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 February 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, the same has been done in the cities of El Alto Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.

EMPRENDER currently operates with a eleven-office network; five offices in La Paz, three in Santa Cruz (one in El Torno and two in Santa Cruz), one in El Alto, and two in Cochabamba (one in Colcapirhua and one 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 EIGHT 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. Rural Solidarity Loan

This is designed especially for groups of farmers located in the same community. It can only be used for agricultural production. Payment due dates are adjusted for farming seasons.

3. 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.

4. Staggered Family Loan

This service was created by EMPRENDER and is geared towards a family group, a 2-person minimum, with their own business and direct participation of immediate family members, such as spouses, siblings, etc. The loan is disbursed gradually, that is, first to one person and then 2 or 3 weeks later to the other person. When the second person has paid back 50% of his loan, it is the first person’s turn again. This is a combination of the individual and group loans, entirely suited for family units.

5. Opportunity Loan

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

6. Solar Panel Loan

The solar panel loan is a type of leasing agreement granted to small farmers who do not have electricity due to marginalization and population distribution.

7. Entrepreneurship Banks

This is a comprehensive loan service with a focus on entrepreneurship giving priority to helping female small-business owners generate income.

8. Bioenergy Loan

This service was created by EMPRENDER to fund the installation of bioenergy facilities providing electricity, hot water, showers, latrines and kitchens in order to considerably improve the quality of life in rural areas. 

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