Mission Statement: Grameen Foundation’s mission is to enable the poor, especially the poorest, to create a world without poverty.
Grameen Foundation is a leader in the fight against poverty in Sub Saharan Africa, Asia, the Arab World, and the Americas. Since our beginning in 1997, our programs, resources and fresh ideas have helped more than 45 million poor people, mostly women and children, improve their lives.
Building strong local institutions that reach even more people in the poorest communities is a cornerstone of our work. We help microfinance institutions (MFIs), credit unions, cooperatives and poverty-focused organizations secure financing, develop strategies to attract and maintain a talented and dedicated workforce, and better track how quickly their clients are leaving poverty. Our technology initiatives focus on helping MFIs work more efficiently and serve more people and on providing new business opportunities and access for poor people.
Grameen Technology Center (GTC) creates innovative and sustainable solutions that bring new efficiency and access to the microfinance and international development communities. Launched in 2001 and based in Seattle, Washington, GTC was motivated by the early successes of GrameenPhone established by Professor Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh. GTC focuses on technologies that:
- Help microfinance institutions work more efficiently and effectively
- Provide poor communities with access to agriculture, healthcare, marketplace information and other services
- Create new micro-business opportunities for the poor
- Connect remote communities
Mifos was launched in 2006 by the Grameen Foundation, who is providing the initial leadership and investment for Mifos. However, Grameen Foundation is committed to making Mifos an industry-wide initiative. Only with the participation and collaboration of all the stakeholders in the microfinance community can Mifos fulfill its potential. Ultimately, Mifos will be self-sustaining and managed by those who benefit the most from it. Grameen invites anyone who is interested in playing a guiding role in the development of Mifos to email us at mifos@grameenfoundation.org.
