Our Partners
TUNISIA
With a population of 10.5 million, it is estimated that 12.8% of the population in Tunisia live on less than US$ 2 day. Despite recent economic growth, the situation remains fragile due to economic disparity, as south-west mining region in Gafsa remains economically deprived with high unemployment (14.2% in 2008 and 14.7% in 2009). Human Development Index gives the country a rank of 98th out of 182 countries in 2009. The microfinance market potential is estimated around 700,000, of which near 30% of them are currently served.
Enda inter-arabe (enda) is the only best-practices provider of microfinance in the country. It is, not coincidentally, the only institution that is exempt from Law 99-67, , having received authorization from the Ministry of Finance to grant microcredit using interest rates geared to cover its costs. As such, it relies upon official recognition for its activities at the highest levels to continue current business practices.
While more than 240 institutions practice microfinance, most maintain a client base of less than 2,500 clients, leaving enda as the dominant market leader.
Enda inter-arabe (enda): Enda was founded as a multi-sectoral development organization focusing on environment, health, education, and youth activities in Tunisia. In 1995, enda launched a microfinance program with total capital of just $20,000.
Since then, enda has exhibited strong growth, reaching 140,950 clients as of September 2010 (with a Gross Loan Portfolio of near US$ 40 million), and projecting to reach 240,000 clients by the end of 2011.
Enda was rated α/Stable Outlook by MicroRate in May 2010, along with a 4.5 star “Excellent” for Social Results and an “Excellent” for Social Commitment in its second social rating from MicroRate. It was ranked #21 on the 2009 MIX Global 100 composite list of top MFIs worldwide and #36 on the Forbes Top 50 MFIs worldwide for 2007.
The co-founders of Enda were the founding members of Sanabel, the Microfinance Network of Arab Countries that seeks to promote microfinance in the region. In 2006, it became a member of MFN, the Microfinance Network, and of MAIN, the African network.
Grameen-Jameel has worked with enda since 2003. As a Grameen-Jameel partner, enda has received technical assistance and support in areas such as staff training, MIS, Human Capital Management and various capacity building. It is currently deep into the process of deploying mifos, a loan-tracking system developed by Grameen Foundation and the only open-source loan tracking system for microfinance, across its branch network. Grameen-Jameel has shepherded enda through this deployment. In additional Grameen-Jameel has provided direct loans and guarantees facilitating financing of approximately US $4M in local currency financing.
For further information on enda, please refer to their website: www.endarabe.org.tn