Triodos Microfinance Fund and Triodos Fair Share Fund have provided a EUR 5 million senior debt facility to OnePuhunan, a key player in the microfinance landscape in the Philippines. OnePuhunan provides loans and microinsurance products to more than 400,000 underbanked women entrepreneurs in predominantly rural areas.
OnePuhunan is built on the idea that everyone deserves the opportunity to build better lives for themselves and their families. The institution was founded in 2014 by Credit Access Asia to provide financial services to underbanked self-employed women. It has gradually grown to employ more than 2,500 staff with a nationwide network of more than 200 offices.
Fair lending
Looking at the client base of OnePuhunan, most women entrepreneurs are active in the trading sector, such as sari-sari stores and small grocery stores. The microfinance institution is adamant about transparency and client respect. Loan officers, branch managers and collection officers are trained on fair lending and collection practices and provide an in-depth review of all the concepts involving the loan process to all borrowers.
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Rural outreach
OnePuhunan is poised for further growth. It aims to further increase its network of branches, especially in rural areas. Investing in technology, increasing digitisation and strengthening policies and procedures are key in realising this growth. Steps are already being taken, for example the introduction of an-inhouse developed client app, which is used by more than 350,000 clients.
Long-term relationship
The senior debt facility provided by the Triodos Financial Inclusion funds supports OnePuhunan in realising their growth ambition. With this transaction, the funds rekindle their partnership with OnePuhunan, which started with a first transaction in 2017. Also, it provides geographic diversification and a return to one of the fastest growing countries in the region.