empowering microfinance - unitus...
TRANSCRIPT
Letter from the Board Chairman
Almost a decade ago, Unitus was established with two primary goals: (1) to bring commercial
funding into the worldwide microfinance marketplace, thus greatly increasing the amount of
money available for microloans, and (2) to help demonstrate that microfinance organizations
can scale to serve hundreds of thousands (even millions) of clients at the bottom of the
economic pyramid.
Today, as we close the chapter on Unitus 1.0, we are proud of our legacy which includes
channeling nearly $40 million in donations and $30 million in investment capital to our
microfinance partners, who have gone on to harness $2 billion in loan capital to serve more
than 12 million micro-entrepreneurs worldwide. We express our heartfelt thanks to the
talented and dedicated team of employees who have been part of Unitus over the
past decade and have made these achievements possible.
There is a great deal of work yet to be done in extending access to microcredit to the
hundreds of millions who still need it, and we applaud the fine organizations who continue to
labor to that end. Fortunately, now that commercial investors have taken an interest in the
effort, the pace of growth in the industry is accelerating. With $50 billion of microfinance
capital available to more than 150 million of the world’s working poor, the commercial case
has been made, so Unitus is redirecting our attention to search for other scalable solutions
that combat global poverty.
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
> Continued on next page
Chairman of the Board Joseph Grenny with a client of Unitus partner Jamii Bora
Group loan meeting with clients of Bangalore-based Unitus partner Grameen Koota.
Tim Atterton leads an African Microfinance Growth Centre workshop outside Nairobi, Kenya.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Unitus,
I sincerely thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Joseph Grenny
Chairman of the Board
Unitus
EMPOWERMENT BY THE NUMBERS
> Number of clients served by Unitus MFI partners (the local providers
of microfinance) as of December 31, 2009:
10.5 MILLION
> Number of clients added by Unitus partners in 2009:
3.4 MILLION
> Number of family members impacted by microfinance in 2009 via a Unitus
partner (assuming developing world average of five members per household):
52.4 MILLION
Catalyzing Microfinance Growth
0 M
2 M
4 M
6 M
8 M
10 M
12 M
7,092,038
3,378,643
1,410,137
545,874249,110
27,693
10,484,820
200820072006200520042003 2009
TOTAL UNITUS PARTNER CLIENTS (MILLIONS)
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
Shashwat Mody, Unitus Advisory Services Senior Associate, guides MFI staff through a business training workshop as part of the Africa Microfinance Growth Centre program.
AFRICA MICROFINANCE GROWTH CENTRE
In 2009, Unitus launched the Africa Microfinance Growth Centre, co-developed by Unitus
and Financial Sector Deepening (FSD), with additional financial support by Omidyar Network,
The Boeing Company, and SV2: Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund.
A leadership development program for CEOs of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in East
Africa, the Africa Microfinance Growth Centre program spanned 14 months and incorporated
intensive workshops, trainings, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities.
Unitus began accepting applications in early 2009, with the goal of finding CEOs of
entrepreneurial, early-stage MFIs in Kenya and Tanzania that served low-income households,
had aggressive growth targets, and focused on sustainability.
After a rigorous review and screening process, Unitus kicked off workshops and trainings in
July 2009. Participants will complete the program in 2010 with a strategic plan for their
organization, training in functional business
topics needed for day-to-day management,
and strengthened leadership skills.
The following audio slideshow, narrated
by Unitus Senior Director Natalie Barndt,
features photos from Growth Centre
workshops and training sessions that took
place at the end of January 2010 outside
Nairobi, Kenya.
> Empowering East Africa
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
GROWTH CENTRE PARTICIPANTS
MFIs: Kenya
> Adok Timo
> BIMAS
> KEEF
> KFS
> PAWDEP
> Yehu Microfinance
MFIs: Tanzania
> Mbinga
> MuCoBa
> Tujijenge Microfinance
> Tujijenge Tanzania
> YOSEFO
“This pilot was a valuable real-world
test of what might be possible
when using mobile payments
in microfinance. It was a great
learning process for Unitus,
Grameen Koota, and mChek,
and helped demonstrate the huge
potential for using mobile
technology to lower operational
costs and increase access.”
– Vikas Jhunjhunwala, Sr. Manager, IS Solutions | Unitus Solutions
GRAMEEN KOOTA / mCHEK MOBILE MONEY PILOT
Throughout the developing world, cell phone technology is spreading like wildfire. More than
4.6 billion mobile phone subscriptions were reported at the end of 2009, with developing
countries now accounting for the majority of the world’s mobile phones—and thousands more
signing up every day.
