Blog Archives

“The Chronicle of Philanthropy” Spotlights Opportunity International as an Innovative Nonprofit

“The Chronicle of Philanthropy” featured Opportunity International‘s microinsurance work with subsidiary MicroEnsure and our CEO Vicki Escarra in an article published today. As part of Opportunity International’s commitment to bringing insurance to protect more people in poverty, Opportunity divested much of its share to allow for a capital infusion that will increase MicroEnsure’s market reach. Opportunity Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Microinsurance, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Poverty, Strategic Partners, What We're Reading
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Habitat for Humanity & Opportunity Join Forces to Improve Housing in Africa

Opportunity International and Habitat for Humanity announced a new partnership to increase access to better housing for families living in poverty. The two organizations will collaborate to provide home improvement financing, housing support services and construction technical assistance to impoverished people to enhance the well-being of communities, beginning in Ghana, followed by Malawi and Uganda. Read more…

Posted in Loans, Our Leadership, Our Work, Resources, Rural Outreach, Savings, Strategic Partners, Training
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Poverty Eradication Day: Education for a Better Future

Though few need a day to remind them that people around the world live in extreme poverty–in fact, more than half the world lives on less than $2 a day–today is the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, to raise awareness of and support for the issues that cause and result from chronic Read more…

Posted in Education, Events, Loan officer, Loans, Local Staffing, Our Work, Training, Videos, Where We Work
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What We’re Pinning: Powerful Women of the World

I can promise you that women working together–linked, informed and educated–can bring peace and prosperity to this forsaken planet. -Isabel Allende The following six women are some of the most celebrated, powerful and inspirational women around. But women and men everywhere–in every country and in all walks of life–can and do make a difference every Read more…

Posted in Social Media, Strategic Partners, What We're Pinning, Women
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Clinton Global Initiative 2012: Momentum on Women’s Empowerment, Global Food Security

The Clinton Global Initiative annual 2012 meeting wrapped up this past Tuesday. This year’s theme, Designing for Impact, provided a three-day podium for today’s leading ideas intent on creating more opportunity and equality in our increasingly interconnected world. This year’s distinguished attendees included President Barack Obama, presidential candidate Mitt Romney, President Joyce Banda (of the Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Events, Our Work, Where We Work, Women
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What We’re Watching: Banking on Education in Ghana

Forty-six million African children have never set foot in a classroom. That’s why we offer education finance initiatives in Malawi, Uganda and in Ghana, where access to school fee loans and school proprietor loans help to create a better future for children and educators at local neighborhood schools. Get to know why we work in Read more…

Posted in Education, Loans, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Strategic Partners, Uncategorized, What We're Watching
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Credit Suisse’s Microfinance Work Recognized at the Financial Times/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards

 would like to offer our congratulations to  Credit Suisse. They were awarded a special commendation for their  program in the Sustainable Global Bank of the Year category at the Financial Times/International Finance Corporation Sustainable Finance Awards. The annual FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards, now in their seventh year, are the major global awards for environmentally- and Read more…

Posted in Bank Building, Events, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Strategic Partners, Technology
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Opportunity UK’s Lydia Baffour Awuah Will Be Olympic Torchbearer Tomorrow!

Opportunity International-UK’s Lydia Baffour Awuah has been chosen to be one of the torchbearers in the Olympic torch relay. Lydia will be carrying the flame tomorrow–Tuesday, July 10–at 1:41 a.m. Central Standard Time (7:41 a.m. BST, local time) from the town of Abingdon, U.K., just south of Oxford. Tomorrow is day 53 of the relay, Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing
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Photo Blog: Happy Fourth of July

For  clients, freedom is… What does freedom mean to you? Leave us your comments below. Happy Independence Day!

Posted in Events, Loans, Microinsurance, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Resources, Rural Outreach, Savings, Training, Trust Groups, Where We Work
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Meet Our Staff: Our New Head of Education Finance, Nathan Byrd

This May, we welcomed Nathan Byrd as our new head of education finance. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, and reporting to Colin McCormack, managing director, Africa, Nathan will provide strategic direction and leadership for our education finance program, developing specialized financial tools for schools and families and forming strategic partnerships in the education sector. Nathan is currently Read more…

Posted in Loans, Meet Our Staff, Our Leadership, Our Work, Where We Work
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