Read our end-of-year letter from our managing director, David Woods, detailing this year’s achievements, as well as highlights such as the cooperative’s 40th anniversary. David also writes about what to expect going into 2016.

In November we planted trees in the Netherlands, Kenya and India to mark the actual date of Oikocredit’s founding. The events were a culmination of our 40th anniversary celebrations that have taken place throughout the year. 

For those of you based in Northern Ireland, watch out for details in our next newsletter and keep the evening of Tuesday 23rd February free.  Organised by one of our investors, the topic will be focused on 'divestment and re-investment', and the panel will include our MD, David Woods, alongside current and former representatives from Drumline Wind Co-operative, Northern Ireland Community Energy, Ecology Building Society, Eco-congregation Ireland and the Irish Council of Churches. 

As we approach the end of the year, we thank our UK & Ireland investors and subscribers for the support you have given us throughout.  This has come in many ways, including investing in Oikocredit and donating dividends for capacity building; invitations to events; spreading the word, and giving us your feedback and thoughts on all manner of things.  After a slow start to the year for capital raising, we expect to reach 70% of our £2m UK target by the end of 2015. Next year we'll also use our London base to find new equity and debt partners alongside our capital-raising activities. And we’ll continue to improve our website, whilst raising the profile of Oikocredit in key forums and media. We look forward to being in touch with you throughout 2016 and please watch out for our new calendar, arriving in the New Year! 

At Oikocredit, we offer both loans and equity to our partner organisations. Our equity investments offer ethically-minded companies not only access to finance, but also added value in terms of knowledge sharing and skills and expertise.

Read an interview with our new head of equity and business development, Bart van Eyk, who joined Oikocredit in August 2015. Bart explains why equity can offer added value for Oikocredit as well as its partners, and what business development will entail for Oikocredit.

In 2014, Oikocredit made its first equity investment in sustainable Zambian aquaculture company, Yalelo. Oikocredit has taken a seat on the board to further strengthen Yalelo's operations, as well as assisting it in meeting its financial, environmental and social goals. 

Take a look at our facts and figures for the 3rd quarter of 2015. These include our capital outstanding, our total number of partners and countries where we invest as well as an overview of our funding by type, region and sector. 

The hands pictured in the header image belong to a microfinance client of Indian microfinance institution Fusion. Oikocredit took an equity stake in Fusion in 2015. The microfinance borrower pictured used her microloan to build her small business.