News Media Coverage
Opportunity International’s AgFinance Model: Responding to Farmers’ Needs Amid a Pandemic
Opportunity’s Agriculture Finance (AgFinance) model is structured to bring scalable, competitive, and high-impact loans and training to families living in poverty in hard-to-reach regions of the world. Today we work through local, vetted, and regulated financial institution partners, hand-in-hand with our program teams, to bring critical poverty solutions to agricultural communities in sub-Saharan Africa to break the cycle of generational rural poverty.
This Educator Is a Champion for Young Girls in Ghana
Even in normal circumstances, over 35,000 children of primary school age are out of school in Ghana. Over 40% of children are not enrolled in secondary school. Girls in Ghana are particularly affected by a lack of access to education with a school life expectancy of 11 years. According to Opportunity International, many girls face particular challenges in attending school due to poverty, early marriage, or pregnancy. As the founder of Solid Rock Foundation Schools in Accra, Ghana, Victoria Hazel knows how essential education is for unlocking a child’s potential, especially for girls.
Opportunity International Donates 10,000 Face Masks to Clients in Ghana
Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited (OISL), a leading savings and loans company in Ghana, has donated 10,000 pieces of face masks to its clients. The donation was part of OISL’s actions in combatting the spread of the novel coronavirus in various communities it serves.
School Improvement Loans Linked to Increased Learning Outcomes in Uganda
Opportunity EduFinance partnered with the University of Chicago’s Center for RISC to measure the effectiveness of School Improvement Loans in Uganda related to increasing learning outcomes for students.
Opportunity International Savings and Loans holds 2nd graduation for 54 ‘Kayaye’
Opportunity International Savings and Loans in Ghana celebrated the second graduation ceremony for 54 street porters (Kayaye) under its flagship Youth Development Program.
Through the Noise: Small Loans & Business Training Can Change the World
During these uncertain times, how are leaders adapting and changing course? Opportunity International CEO Atul Tandon joined Through the Noise host Ernesto Gluecksmann to discuss how the organization is supporting families during COVID-19, the critical data that helps guide strategic decisions, and what motivates him to serve the most marginalized.
Looking For Equity After COVID-19? Prioritize African Women
COVID-19 has presented not only a health crisis but a burgeoning economic catastrophe as well. A recent McKinsey report notes that in 2020, African economies could experience a catastrophic loss from $90 billion to $200 billion, a 3–8% drop in GDP growth, and delayed or reduced foreign direct investment. Such a massive hit will require immense resources and focus at a continental level, as well as data-driven, gender-sensitive solutions at the local level. Emerging evidence suggests that women will disproportionately suffer the economic impacts of COVID-19.
Opportunity CEO Atul Tandon and EduQuality Manager Renee McAlpin discuss Education during COVID-19
Opportunity CEO Atul Tandon and Opporunity EduQuality Manager Renee McAlpin joined the annual Ideagen Global Innovation Summit to discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on education thus far, the challenges ahead, and the importance of coming together during a critical time in human history. Ideagen is a thought-leadership organization based in Washington, D.C. that focuses on building and enhancing cross-sector collaboration between nonprofit, corporate, and public sector entities for collective impact.
Survive to Thrive
Founder of Soul of Finance Larry Reed interviewed Opportunity CEO Atul Tandon to discuss how Opportunity is pivoting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Soul of Finance explores how the financial industry and philanthropic values intersect.
COVID-19 Threatens the Microfinance Sector and the Livelihoods of Those We Serve
"Over the past couple of months, we have seen unprecedented coordination among investors, donors, and other industry actors all seeking to support the [base of the economic pyramid] and the institutions that serve them. We are building a coalition so that these institutions that serve the poor with financial services also have a voice in the COVID-19 response." - Center for Financial Inclusion
Princess Anne Opens Up About Her Lifetime as a Royal
We had the great honor to meet Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne this past November in Chicago and experience her palpable enthusiasm for Opportunity International’s work. We’re so grateful for her long-time patronage of Opportunity International UK, which was mentioned in the cover story of Vanity Fair's May 2020 issue about the Princess. As she looks towards her 70th birthday this year, the article explores an in-depth look at her life as a Royal, and her commitment as a philanthropist to serve the most marginalized people—especially women and children.
