ACODEP (The Association of Consultants for the Development of the Micro and Small Enterprises)

Mission: To contribute to Nicaraguan men and women who do not have access to conventional sources of financing so that they can become creators of their own social and economic development, by facilitating them with financial services that are holistic, not short-term, and financial self-sufficiency.

Specialty: Urban Lending & Lending to Solidarity Groups

Organization Profile: ACODEP is one of the largest microfinance institutions in Nicaragua, aiding 12 regions with the organization’s 42 separate branches. Its size allows ACODEP to help a multitude of poor urban and rural areas within the country. ACODEP offers loans primarily for commerce, agriculture, consumption, and housing. Additionally, ACODEP lends to both individuals and those organized in solidarity groups, which allow extremely poor borrowers without collateral to take out loans.

Not only does ACODEP provide credit, but it also provides the poor access to other important resources. ACODEP educates its borrowers through business training and technical assistance. ACODEP also helps its members by offering remittance services with their “Nica-Remittances” subsidiary. These services let Nicaraguan immigrants living outside of the country to send money back home

Capital for Community Fund Partner Since: 1999

Borrowers: ACODEP has 77,421 total clients. Of these individuals, 58% are women and 42% are men.

Lending Portfolio: ACODEP’s average loan size is $446. The total lending portfolio of ACODEP is $34,498,110. Of this portfolio, commerce, small enterprise, and industry comprises 50%, agriculture and livestock 25%, consumption 11% and housing has 7% (as of June 2007).

Website: www.acodep.org.ni