The Dominican Republic has seen a large shift from being a predominantly agricultural exporter, to a service sector provider in areas such as tourism. More than 63% of workers now work in service industries and only 14% in agricultural occupations. However, the country’s unemployment rate is currently at 13%. The GDP is at more than $94 billion, but the richest 10% of the population receives 40% of this wealth. This leaves nearly 35% of the population under the poverty line.
There are more than 617,000 micro businesses in the Dominican Republic, but microfinance services are only reaching 17% of those in need. This creates huge opportunities for our microfinance institution to provide services to a growing need, especially in the agricultural field. The opportunity to start and own your own business is the alternative to the lack of jobs currently in the Dominican Republic. These jobs generate the revenue needed to sustain families and households across the country.
We are a four-diamond microfinance provider by MIX Market.
We are also actively involved with the funder CITI Foundation and giving out CITI Awards to business owners throughout their network. These individuals are recognised for their innovative and productive initiatives that positively impact their communities.
We are implementing a service called ‘All Pay’, which improves our platform of services and improves the efficiency and procedure for receiving payments from clients who live in rural and remote regions.
We are aiming to reach over 15,000 borrowers, 12,000 voluntary savers, 30,000 children and have an operational sustainability of 124% by the end of FY15. This will be accomplished by greater diversification and efficiency of financial and non-financial services particularly with our new service ‘All Pay.’
‘Working, saving and paying on time helps you achieve many things’ - Alvinisi
Alvinisi had always dreamed of having his own business to provide for his wife and three children. This dream was difficult to come by as he was unable to go to school as a child. After many years of working in the fields and saving what little money he could, Alvinisi has grown his small grocery shop through loans from VisionFund.
MFI Structure
Yudelka Flores joined our MFI as CEO in May 2009. She is an economist and has extensive experience working with Dominican Republic commercial bank credit programmes, second-tier microfinance and credit programs targeted to micro enterprises.
Yudelka is passionate about economic development work at the heart of VisionFund and World Vision.
We are currently undergoing the process of formally becoming an entity owned by VisionFund.