Opportunity CEO Atul Tandon joins Cisco and Ideagen to discuss COVID-19 Response
Opportunity’s CEO Atul Tandon and Deputy Director of Cisco Foundation Charu Adesnik were featured on LinkedIn Live with Ideagen to discuss updates from the field, maintaining hope during COVID-19, and how technology is helping us support and prepare the most marginalized. Host George Sifakis, Global CEO of Ideagen, led the conversation. Ideagen is a thought-leadership organization based in Washington, D.C., that focuses on building and enhancing cross-sector collaboration between nonprofit, corporate, and public sector entities for collective impact.
Head of Education, Andrew McCusker, Interviews with Ideagen
Opportunity's Head of Education Finance, Andrew McCusker, joined Ideagen® President George Sifakis to discuss the global education crisis, how Opportunity's Education Finance team is designing and scaling solutions, and the top three lessons he's learned that have the potential to change the world.
Michele Sullivan highlights Opportunity in Looking Up
Former president of Caterpillar Foundation and long-time friend of Opportunity, Michele Sullivan, is releasing her first book next week called Looking Up: How a Different Perspective Turns Obstacles into Advantage. Watch Michele talk about traveling with Opportunity to Uganda on C-SPAN2’s Book TV segment here and learn more about her upcoming book at lookingupbook.com.
Point of View Interview with Kerby Anderson
Host Kerby Anderson discusses Opportunity International's mission with Opportunity CEO Atul Tandon.
Modern Ghana
Opportunity International Joins Akropong School For The Blind To Celebrate International Day Of Persons With Disability
The Management and staff of Opportunity International Savings and Loans (OISL) organised a 5 kilometer health walk and spent the rest of the day with students and staff of Akropong School for the Blind to celebrate the International Day for Persons with Disability.
BBC
Jobs for the World's Young
Young people make up 35% of the world's unemployed, and it's a global problem. Pulitzer prize-winning reporter Amy Goldstein, author of Janesville: An American Story, tells us how retraining doesn't always work when it comes to finding people new jobs in the rust belt of America. Rahul Tandon reports on India's unemployed youth contending with a slowing economy. And John Magnay from Opportunity International, a network of banks and micro-finance institutions, tells us why farming can still be the solution for Africa's unemployment problem.
CGTN America
Atul Tandon on why the world gives big on Giving Tuesday
CGTN's Rachelle Akuffo spoke with Atul Tandon, Opportunity International CEO, about why online donations are increasing.
Forbes International Magazine
How Opportunity International is Working to End Poverty in our Lifetime
Forbes International Magazine
Combining Capitalism and Charity: MyBucks Spreads Financial Services Across Africa
International Policy Digest
Opportunity International - A Graduation, A Benchmark for Empowerment in Nicaragua
Voice of America’s Africa News Tonight
We are investing in schools and we’re ensuring that schools can scale to meet the demand in their local community and can get every child in their community into school so they have an option to pursue an education
Forbes International Magazine
A Conversation with Vicki Escarra, Global CEO of Opportunity International
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Charity fundraiser at Lake Minnetonka mansion sealed with a Kiss concert
KEYC-TV, the Mankato FOX affiliate
Gene Simmons of KISS Participates in Mankato Charity Event Before Concert
KTOE News Radio in Mankato
Kiss legend Gene Simmons swoops into charity function in Mankato
The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2
The Power of Microfinance on Educating Children in the Developing World
Huffington Post
New Three-Year, $1.8-Million Partnership With MetLife Foundation Will Create Jobs, Transform Lives in China
Microcapital.org
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EFSE Lends $7.8m to Microfinance Institutions Mikrofin of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Opportunity Bank Serbia
The Sais Observer
Three Times Strong: SAIS’ “Global Women in Leadership” Talks Women Entrepreneurship
Biz Journal's "Biz Women"
On a rooftop in the slums of Delhi, Carly Fiorina beefs up her international resume
The Washington Examiner
Carly Fiorina discusses nonprofit work and faith ahead of National Prayer Breakfast
The Chicago Tribune's Blue Sky Innovation
Steps that women entrepreneurs can take to help cut the gender gap
The Economic Times
What Opportunity International's Vicki Escarra & Carly Fiorina are doing to empower Indian women
Africa Agribusiness Magazine
Opportunity International Ag Finance: helping smallholder farmers grow out of subsistence
Microcapital.org
Opportunity International Buys Mambu Cloud Banking Software to Support Lending to Small, Medium-Sized Enterprises
Half the Sky Movement
Mother's Day: Moving the Apostrophe to Help Mothers Around the World
Julia Campbell Social Marketing
5 Very Inspiring Nonprofit Fundraising Campaigns for Mother's Day
Insurance News Net