Social Issue

In Latin America, 30.2% of the population, that is to say, 184 million inhabitants live in poverty, and 10.2% (62 million inhabitants) do so in extreme poverty, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Although Colombia has had significant results in reducing poverty and wage gaps, it is still one of the countries with the highest inequality index.

There are great differences between urban and rural regions, and high levels of inequality hamper development and are a barrier to poverty eradication.

The department of Nariño has one of the highest rates of extreme poverty in the country.

Our Response

Netri has collaborated with Contactar since 2018 providing them finance so that they can grant microloans to their clients. Microloans are a powerful tool to promote small-scale productive activity and to help farmers become more productive.

Contactar is a civil association of mixed participation, not for profit, created in 1991 by four public and private institutions, with the aim of promoting the development of the Pasto region, Colombia.

Its activities are focused in the south of the country (six departments), offering services and credits to microentrepreneur clients who work in the agricultural sector and to other microenterprises in the region, especially in the rural sector. It is an entity with a strong social performance promoting financial inclusion and improving the well-being of its clients. In addition to granting microloans, it offers training through workshops for its clients to deepen their knowledge of agricultural practices, financial issues, and how to improve their health.

Expected Social Impact

With this investment of the Netri Foundation, it is estimated that Contactar will be able to provide 900 microloans, with the idea of empowering rural communities in southern Colombia.