Our Partners
EGYPT
Egypt is the second most populous country in Africa and the most populous in Middle East North Africa region. According to the World Bank (2008 data), it is estimated that 18.4% of its population of 83 million live on less than $2 a day, with a high concentration in the rural areas of 5 governorates in Upper Egypt and around larger metropolitan areas; the poverty rate in Cairo is increasing and expected to reach 7.6% in 2015 according to UNDP. Human Development Index gives the country a rank of 123rd out of 182 countries in 2009.
Estimated market potential for microfinance is about 6 million potential clients, of which approximately 25% are currently served by the sector. Where microfinance is already available, there is evidence that women are slowly moving their families out of poverty. Grameen-Jameel works closely with three microfinance institutions in Egypt and has formed partnerships with them. These partners collectively serve nearly 400,000 microcredit clients in Egypt (of a total of 1.5M clients reached by MF) as of September 2010, about 27% of the total market.
These microfinance institutions are:
Al Tadamun Microfinance Foundation (Al Tadamun)
Dakalya Businessmen Association for Community Development (DBACD)
Lead Foundation (Lead)
Al Tadamun Microfinance Foundation (Al Tadamun): Al Tadamun was established in 1996 as a project of Save the Children-USA/Egypt. It was then spun off from Save the Children to become part of the Cairo-based Women’s Health Improvement Association (WHIA).In 2010, Al Tadamun Microfinance Foundation was established as an independent NGO.
Al Tadamun operates through a network of 22 branches serving 96,651 clients throughout Greater Cairo as of September 2010, with a Gross Loan Portfolio of US$ 13 million. In 2007, Al Tadamun received a B+/Stable Outlook from Planet Rating. In 2009, it was also listed at #27 on the 2009 MIX Global 100 composite list of top MFIs worldwide.
In 2003, Al Tadamun became a Grameen-Jameel partner. Grameen-Jameel has provided direct loans and financial guarantees to Al Tadamun. In addition, a variety of technical assistance and training was provided to help Al Tadamun achieve operational and financial sustainability.
In 2010, Al Tadamun participated in a training led by Grameen-Jameel on how to deploy the Progress out of Poverty Index™ (PPI™) to help them measure their social performance.
For further information on Al Tadamun, please visit their website: www.altadamun.org
Dakahlya Businessmen Association for Community Development (DBACD): DBACD was established as an NGO in 1995, based in Mansoura, the Nile delta region in Egypt. It began disbursing loans in early September 1998. By September 2010, DBACD had grown to 103,107 total borrowers in the Dakahlya governorate, with a Gross Loan Portfolio of US$ 25.5 million.
In June 2007, DBACD received an A-/Stable Outlook from Planet Rating. DBACD's Social Performance was rated “3” by Planet Rating in March 2010. It was # 47 on the 2009 MIX Global 100 Composite list of top MFIs worldwide and #28 on the Forbes Top 50 MFIs for 2007.
In 2006, DBACD became a Grameen-Jameel partner. Grameen-Jameel provided two guarantees to DBACD which helped facilitate local currency financing of US 5.5 million for the purpose of on lending. DBACD has also participated in partner trainings in 2007, 2008 and 2009. DBACD also participated in a training led by Grameen-Jameel on how to deploy the Progress out of Poverty Index™ (PPI™) to help them measure their social performance.
For further information on DBACD, please visit their website: http://www.dbacd-eg.org/
Lead Foundation (Lead): Lead was established in 2003 as a NGO MFI serving the Greater Cairo area, where concentration of poverty is high. It was founded by a group of Egyptian businessmen, and funded by US Agency for International Development (USAID) for large‐scale growth through a cooperative agreement developed in 2003. Its mission is “to provide poor and low‐income entrepreneurs especially women with sustainable access to quality microfinance services that address their needs and build their capacity.”
Lead serves more than 190,000 clients through 14 branches as of September 2010, with a Gross Loan Portfolio of US$ 27 million.
Lead has received a 5-Diamond Score for transparency from the Mix and was rated #10 in the 2009 Mix Global 100 composite list of top MFIs worldwide.
Lead became a Grameen-Jameel partner in November 2009. Grameen-Jameel recently provided Lead with a guarantee which will help facilitate local currency financing of US 6 million to finance loans for new clients. Lead participated in training in 2010 led by Grameen-Jameel on how to deploy the Progress out of Poverty Index™ (PPI™), to help them measure social performance.
For further information on Lead, please refer to their website: http://www.lead.org.eg/