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Desjardins Inter­national Development: Leader in inclusive finance

For the last 50 years, we’ve been promoting the economic empowerment of vulnerable populations in developing countries. Our activities foster financial inclusion and sustainability.

Desjardins International Development (DID) is an international development organization based in Canada that helps people take control of their finances and leverage available tools and resources.

Access to diversified and secure financial services is essential to development and improved living conditions. That’s why all of our work is focused on inclusive finance and financial education. 

Who we are

Description Transcript
We are DID

1 min 44 s

Together we can build a more inclusive, greener and more prosperous world. Tackling climate change and its impacts, achieving health for all, empowering women and youth, and eliminating insecurity in all its forms. Economic empowerment is essential to achieving these sustainable development goals. How? Watch our video to learn more! We are DID

Note: The information in brackets describes the audio and visual content of the video that is not dialogue or narration.

[music]

[Agricultural fields on a mountain, workers in the field, people visiting a market.]

Narrator: All over the world, much remains to be done to eradicate hunger, fight climate change and its consequences, promote good health and well-being for all, give women and youth their rightful place, and eliminate insecurity in all its forms.

[People writing notes in an outdoor gathering, women working in offices, people in classrooms.]

Narrator: We are all agents of change. Together, we can build a greener, more inclusive and prosperous world.

[Farmers picking fruits, workers discussing in the fields, people handling money.]

Narrator: It is through access to financial services adapted to their needs, sufficient financial knowledge, and the ability to control their own finances that men, women and youth develop their economic autonomy and can farm in a sustainable way, start a business and create jobs, take care of their loved ones, and cope with shocks.

[A woman rides a motorcycle on the streets of a city, vehicles on a street, a debit card payment terminal.]

Narrator: Economic empowerment is what we do. We are DID.

[Two men in an office shake hands while smiling.]

Narrator: We bring over 50 years of experience in 65 countries.

[A woman smiles widely at the camera.]

Narrator: And, above all, opportunities for tens of millions of people: Farmers,

[People working in fields and plantations.]

Narrator: entrepreneurs,

[A man tends to a cow, a woman types on a computer.]

Narrator: women,

[Women smiling at the camera.]

Narrator: young people.

[A young man smiles at the camera, a group of people is gathered in front of a shelter.]

[music]

[On-screen text: We are leaders in economic empowerment]

[On-screen text: We are partners with local communities]

[On-screen text: We are committed to inclusive and sustainable development]

[On-screen text: We are DID]

[On-screen logo: Desjardins International Development]

END OF TRANSCRIPT

We specialize in creating sustainable economic op­portunities

Making sure farmers have the tools they need

We encourage the adoption of more productive agricultural techniques that protect the environment. Increasing farmland yield promotes food security.

Learn more about agricultural financing and food security

Supporting entre­preneurs

We support the growth of businesses, since prosperity drives job creation and boosts the local economy.

Learn more about helping businesses in developing countries

Helping young people take their place

We equip young people with the knowledge and tools to enhance their economic power, ensure their digital inclusion and realize their projects.

Learn more about financial education and employability for youth

Empowering women and promoting gender equality

We provide women with knowledge to develop their potential and leadership. Education is crucial to eliminating poverty.

Learn more about empowering women and promoting financial inclusion

Our approach: Work with local populations

Our initiatives to fulfil our mission fall into 2 main categories: technical assistance and impact investing.

Technical assistance

  • Help financial institutions of all sizes find solutions to their problems
  • Educate the customers of these institutions so they're able to make better use of available services and control their finances
  • Help governments adopt policies based on the needs of their populations

Impact investing

  • Investments to support the performance, growth and good governance of inclusive finance institutions selected for their strong potential
  • CAN$100 million invested over 30 years in 50 institutions to improve access to financial services for millions of entrepreneurs and their families
  • CAN$88 million Aequitas Fund to support the growth of micro and small businesses, the fight against climate change and gender equality
Learn more about impact investing

The strength of our partner­ships is our hallmark

When we join forces, we can carry out projects that have a major and lasting impact on communities facing financial empowerment challenges.

Contact us

  • 50 years promoting the economic empowerment of vulnerable populations

  • Nearly 700 projects completed

  • Projects launched in 65 countries on 4 continents

  • Carbon neutral since 2017

Initiatives that make a difference

We work with our partners to share our microfinance expertise, adapting Desjardins Group’s experience and know-how to local realities. Our cooperative strength has a worldwide impact through:

  • Missions to help farmers, young people, women and entrepreneurs
  • Active partnerships in 30 countries on 4 continents
  • Proxfin: An international discussion and exchange network focused on inclusive finance
See all our projects

I used to think of savings as a luxury that only the rich could afford. Now, saving is a habit for me. I have a better under­standing of how credit works and how to make better use of it, especially to develop my business.

Participant

PINKK project, carried out under a partnership in Senegal

A team with a global outlook

Our team is made up of more than 100 experienced people with in-depth knowledge of financial inclusion. They use their open minds and energy to build connections and make a real difference in our beneficiary countries.

Learn more about our team

Help us help others

Being part of the DID team means putting your expertise and dedication to work for marginalized communities all over the planet.

Follow us on LinkedIn  and Facebook to see our international development job opportunities.

Learn more about job opportunities at DID

The partnership with DID is above all a human adventure built on friendship, closeness, and passion between "people from the North" and "people from the South" around an idea of strength: the ability of the population to take charge of their own lives by putting local savings to good use.

Alpha Ouédraogo

Director General, Confederation of Financial Institutions of West Africa from 2000 to 2014

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