We are very pleased to welcome our new managing director Thos Gieskes who took up his position on 3 April. In the interview he talks about what motivates him, his experience as a development economist, his work in cooperative banking, and his vision and aspirations for his new role at Oikocredit. 

Our annual report was released on 23 March. The annual report contains messages from our managing board, updates from our regional offices, features on our partners across the globe, and a complete overview of Oikocredit’s financial statements for 2016. 

We have just recently announced our 2016. Our development financing portfolio exceeded the € 1 billion milestone for the first time, and we grew our portfolios in our focus areas of inclusive finance, agriculture, renewable energy and Africa. 

Our facts and figures for the fourth quarter of 2016 include capital outstanding, the total number of partners and countries where we invest, as well as an overview of our funding by type, region and sector. 

In March the UK & Ireland team attended much loved Oikocredit partner Divine Chocolate's Fairtrade forum on 'What is it about women & chocolate?"  Attended by DFID, Oxfam, Divine's Ghanian producers, Kuapa Kokoo, and many others, we all explored the latest perspectives on Fairtrade smallholder farming and the importance of women's empowerment in the supply chain of chocolate and other produce. We were also introduced to the art of chocolate tasting...and what an art it is!

To continue the theme this month, Divine Chocolate and Oikocredit UK have also teamed up with our UK capital-raising partner, Ethex, to persuade more people to do more ethical investing and shopping. So, if you know someone who wants to go more ethical with their shopping and investing habits, then Ethex are offering a chance to win a Divine Chocolate Tasting Kit as a sweet incentive!  See the Ethex Facebook page for more details* (*Terms & conditions apply).

Our latest blog feature is not one for the squeamish!

During a visit to Oikocredit’s Philippine's social enterprise partner, ABRASA (with whom we have a loan outstanding of PHP 22.6 million/€425,000), Monica met with some of their end borrowers - in particular a rice eel entrepreneur as well as other farming families who have benefited from much-needed social impact investment and other support.

You can read the whole story here.

Monica and Archie will be attending two noteworthy events in early May.

1. 'Financial Inclusion for Women' by Philanthropy Impact will discuss the role that financial institutions, private investors, philanthropists, microfinance institutions and charities can play in addressing the global gender imbalance and bringing about social change. This is an opportunity for Oikocredit to raise its profile among charities, trusts and foundations, who we believe to be paramount partners in tackling the UN's 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. 

2. The 'Family Office Conference' by the Social Stock Exchange, is targeted at encouraging Family Offices to invest in social missions such as that of Oikocredit and others.  

In March, with heartfelt thanks to our host and founder-member of the Oikocredit co-operative, the Church of Scotland, both Oikocredit UK's Monica Middleton and Fair Finance's David Cousland enjoyed a successful few days in Edinburgh speaking with Presbyterian Church groups and other potential investors.

On May 21st, Archie and David will be heading to Edinburgh's Heart & Soul 2017 event, which will be held in the Princes Street Gardens. From our market stall, Oikocredit will be showcasing our activities to over 60 churches, charities and faith-based organisations, with over 5,000 visitors expected to attend throughout the day. 

Please do spread the word and pop by our stall!