Netri Foundation

Social investments to combat extreme poverty

Financial services for informal sector entrepreneurs

Kosovo, 2017

Collaborating Entity Agency for Finance in Kosovo (AFK)
Amount $250,000
Term 3 years
Beneficiaries 1,200
Farmers with their flocks of sheep. Source: Giannis Papanikos
Farmers with their flocks of sheep. Source: Giannis Papanikos

Social Issue

Kosovo is a small country with a very high unemployment rate. Furthermore, it is highly dependent on foreign aid. The World Bank sets its poverty rate by around 30%. Regarding unemployment, the situation worsens among young people: In a country with an average age of 30 years, 52.4% of these are unemployed.

Our Response

AFK was founded in 2000 by Mercy Corps and is one of the first microfinance institutions established after the armed conflict in Kosovo. It was created to generate employment through the creation and promotion of micro-businesses. It is constituted as an NGO very focused in rural areas. It has 18% of the national market and more than 13,000 clients.

Expected Social Impact

With this investment of the Netri Foundation, it is estimated that AFK will be able to provide 240 microloans with the idea of empowering the population of Kosovo in generating employment in rural areas of the country.