Our Impact
Our Impact
The Ilu Fund
As one of the region’s leading Gender Lens Investing funds, the Ilu Fund supports 27 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, financial inclusion, quality education, health and wellbeing, the renewable energy transition, and affordable housing:
- 250,489 health treatments provided to MSME clients
- 785,839 business trainings to MSME clients
- 526,892 women received financing
- 75% of clients served
- 47% of employees identify as women
- 16 MW installed renewable energy capacity
- 15,452 tons of CO2 displaced
29 GWh generated
- 699,869 micro entrepreneurs and SMEs supported
- 7,238 full-time jobs supported
- 163 quality affordable apartments sold
- 258 people will be housed
*As of 2022 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.
Impact
- 47,025 clients
- 72% of clients identifying as women
- 19,547 clients received financial training in 2021
Villa Luz
Villa Luz, a housing project in Guatemala City led in partnership by Modus Capital and H Pacific Capital, addresses the long-standing deficit of accessible housing solutions in Latin America’s overcrowded cities. The development features more than 300 quality apartments alongside social and family-oriented amenities such as on-site daycare service. With its centric location, Villa Luz not only offers families a safe and accessible neighborhood that can reduce exceptionally long commute times, but also provides a path to home ownership while reducing overall housing costs and improving quality of life. The project is designed for low and middle-income families with urgent unmet housing needs, with a focus on single mothers.
Impact
- 52% of customers identifying as women
- Customer average household income of $935/month
- Up to 65% savings on monthly housing expenses
Sembrar Sartawi
Sembrar Sartawi provides financial services to Bolivia’s rural smallholder farmers living in regions with a high risk of adverse climate events. The institution uses a unique and innovative business model that complements its services with technical assistance and market access, and clients also have access to health services and business training. The Sembrar Sartawi team participated in the Ilu Women’s Empowerment Technical Assistance program in a project that fostered the internal promotion and leadership of women employees through coaching and diversity, equity and inclusion education for management.
Impact
- 36,598 clients
- 62% of clients identifying as women
- 1,149 clients received health services in 2021
