Build Capacity

We recognize that other forms of capital in addition to finance are needed to build a sustainable and resilient livelihood. We build the capacity of our clients and partners in two primary ways. Firstly, training and mentorship opportunities are delivered through trusted agents; these include loan officers, health leaders, Farmer Support Agents, School Clusters, and other agent networks equipped by Opportunity to offer training and support to end clients. We also provide technical assistance to financial institutions. This involves collaborating with local banks, microfinance institutions, savings groups, or other financial service providers to strengthen their capacities to more effectively reach and serve our target clients. 

Strengthen Networks

We believe in the value of connected communities and help to support authentic relationships between individuals, families, communities and partners—this enhances our clients' ability to access resources and knowledge. Group support references the formation and strengthening of groups, and implementing programs and services through trusted networks. Groups provide a space where clients can find encouragement, motivation, and guidance from their peers, enhancing their overall well-being and resilience. This contributes to the social fabric of communities by nurturing social capital and strengthening interpersonal relationships. More connected communities allow clients to pool resources, leverage their combined efforts to overcome obstacles, spot new opportunities and more confidently access services and resources. We also establish and strengthen connections and relationships between actors within the market ecosystem. This includes linking clients to government services and other service providers (including health), as well as connecting clients to buyers and suppliers to expand market opportunities, such as linking farmers to off-takers and input providers.

Core Programs

We implement our core activities through our five key programs: Microenterprise, Agriculture, Education, Health and Graduation. These programs serve as focal points through which we deliver our work and drive positive change in key sectors.

• Within our Microenterprise work, we focus on supporting entrepreneurship and business development. Through access to finance, training, and market linkages, we empower individuals to start and grow their enterprises.
• In Agriculture Finance, we improve provision of financial services to smallholder farmers through technical assistance and support to financial institution partners and provide capacity building and market connections to end clients through Farmer Support Agents. Through training, access to market information, and finance, we enable farmers to improve their yields, connect with buyers, and adopt climate-smart good agricultural practices.
• The Education Finance improves access to quality education to get more children into quality schools. We improve education financial service provision through technical assistance and support to financial institutions, provide training and support to educators, and expand the education market by providing financial services and support to both schools and parents.
• Within our Health work, we improve healthcare access and outcomes. This includes assisting financial institutions to develop financial services for people in poverty, building capacity of women to deliver basic health education, and supporting leaders in developing sustainable businesses. It also includes our Women's Safety program in India.
• Within the Graduation program, we provide economic assets and holistic training to help families living in ultra-poverty build skills, confidence, and sustainable incomes. We also support other marginalized groups that are worst affected by poverty and who have very limited economic opportunities.

Mobilize Finance

Mobilizing finance includes investing in credit support mechanisms, capital solutions, and financial services. Credit support mechanisms provide assistance to clients in accessing credit through partnerships with financial institutions. This support includes loan guarantee facilities, collateral subsidies, and other mechanisms. Capital solutions involve connecting financial institutions with different sources of capital, including impact capital, grants, investments, or loans, to enable them to serve our end clients. Through tailored financial services, we provide clients with a range of financial products and services tailored to their specific needs. This may include savings accounts, insurance, tailored loan products, and other financial tools that promote financial inclusion. 

Women’s Empowerment, Climate Resilience, Digital Services, and Innovation

Our core programs are implemented through a women empowerment and climate resilience lens, recognizing the importance of addressing gender inequality and environmental sustainability in our interventions. We also consider the intersectionality of gender and climate change, recognizing that women are disproportionately affected by environmental challenges and promoting gender-responsive healthcare solutions that address their specific needs.  

In our Microenterprise work, we prioritize women's economic empowerment by providing targeted support, resources, and training to women entrepreneurs. Within Agriculture Finance, we promote climate-smart agricultural practices that contribute to sustainable food production. We empower women farmers by providing them with knowledge and resources to adopt sustainable farming techniques, mitigate climate risks, and improve agricultural productivity. In Education Finance, we focus on promoting gender equality in access to quality education. We prioritize girls' education and work to eliminate barriers that prevent them from attending school, such as cultural biases, inadequate washroom facilities, and parent's financial constraints. In the Health program, we address gender disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. We empower women as health leaders, providing them with the skills and knowledge to deliver health education and promote preventive care in their communities.  

