Original Partner Description

EMPRENDER is an MFI (Microfinance Institution) set up as a non-profit organization that provides financial services to micro-entrepreneurs in Bolivia’s towns and rural areas. EMPRENDER is committed to the advancement of underprivileged people and the promotion of a more fair and just society. Using its ownership equity, EMPRENDER works for the economic advancement of its micro-entrepreneurs: people who lack access to traditional bank loans and other conventional types of credit.

EMPRENDER began operating in 1999 with a flagship program located in Chasquipampa, 35 km outside the city of La Paz. Its goals were to put into practice a business plan and coherent operating methods suitable for small businesses and to achieve success. It would focus more on serving clients in remote areas. EMPRENDER knows the importance of having its offices physically present and prepared to serve the towns and rural areas.

Since 2000, it expanded to the cities of El Alto Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.

EMPRENDER currently operates with a fourteen-office network; five offices in La Paz, four in Santa Cruz (one in El Torno and three in Santa Cruz), one in El Alto, and four in Cochabamba (one in Colcapirhua, one in Sacaba and two in the city of Cochabamba).

OUR VISION

To become a key instrument in the development process of small-business owners in our country’s towns and rural areas, promoting the generation of income and jobs, improving the quality of life in the small-business sector, and as an institution becoming a permanent fixture in the area.

EMPRENDER offers TEN services

1. Solidarity Loan

A solidarity loan is granted to groups of micro-entrepreneurs who have been in business for more than 6 months, and have been reviewed and approved by the Loan Officer. The members of Solidarity Group support each other in any eventuality and, as a result of this mutual support, they become each other’s primary surety for future loans. Punctual clients receive regular sums of money depending on their ability to repay the amount, the payment due date, and installments that increase over time. The loan is usually used for working capital.

2. Village Banks or Entreneurship Banks

This is a comprehensive loan service intended for a larger group of people than the Solidarity Loan with a focus on entrepreneurship giving priority to helping female small-business owners generate income. This service also includes a saving component which looks to teach group members about the social and economic value of saving.

3. Rural Loan

This is designed for farmers located in rural areas of Bolivia. It can only be used for agricultural production and is currently offered in two of Emprender's branches.

4. Individual Loan

This is a service for existing clients who have worked in a group. This loan is granted to clients who have participated in the solidarity group, have a good credit history, prove to be able to make payments and who have good growth potential. This loan is also granted to new clients that have been recommended by a former client. In general, this service is geared towards small-business owners with additional surety and who are in a better financial position.

5. Housing Loan

Emprender created this product to enable clients to repair, remodel, or conduct basic home construction.

6. Student Loan

This product looks to cover college students' expenses to access higher education.

7. Water access & Sanitation Loan

In cooperation with the Fundacion SODIS, Emprender has created a product which looks to provide water access to its borrowers. This credit will fund the following: acquisition of water running and ecological toilets, water filters, water tanks and connection to the municipality water pipeline system.

8. Opportunity Loan

This is for clients who need immediate liquidity due to the rapidly changing nature of their business.

9. Cheap/Fast Loan

This product is intended for clients who require a quick inflow of cash. The amount is limited to 1,000 USD. Disbursments usually occur the same day of request

10. Campaign Loan

This credit is reserved for individual clients or village bank clients who have an opportunity for their business that they cannot pass up. This usually occur at specific points during the year mainly at christmas.

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