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PO Box 2826
Carol Stream, Illinois 60132

Toll Free: 1-800-793-9455

© 2024 Opportunity Internationala 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN: 540907624.

Innovative Programs

Opportunity International responds to the needs of our clients by building, testing, iterating, and scaling programs to help families support themselves, grow their incomes, and break the cycle of poverty.

Since our founding, Opportunity has developed innovative programs to serve families living in poverty. We were one of the first organizations to explore microfinance in the 1970s. In the 1990s, we developed Trust Group lending, leveraging social networks as loan assurance. We also built MicroEnsure, now the largest provider of microinsurance in the world.

Over the years, we built banks, allowing us to offer clients a full suite of financial services; we created, piloted, and scaled Education Finance and Agriculture Finance—which are now leading programs in the industry; we were on the front lines of group lending; and we have been a leader in digital financial services.

We are a listening and learning organization, committed to meeting the evolving needs of the families we serve. Our innovative approach is built upon research, tested through pilot programs, scaled to create global impact, and measured to demonstrate efficacy. We respond to the challenges our clients are facing by developing the tools and resources they need to break the cycle of poverty and help their families thrive.

 

Vandana, India
Vandana, India

What We Do

Women’s Economic Empowerment

Through financial services, training, and support, we help women become agents of economic change, moving them from exclusion to inclusion. Especially in communities where women have been historically marginalized, Opportunity equips women to work alongside their neighbors and educates families on the power of women's economic participation and inclusion.

Learn More about Women’s Economic Empowerment 

 

Digital Financial Services

Digital tools help us reach even the most remote communities with financial services and training. Through mobile banking, interactive voice recordings, credit scoring algorithms, and more, we leverage technology to better serve those living in poverty.

Digital Financial Services 

 

Opportunity Zones

Leveraging our existing programs, we are piloting Opportunity Zones in specific communities in Africa. In these regions, we have launched an innovative, integrated approach that combines AgFinance, EduFinance, Micro Banking, and more in a concentrated area to accelerate progress out of poverty.

Learn More about Opportunity Zones 

 

Refugee Services

Motivated by our commitment to support the world's most vulnerable and marginalized communities, we are building programs to serve refugees and internally displaced people. By providing services and training to people living in refugee settlements, we are helping families find economic stability in the midst of incredibly difficult circumstances.

Learn More about Refugee Services 

 

Graduation Programs

For those living in ultra-poverty—the most severe form of poverty in the world—traditional poverty alleviation programs remain out of reach. The Graduation Model meets these families where they are and offers them continued training, mentorship, and support as they learn how to earn an income and provide for their families.

Learn More about Graduation Programs 

 

Vocational Training for Youth

The burgeoning youth population in Africa presents both a tremendous challenge and an incredible opportunity. These young people can become innovative leaders and valuable contributors to the local economy, but they must first have the opportunity to learn, build skills, and find work. Opportunity creates technical vocational education training programs to equip, mentor, and encourage youth as they enter the workforce. 

Learn More about Vocational Training for Youth 

 

Discover

Discover more about the partners who make Opportunity International's work possible.

Meet Our Partners

Learn

Learn more about the team of experts and practitioners who manage our programs.

Meet the Team

Explore

Explore the countries in which we provide services, training, and support.

Learn Where We Work

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“It is for the children that we make these…

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Opportunity International Receives Charity…

Opportunity International

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