Our Impact
Our Impact
The Ilu Fund
As one of the region’s leading funds investing at the nexus of gender equality and climate action, the Ilu Fund has supported 32 companies to accelerate their financial, impact, and gender goals.
These companies are providing essential services in underserved communities and contributing directly to women’s empowerment, climate adaptation and mitigation, financial inclusion, quality education, health and wellbeing, the renewable energy transition, and affordable housing:
- 340K health treatments provided to MSME clients
- 860K business trainings to MSME clients
- 527K women received financing
- 76% of clients served
- 49% of employees identify as women
- 16 MW installed renewable energy capacity
- 9K tons of CO2 displaced
15 GWh generated
- 726K micro entrepreneurs and SMEs supported
- 7,400 full-time jobs supported
- 210 quality affordable apartments sold
- 460 people will be housed
*As of 2024 year end
The Ilu Program
The Ilu Women’s Empowerment Program directly impacted over one thousand participants throughout Latin America and the Caribbean through technical assistance, knowledge dissemination and advocacy, and fundraising of blended finance capital. It is the largest and most comprehensive initiative in the region to advance gender-smart business and investing practices.
people directly impacted
gender technical assistance projects in 9 countries that reached nearly 500 participants and
workshops for entrepreneurs and business leaders that reached nearly 700 participants
investor events showcasing gender lens investing in practice that reached over 800 participants across the Americas
USD Raised in blended finance capital, of which 80% are first-time investors in the Ilu Fund
open-source tools to promote gender-smart business practices
people directly impacted
gender technical assistance projects in 9 countries that reached nearly 500 participants and
workshops for entrepreneurs and business leaders that reached nearly 700 participants
investor events showcasing gender lens investing in practice that reached over 800 participants across the Americas
USD Raised in blended finance capital, of which 80% are first-time investors in the Ilu Fund
open-source tools to promote gender-smart business practices
Testimonials
“I did not know about unconscious gender biases. This program taught me that we need to increase the number of women in leadership, develop training sessions, and have a clear career plan for women to advance towards decision-making positions when opportunities arise.”
– Participant, woman
“It was particularly enriching to learn about the role that we play as allies. I realized that our policies are only one factor of change … Now I know that as a leader I must directly promote and inspire senior management to maintain this path to equality.“
– Participant, man
Reports and Case Studies
To learn more about the impact we have made with the Ilu Women’s Empowerment Program, download our in-depth program reports and case studies:
Program Report
Technical Assistance Report
Case Study: Gender Smart Information Systems
Case Study: Gender Sensitive Community Engagement
Case Study: Gender Smart Products and Marketing
Spotlight: Investing in Women’s Empowerment
Fundación ESPOIR
As a pioneer of the group lending methodology in Latin America, Fundación Espoir serves unbanked and low-income microentrepreneurs in Ecuador with a focus on women. Clients also have access to digital and in-person financial education services, life insurance, and medical assistance. The organization has received international recognition for its contribution to reducing the gender gap in Ecuador. The Fundación Espoir team participated in the Ilu Women’s Empowerment Technical Assistance program in a project focused on designing gender-smart products and services for women, with a focus on individual credit products to complement the group lending offering.
Villa Luz
Guatemala has the highest housing deficit rates in Central America. The Villa Luz housing project in Guatemala City is redefining affordable urban living with more than 300 high-quality apartments. By qualifying as social housing under the Guatemala Insured Mortgage Promotion Institute (FHA), clients access subsidized mortgage terms, significantly expanding access to quality housing for low- and middle-income families. Strategically located, Villa Luz offers families not only a safe and well-connected neighborhood but also the opportunity to significantly reduce the exceptionally long commute times that often define life in the city. By providing a clear path to homeownership, the project helps lower overall housing costs while enhancing quality of life. The demand for Villa Luz reflects the urgent need for dignified and affordable housing solutions, particularly among low- and middle-income families. Notably, more than half of the apartments have been purchased by women, underscoring the project’s role in expanding access to homeownership. The development also integrates social and family-oriented amenities such as an on-site daycare service.
Dispower
Dispower is a pioneering Colombian company committed to the maintenance and operation of off-grid solar systems in non-interconnected zones across Colombia. These areas, which make up 52% of the country’s landmass, are home to approximately 1.9 million people—two-thirds of whom still lack access to electricity. The innovative off-grid solar solutions that Dispower operates are transforming rural communities, offering clean energy to households, schools, small businesses, and critical infrastructure providers. Dispower is playing a key role in a government-led public-private initiative aimed at electrifying remote areas, including those with significant socio-economic barriers. Through inclusive community engagement, education, and relationship-driven customer service, Dispower is making sustainable, clean energy a reality for those who need it most, enabling vulnerable communities to overcome the challenges of isolation, infrastructure gaps, and cultural dynamics. Deetken Impact and Dispower’s partnership is a tremendous example of the power of clean energy to drive social and economic development, bringing lasting impact to Colombia’s most underserved regions.
