Empowering people. Changing lives. Innovating for the world’s poor.

Empowering the World’s Our Heritage Fighting Global Poorest People

Microfinance, Innovation and Inspired by the work of the world-renowned Grameen Women and Children Suffer Most Technology Solutions Bank in , Grameen Foundation was created in 1997 to spread the power of globally. The statistics are staggering. More than one billion Today, reaches more than seven million Grameen Foundation’s global network empowers people lack clean drinking water, more than 800 families and has helped more than half of them escape the world’s poorest people, mostly women, to lift million suffer from hunger and malnutrition, and, every poverty. We maintain an enduring relationship with 2006 themselves out of poverty through microfinance, a hour, 1,200 children die from preventable diseases. Nobel Laureate Professor , Grameen proven poverty reducing strategy. Using tiny collateral- And, more than one billion people still eke out an Bank’s founder and managing director, who is a free loans (often less than $200) and other financial existence on less than US$1 a day. founding and current member of our board of directors. services, microfinance clients build small enterprises Grameen Foundation and Grameen Bank are, however, and new futures for their families. Since 1997, the Fighting global poverty is an enormous challenge, independent organizations. GF network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) has but microfinance offers one of the best hopes for impacted an estimated 18 million in 25 countries matching the sheer magnitude of this global problem. across Africa, the , , and the Middle East* Learn More About Grameen Foundation According to the Microcredit Summit Campaign, 113 Programs and Initiatives million people are already receiving these essential We target and support MFIs that share our focus of www.grameenfoundation.org financial services. By rapidly scaling up microfinance reaching the poorest people through customized [email protected] and other poverty-fighting initiatives, we can financing, operational and technical support and spare hundreds of millions from living in miserable International Headquarters technology development. Those relationships and conditions. 50 F Street, NW, 8th Floor other creative alliances, such as Grameen-Jameel Washington, DC, 20001 USA Pan-Arab Microfinance Limited, a joint venture with Tel: +1.202.628.3560 • Fax: +1.202.628.2341 the Abdul Latif Jameel Group in the Arab World; and Grameen Technology Center “The world’s poorest, mostly women, have Grameen Capital India, a partnership with Citigroup 909 Northeast Boat Street, Suite 300 proven that they can lift themselves from and ICICI Bank (India), enable us to reach even more Seattle, WA 98105 USA poverty if given the opportunity.” people with greater efficiency. Tel: +1.206.325.6690 • Fax: +1.206.325.0634 Grameen Foundation is a tax-exempt organization under – Alex Counts section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. President, Grameen Foundation * March 2007 Microfinance • Technology • Innovation

GFBrochV11 M.Lead.indd 1 7/11/07 5:52:58 PM Results Loans repaid Microfinance People move and providing a full range of financial advisory services. Awarded for Efficient and Funds recycled out of poverty One signature initiative, the Growth Guarantees Program, Effective Management Innovations leverages private capital in the U.S. to generate millions of increasing industry dollars in local currency loans for MFIs. It was recognized capacity to meet as a significant commitment to reducing global poverty We have received three consecutive the unmet demand Clients for microfinance at the inaugural Clinton Global Initiative meeting in 2005. Social Capitalist Awards (2005- Microbusinesses 2007) from Fast Company We are also charting new waters with our Progress magazine and Monitor Group Local out of Poverty Index (PPI), a key element of our for our innovative use of microfinance Social Performance Management initiative. The PPI technology and our efforts institutions in Loans and other financial provides MFIs with a simple, effective way to track to expand microfinance globally. 25 countries* services and support poverty reduction among borrowers. This helps them In addition, we have received an “A” “We can create a to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of their grade from the American Institute of Philanthropy, world free of poverty.” products and services. and the Tech Museum of Innovation named our Professor Muhammad Yunus Technology Center a 2004 Accenture Economic Financing - Technology GF develops resources for the entire microfinance Development Award laureate. Empowering people. Changing lives. Technical Assistance Innovating for the world’s poor. *As of March 2007 industry. These include: a series of white papers on critical issues; manuals on replicating the Village Phone Getting Involved Can Change Lives. Innovating for a World Free from Poverty initiative and building successful information technology systems; and hosting an annual Knowledge Sharing Roundtable with practitioners and other stakeholders. Visit: Through our technology to build a new software platform for the In addition, the Grameen-Jameel company has www.grameenfoundation.org/get_involved Grameen microfinance industry. With the support of a global cadre sponsored the translation of more than 60 microfinance • Learn how you can make a donation and Technology of dedicated technology experts, this flexible information publications into Arabic. spread the word Center, management system allows MFIs to better manage their • Stay up-to-date with our free eNewsletter established operations, and gives them equal access to a system they in 2001, we can contribute to and ultimately own. support and drive “An individual poor person is an isolated innovation, island by himself or herself. Information strategic solutions and new uses of information and The Middle East communications technology that benefit the entire technology can end that isolation overnight.” and North Africa East Asia microfinance industry. Under the center’s Village – Professor Muhammad Yunus Egypt, Morocco, China, Tunisia, Yemen Technology program, the successful Village Phone 2006 Nobel Laureate East Timor, initiative, modeled on Grameen Telecom’s pioneering Indonesia, USA, Latin America Philippines work in Bangladesh, has established thousands With more than 400 million people still unable to access and the Caribbean South Asia Sub-Saharan of cell phone microbusinesses that provide vital formal financial services, there is a huge unmet need for Bolivia, The Dominican Bangladesh, communications for remote African villages, and Republic, El Salvador, Africa India, Pakistan microfinance. Our Capital Management and Advisory Haiti, Honduras, Mexico Cameroon, Kenya, generate income for the phone operators. Another Center helps MFIs access much needed capital for their Nicaragua and Peru Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda initiative, Mifos, is pioneering the use of open source programs by connecting them to commercial markets

Grameen Foundation partners and programs

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