Almost 300 000 people in developing countries empowered to improve their living conditions thanks to inclusive finance
- ADA supports a total of 290 000 people in 2024, 48% of whom are women. Almost one million vulnerable people supported since 2022.
- ADA works with local partners to provide tailored financial services and technical assistance to smallholder farmers and foresters, young entrepreneurs and vulnerable households.
- Farmers and foresters supported in implementing sustainable agricultural practices, young entrepreneurs supported in growing their business, vulnerable households given access to electricity and water thanks to tailored and fair loans (inclusive finance).
In 2024, ADA helped almost 300 000 vulnerable people in developing countries to improve their living conditions by giving them access to tailored financial services and by providing partner organisations with technical assistance.
Active in Africa, Central America and South-East Asia, ADA collaborates with local partners to implement inclusive finance projects which mainly support smallholder farmers and foresters, young entrepreneurs and vulnerable households. ADA is co-financed by the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs (Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade).
Basic financial services such as tailored loans and savings products accompanied with agricultural, forestry and business coaching enable these target groups to improve their living conditions thanks to more stable revenues, reduced economic vulnerability to shocks, greater food security and improved hygiene and sanitation. In addition, ADA provides its partners with technical support such as project management and/or consultancy services based on ADA’s 30-year experience.
Laura Foschi, Executive Director of ADA, explains: "At ADA, we aim to enable the autonomous economic development of vulnerable people. To this end, we work with local partners to increase their resilience against economic shocks, hunger and climate change. We encourage sustainable economic growth and agricultural practices in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals."
2024: Concrete results to empower vulnerable people
- 293,232 new beneficiaries supported in 2024, 48% of whom are women.
- 930,000 vulnerable people supported in total since 2022, demonstrating a real and lasting impact.
- 330 partner organisations benefited from technical support to strengthen their organisation and skills which enables them to offer tailor-made, local solutions.
ADA goes to great lengths to analyse the exact impact of its projects, for example by following up projects with surveys of beneficiaries and by analysing the business figures of our partner organisations before and after the rollout of new products and services with ADA’s support. The 2024 report not only includes precise figures for all areas of activities but also explains how these activities support specific Sustainable Development Goals.
Key achievements in 2024 include:
- Extension of access to green energy to rural areas in Africa, promoting community empowerment and resilience.
- Putting in place programmes to support the adaptation of vulnerable people to climate change in Southeast Asia and Central America.
- Promoting sustainable agroforestry practices which enable smallholder farmers to diversify their sources of income, thereby strengthening their economic resilience in the face of environmental challenges.