An alternative bank for the rural poor.

HQ Location: Haiti

When asked why he created a microfinance institution focused on women, the founder of Fonkoze, Father Joseph Philippe, was clear: “women are the backbone of the Haitian economy and the doorway into the family unit.” The largest organization of its kind in Haiti, serving more than 56,000 women borrowers – most of whom live and work in the countryside – and over 250,000 savers, Fonkoze is committed to offering its clients a range of services that not only recognize the different points at which individuals can start their climb out of poverty, but also acknowledges that progress is not always linear. Much more than a bank, the organization also delivers critical programs in education, health, insurance and client protection.

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