Social Issue

As a consequence of the recent conflicts in the Caucasus (the Chechnya war in 1999, the conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the early 1990s and again in 2008), there is a significant amount of the internally displaced Georgian population, temporarily housed and without the possibility of returning to their homes, who is in conflict zones. In Georgia, a country of four million people, about one in 20 citizens has had to relocate because of the wars of the past three decades.

Our Response

Microloans are a powerful tool to provide opportunities to excluded and marginalised communities.

Lazika was created as an Oxfam programme in 2000 to help refugees who settled in the Zugdidi area after the occupation of Abkhazia. In 2007, it became a registered microfinance institution and its employees and board became the main shareholders.

Lazika focuses on granting loans to micro and small businesses in the western part of the country. 60% of its portfolio is in rural areas. Its objective is to facilitate access to financial services adapted to low- and middle-income entrepreneurs.

Expected Social Impact

With this investment of the Netri Foundation, it is estimated that Lazika will be able to provide 380 loans with the idea of supporting communities in the development of their businesses.