Our core programs are enabled by Digital Services and Innovations. By integrating technology, we enhance effectiveness, efficiency, and reach across all of our programs. Our digital innovations combine high-tech financial services, high-touch human support, and high-impact connections to provide a comprehensive and inclusive financial ecosystem. We leverage digitized engagement to improve client access, usage, and overall experience. By integrating technology, personalized support, and innovations through trusted networks, we empower individuals to participate in the financial system, enabling financial inclusion and promoting economic empowerment. 

Financial Resources

Human Capital

We also seek to enhance human capital, which is measured by increased knowledge, productivity, and ability. Human capital consists of the knowledge, skills, and health that people invest in and accumulate throughout their lives, enabling them to realize their potential as productive members of society. Investing in people through quality education, health care, jobs and skills helps develop human capital, and this is key to ending extreme poverty and creating more inclusive societies. Empowering individuals with knowledge and skills is essential for their long-term success, increasing their ability to engage in productive endeavors. Through our core activities, clients are able to improve their productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness in areas including entrepreneurship, agriculture, and other income-generating activities. Moreover, by investing in human capital, such as education and health services, we contribute to improved health outcomes, education outcomes, and the overall growth of individuals and communities. 

Thriving Connections

We measure the outcome of thriving connections by the strength of social ties, growth, and enduring viability. We recognize the power of relationships and community support in driving positive change. We aim to cultivate trusted networks that foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and informed market engagement. By nurturing social ties, we create an environment where individuals and communities can support one another, share resources, and exchange ideas. Trusted networks allow clients to grow their enterprises and social capital as they access mentorship, training, and ongoing support. Trusted networks play a vital role in improving the enduring viability of livelihood strategies as our clients tap into a supportive community that offers guidance, collaboration, and support; improved connections and trust also strengthen our clients' influence, resilience, and collective impact within their communities. 

Resilience

Resilience is one of two interconnected ultimate outcomes in our theory of change, defined as the ability to effectively manage risk and flourish despite challenges, external shocks, and adversities. Through our core activities, we aim to empower individuals and communities to develop the skills, resources, and mindset necessary to build resilience. By focusing on enhancing financial resources, knowledge and ability, market engagement, and other key elements of our theory of change, we equip our clients with the tools and capabilities to navigate uncertainties, adapt to changing circumstances, and overcome setbacks. Ultimately, our goal is to empower individuals and communities to become resilient agents of change, capable of managing risks and flourish. By fostering resilience as an ultimate outcome, we create a foundation for sustainable development, long-term wellbeing, and the ability to overcome poverty and achieve lasting positive change. 

Opportunity

Opportunity is defined as the agency and confidence to capture potential. Our clients improve agency as they access a greater number of reliable choices with which to navigate their financial lives and they access greater power and confidence to make the most out of the resources they have available to them. We believe that empowering individuals and communities with the opportunity to shape their own futures and create sustainable livelihoods is essential for lasting positive change. Through our core activities and interventions, we strive to provide individuals with the necessary tools, resources, and support to seize opportunities and exercise agency in their lives to unlock our clients' potential, foster economic self-sufficiency, and enable them to shape their own future, leading to long-term well-being and flourishing. 

Pathways out of Poverty

Our end goal is building pathways out of poverty towards sustainable livelihoods. We aspire to catalyze these pathways for individuals, households, and whole communities through the development of an inclusive financial sector and supporting ecosystem which supports the participation and economic integration of the poorest and most marginalized groups. Ultimately, we seek to ensure that those living at the economic and social margins have access to the tools they need to pave a pathway out of poverty, so that they can feed their families, afford decent healthcare, provide education for their dependents, live in safety, and enjoy adequate shelter.