This represents an incredible change in a short amount of time, leapfrogging over countless
other infrastructure challenges. In India, the United Nations recently reported that nearly 180
million more people have access to cell phones than to toilet or sanitation facilities. Likewise,
by 2012, the number of people without a bank account but with a mobile phone worldwide is
estimated to be 1.7 billion.
The possibilities for this new technology—including its power to connect the poor to desperately
needed financial services—are only beginning to be explored. That’s why in late 2008 and early
2009, Unitus helped pilot a project by mChek (India’s leading mobile payment company) and
Unitus MFI partner Grameen Koota to test the benefits of mobile banking in microfinance.
Members of the pilot, which started with one center (20 customers) in an urban branch in
Bangalore and progressed to five centers (100 customers), made all loan transactions
(disbursements, repayments, etc.) using a mobile phone.
The pilot helped prove that mobile payments can be successfully integrated into an Indian MFI’s
operations while providing a model for scaling up. Other findings demonstrated the potential for
reducing operational costs, increasing security for clients and MFI agents by reducing the need
for holding cash, and faster and more convenient loan meetings.
Not only are the insights being rolled out further within Grameen Koota—to three branches and
an estimated 10,000 borrowers —but the pilot itself is being used by other MFIs as a model for
adopting mobile technology into their operations.
> Empowering Breakthrough Strategies
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
The Grameen Koota / mChek mobile money pilot helped demonstrate the promise of using cell phones to manage financial accounts for both clients and microfinance operators. (Photos by Valerie Rozycki, Head - Strategic Initiatives, mChek)
SOCIAL PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT
Looking to ensure that our work creates the best possible outcome for borrowers—and that
our partner microfinance institutions (MFIs) are best positioned to do so—Unitus launched
the Social Performance Management Implementation Project (SPM IP) in late 2009.
Social performance management helps translate an MFI’s mission into practice by
institutionalizing a process to set clear social goals (such as improved quality of housing,
healthcare, etc.), monitor progress toward those goals, and use this information to improve
the organization’s performance by better meeting customer needs.
Designed in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and supported by the
Boeing foundation and Deutsche Bank, the SPM IP recognizes that positive social impact is
more than a good idea for MFIs—it’s also good business practice. By enabling MFIs to
understand their clients better, products and services can be shaped to best meet the needs
of individuals working their way out of poverty.
As Unitus winds down its microfinance operations, it is working in conjunction with the
Michael and Susan Dell Foundation to transfer the remainder of the SPM IP program to
another well-established organization in India (most likely MicroSave). Stay tuned to
www.unitus.com for updates.
> Empowering Microfinance Effectiveness
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
“Unitus has held our hands to navigate through mine fields … develop our
internal strength … and make us a better organization step by step, day by day.
Thank you, Unitus.”
– Manab Chakraborty, CEO | Mimo Finance
“The customer acquisition and maintenance workshop assured us of the quality,
relevance, and excellence of Unitus’s workshops. We have since worked with
Unitus on other valuable hands-on trainings and look forward to more.”
– Mr. S. Devaraj, Chairman and Managing Director | Grama Vidiyal
“The Unitus partnership offered us an opportunity to network with some of
the most dynamic and progressive microfinance institutions in the world.
Unitus provided various business development services of value, and has
stayed a supportive partner through our early challenges.”
– Praseeda Kunam, Founder and CEO | Samhita
2009 Partner Feedback
> The 2009 Unitus Leadership Summit
in Mussoorie, India, brought together
27 representatives from our amazing
microfinance partners, spanning
six countries and three continents,
to gain insight into industry trends,
share progress, and cross-pollinate
strategies and best practices. Partners
departed the three-day conference with
defined steps toward a broad array of
organizational improvements.
> View audio slideshow2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
CLIENT GROWTH BY PARTNER BEFORE AND AFTER PARTNERSHIP
Yehu
SKS
Grama Vidiyal
Mimo Finance
Bandhan
Finsol Brazil
Credex
LifeBank
Grameen Koota
Jamii Bora Trust
MONTHS -48 -36 -24 -12 0 +12 +24 +36 +48 +60 +72 +84
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
5,000,000
2,000,000
NU
MB
ER
OF C
LIEN
TS
Acceleration Period
BSS
FIS
Months Before Partnership< > Months After Partnership< >
250,000
The Unitus EffectCLIENT GROWTH BY PARTNER BEFORE AND AFTER PARTNERSHIP
Excludes partners with insufficient data.
