News Blog
Microfinance Has Not Failed. Poorly Designed Credit Has.
Opportunity International CEO Atul Tandon responds to a Wall Street Journal article claiming microfinance has failed, arguing the real problem isn't credit itself but poorly designed lending. Drawing on CGAP research and 60 Decibels client data, he makes the case that responsible, well-supported financial services—paired with training, savings, and protection—drive real improvements in income and resilience, as reflected in Opportunity's own client outcomes.
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The Human-Centered Future of Development
Dr. William Derban shares three takeaways from ICT4D on the future of digital development: why Africa must help shape the technology it uses, why access alone does not equal inclusion, and how trusted data can strengthen financial inclusion and expand opportunity.
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Keith Krach, Trusted Technology, and the Future of Opportunity
Atul Tandon reflects on why technology can advance economic opportunity only when people have reason to trust it. Through Opportunity International’s work with Keith Krach and farmers like Alex Maere, he shows how digital tools can strengthen—not replace—the human relationships that help families build better futures.
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How Training and Technology Helped One Farmer Support 15 Family Members
A Ugandan farmer supporting 15 family members on just two acres transforms his harvest and income through Opportunity International's Farmer Support Agent training and FarmerAI tool—catching a crop-threatening pest infestation before it's too late, quadrupling his groundnut yield, and becoming a community leader who now trains other farmers.
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Inclusion by Design: What Disability Pride Month Means for Our Work
One in six people worldwide live with some form of disability—and in rural Africa, that rate is even higher. This Disability Pride Month, we're sharing two examples from our network that show what it looks like to move beyond good intentions.
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The Funding Stopped. The Mission Didn't.
When USAID funding cuts disrupted education programs across six countries, teacher Simon Ottu of Ghana chose action over waiting—training colleagues in the skills he'd gained. His story reflects Opportunity International's EduFinance mission: invest in people, not just programs, and the impact outlasts any grant cycle.
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Florelis Fled Venezuela. In Colombia, She Found a Way to Flourish.
After leaving Venezuela for Colombia, Florelis struggled to find stable work and opportunity. Through Opportunity International’s Ultra-Poor Graduation program, she gained business training, financial skills, and seed funding to launch a tailoring business that is helping her family build a stronger future. Her story is one of millions we celebrate on World Refugee Day.
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From Survival to Stability: How Families in Haiti Are Building a Better Future in Just 18 Months
Extreme poverty isn’t solved with a quick fix. Opportunity’s 18-month Graduation program equips Haiti’s most vulnerable families with assets, skills, and confidence to build businesses, grow savings, and break the cycle of poverty—with 99% achieving a stable livelihood by program’s end.
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Colombia Graduation: A Journey Taken Together
Atul reflects on joining 451 entrepreneurs in Cartagena as they graduated from Camino de Oportunidades, Opportunity International’s Ultra-Poor Graduation program in Colombia. He shares stories of courage, transformation, and the power of walking alongside families as they build new futures.
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How One Woman in Uganda Turned Small Beginnings into a Stronger Future
In Uganda, Ruth transformed her future through financial literacy, entrepreneurship training, and disciplined savings. Today, the farmer, business owner, and mentor is building financial stability for her family while helping other young women grow their own livelihoods.
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