SPBD Samoa, SPBD Tonga and SPBD Fiji
Social Entrepreneur
Greg Casagrande
Founded
2000 Samoa, 2009 Tonga and 2010 Fiji.
MISSION
Moving families out of poverty.
BUSINESS MODEL
Microfinance institution that follows a modified Grameen Bank methodology in providing financial services to the poor. SPBD provides unsecured credit for micro-entrepreneurial purposes, home improvements and childhood education. It also provides micro-enterprise training and access to savings and insurance services.
Where they work
Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.
Annual budget
US$800k in Samoa, US$550k in Tonga and US$750k in Fiji for FY11 (Dec-11).
Delivered to date
Provided over 40,000 unsecured loans totalling over US$17 million, helping launch over 16,000 micro-businesses maintaining a default rate of less than 2%.
Impact
Financed housing improvements for 12,000 families and education for over 24,000 children. Provided emergency relief assistance to 148 client-members and temporary income generating activity to 390 households in 15 villages in Samoa as part of the post disaster recovery intervention.
big plans
Establish a region-wide, well-managed, efficient and financially sustainable microfinance network that will improve the quality of life of people living in poverty in the South Pacific.
Our investment so far
WST1.4 million loan from 2007, converted interest for staff training program and 100k grant for disaster relief in Samoa, TOP$1 million loan in Tonga and NZ$750,000 in Fiji.
