Organisation

BIO - Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries
Organisation general information
Organisation name: 
BIO - Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries
Founding year: 
2001
Country: 
Belgium
Total number of staff: 
62
Resources dedicated to microfinance: 
4
Percentage of microfinance activities: 
Between 0 and 20%
Type of organisation: 
For profit
 
Financial institution, Development Finance Institution
Organisation's contact person
Contact person: 
Ms. Carole Maman
Address: 
Karmelietenstraat 24A / Rue des Petits Carmes
B-1000
Brussels
Belgium
Phone: 
+32 (2) 778 9986
Fax: 
+32 (2) 778 9990
Organisation summary
Mission: 

The mission of the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) is to support a strong private sector in developing and /or emerging countries, to enable them to gain access to growth and sustainable development with the aim of achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Type of intervention: 
  • Equity
  • Loans
  • Guarantees
  • Subsidies / donations in money
Countries of intervention: 
Africa
Asia
South America
Areas of intervention: 
  • Intermediate level: Microfinance investment vehicules
  • Micro level: Capital/equity investments, Financial product development and innovation, Energy products, or other products related to environmental issues, Delivery models (group, indiv.), Performance (financial and social), Ratings and external audits, Strategic planning, Marketing, Graduation of MFIs, Risk management, Management information systems
Main competences: 

BIO’s microfinance strategy includes four founding principles, which are the core competencies developed by the organization during its 10 years of investing in the microfinance sector, both directly (to MFIs) and indirectly (through funds or MIVs):

  1. Sustainability/financial return: relating especially to the technical and financial expertise of the company built over the years
  2. Additionality, not only financial but also regarding know-how
  3. "Standards of doing business", including mainly the implementation of the client protection principles (CPP), of good corporate governance standards and of the social performance standards (based on the USSPM)
  4. Financial inclusion, especially in rural areas

 The technical assistance facility is fully embedded in those 4 key competencies.

Please indicate any innovations in your microfinance program planned for the coming year: 

In the framework of an increased focus on D4D, BIO will be paying more attention to FinTech and other MFI-supporting services. Apart from that, we will continue to improve our reach and access, and strive to better calculate and achieve impact criteria.

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