PARTNERSHIP OVERVIEW

As the leader of a young, ambitious MFI, you face many challenges in expanding operations—raising capital, building a management team and culture, hiring and training staff, upgrading systems and processes, ensuring internal controls, managing organizational performance, and aligning commitment throughout the organization.

 

"Our partnership with Unitus hinges on congruence of vision to empower the enterprising poor and develop human capacity to its fullest. Above and beyond LifeBank's improved access to the global arena, we value Unitus management's strategic flexibility and its competent and dedicated staff who brainstorm solutions with us and our staff for more efficient and effective delivery of our services. They walk the talk and keep us on our sharpest."
- Manny Perlas
President, Lifebank Foundation
Unitus MFI partner since 2006

Unitus offers organizations like yours a broad range of advisory services, expert-driven technology tools, innovative network opportunities, and more. Our team is a unique mix of management consultants, technologists, microfinance professionals, business leaders, strategists, venture capitalists, corporate and investment bankers, and support staff—all focused on helping you fulfill your potential.

Unitus partnership is designed for young or emerging institutions that take an innovative and commercial approach to providing financial services to the poor. To become a Unitus partner, MFIs must meet a basic set of growth and management criteria. Find out if you qualify for consideration.

 

PARTNERSHIP CRITERIA

To be considered for partnership, MFIs must meet the following criteria:

  • Growth: Demonstrated growth and 5x projected client growth in the next 3 years.
  • Mindset: Commercial microfinance approach and innovative mindset.
  • Size: MFIs with between 5,000 to 30,000 clients that have basic systems and processes in place.
  • Startups: We also support commercial MFI startups with strong visionary management.
  • Poverty focus: Demonstrated commitment to serving the poor.
  • Track record: Demonstrated growth, PAR 30 days < 5%, and rapidly improving OSS.
  • Structure: For-profit legal structure, or NGOs with strong commercial orientation that will transform within 2 years.
  • Location: We currently are working in and accepting applications from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi.
 

BENEFITS TO PARTNERSHIP

Our Advisory Services include:

  • Capital markets advisory services to identify financing needs, develop financing strategies, arrange debt and equity financing, and achieve strategic transactions. 
  • Strategic advisors who work with your management team to develop a clear strategy, business plan, and action plan to identify and eliminate constraints to growth early in partnership. 
  • Operations consulting tools and services to help MFIs optimize their business processes to scale faster, grow revenue, and reduce costs.
  • Expert-driven technology tools and consulting services.
  • Third-party vendor placement (when needed) to monitor and implement specific consulting engagements in the areas of technology and legal.
  • Access to our senior management team, a group of experienced supporters, and board members who can participate on an MFI’s board or as an advisor to the board.

 

As a member of the Unitus network, you’ll gain access to:

  • Structured events such as the annual Unitus Leadership Summit.
  • Peer-to-peer connections and learning opportunities through the exchange of ideas and best practices among our partners.
  • Quarterly partner newsletters, regular industry updates, and other resources.

 

Based on MFI need and potential, Unitus may also provide financial support for key organizational improvements, including deployment of Unitus services.

 

> Apply for Partnership

 

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