Unitus Portfolio
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
UNITUS ENGAGEMENTS AND PARTNERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS1
PartnerPartnership
Start Date Country
Number of Active
Clients
Board Representation/
GovernanceOperations Consulting
Human Resources
SupportMIS/IT
Assistance
Strategic/Financial Planning
Executive Training Grants
Debt Capital2
Other Financing3
Yehu 03.2009 Kenya 5,573 Yes Yes Yes Yes $38,000 Yes
Tujijenge Tanzania 10.2008 Tanzania 11,340 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
AMK 05.2008 Cambodia 217,477 Yes Yes $50,000
Samhita 02.2008 India 26,398 Yes Yes Yes Yes $150,000 $25,000
Mimo Finance 01.2008 India 45,746 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $1,000,000 Yes
Finsol Brazil 11.2007 Brazil 29,997 Yes Yes Yes
Equitas 09.2007 India 706,000 Yes Yes Yes Yes
MokshaYug Access 08.2007 India 37,550 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adhikar 04.2007 India 55,892 Yes Yes Yes Yes $85,000 $550,000 Yes
IIRM 04.2007 India 10,523 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $155,000 $550,000 Yes
MBK Ventura 12.2006 Indonesia 143,000 Yes Yes $170,361 $750,000 Yes
Credex 12.2006 Mexico 40,907 Yes Yes Yes Yes $100,000 Yes
LifeBank 11.2006 Philippines 236,917 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $250,000 Yes
Swadhaar 05.2006 India 21,964 Yes Yes Yes Yes $117,935 $105,000 Yes
Ujjivan 05.2006 India 503,377 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $130,000 Yes
FIS 02.2006 Argentina 2,885 Yes Yes $100,000 $180,000 Yes
Bandhan 04.2005 India 2,016,518 Yes Yes Yes Yes $100,000
Grameen Koota 04.2005 India 326,920 Yes Yes Yes Yes $100,000
Grama Vidiyal 12.2004 India 586,177 Yes Yes Yes $200,000 $750,000 Yes
BSS 12.2004 India 187,818 Yes Yes Yes Yes $106,250
Jamii Bora 06.2004 Kenya 260,063 Yes Yes $1,288,400 $1,000,000
SKS 03.2003 India 4,993,210 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $150,000 $550,000 Yes
Pro Mujer Mexico 03.2002 Mexico 24,141 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $380,000 $500,000 Yes
Ultra Poor Initiative Partners N/A Yes Yes $450,000
Africa Growth Centre Participants N/A Yes Yes
TOTAL 10,484,820 $4,082,946 $5,960,000
1 Partnership inception to 12.31.2009 2 Debt Capital: Funds loaned or guaranteed by Unitus3 Other Financing: Indicates debt arranged by Unitus, investments
by Unitus Equity Fund, and/or debt arranged by Unitus Capital
AS OF 12.31.2009
BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 2008 DECEMBER 2009
Assets $21,380,060 $19,376,994
Liabilities $11,301,463 $8,053,240
NET ASSETS $10,078,597 $11,323,754
2009 Financials
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
75% Program Services
15% Management & General
10% Fundraising
Note: Up until July 2, 2010, Unitus utilized our philanthropic support to continue our work of
accelerating the growth of microfinance across the globe. Since the announcement that we will
be winding down our microfinance operations, we are working with donors, partners, and other
organizations in the microfinance space to use remaining funds to fulfill all our commitments.
Once that has been achieved, future resources will be directed to other activities that help us
achieve our mission of reducing global poverty. Updates on all our work will be made available
on our website and in our 2010 Annual Report.
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
INCOME STATEMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009
REVENUE ACTUAL
Contributed Income $7,205,785
Earned Income $2,086,245
Total Revenue $9,292,030
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT EXPENSES TOTAL SERVICES & GENERAL FUNDRAISING
Salaries & Benefits $3,249,018 $1,957,584 $685,934 $605,500
Grants & Financing $600,099 $600,099
Professional Services $1,386,564 $1,064,250 $268,143 $54,171
Travel $611,499 $523,995 $37,684 $49,820
All Other Expenses $2,199,693 $1,868,456 $183,501 $147,736
Total Expenses $8,046,873 $6,014,384 $1,175,262 $857,227
74.7% 14.6% 10.7%
NET INCOME $1,245,157
BOARD OF DIRECTORS*
BOARD CHAIR
Joseph GrennyChairman, VitalSmarts
Robert C. GayChief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Huntsman-Gay Capital Partners
Mike MurrayRetired Vice President of Human Resources, Microsoft Corp.
Dave Richards Principal, Bodega Ventures
Tim StayCo-Founder and Publisher, Know More Media
Board List
2009 Unitus Annual Report ©2010 Unitus www.unitus.com
ANNUAL REPORT CREDITS
Photography> J. Adam Huggins for Unitus> NonFiction Media> Valerie Rozycki, Head - Strategic
Initiatives, mChek
Design> InsideDown Design Studio
* Current as of July 2010