Women meet weekly to make repayments, receive business training, and build their savings—helping them achieve long-term financial stability.


Related blog posts

  • Read the introduction of SPBD Group as a new investment opportunity here.
  • Want to learn more about how financial inclusion can thrive entrepreneurship? Read here.
  • Check out this blog post to gain insight into poverty and the struggles faced by those unable to access essential resources for a basic standard of living.