2008: The Year in Review

January 1, 2009 Posted by Update

Thanks to the generosity and insight of our supporters, 2008 was a year in which great challenges were met with even greater achievements. It is amazing to us all here at Unitus to see how the enthusiasm, caring, and commitment of so many remarkable individuals—from passionate donors at home to visionary social entrepreneurs abroad—can come together to change the world. Here’s a quick run-down of what we can all be proud of in the fight against global poverty:

• In 2008, Unitus added five new MFI partners in Cambodia, India, and East Africa, bringing our network total to 23.

• We helped our partners more than double their client reach from 3.3 million in 2007 to nearly 7 million at year-end 2008.

•  Our expansion team laid the groundwork to open a regional office in East Africa, addressing the tremendous need for microfinance in the region. 

•  We initiated work to better understand and increase our partners’ impact on poverty, and embarked upon research and development efforts for micro-insurance, savings, and “ultra-poor” programs for MFIs

•  Unitus microfinance experts participated in several industry working groups and spoke at more than 13 industry conferences and events worldwide,working with other microfinance organizations on issues such as maximizing social impact and the future of microfinance.

•  Our global network team hosted the third annual Unitus Leadership Summit, attended by more than 20 social entrepreneurs and featuring interactive discussions on today’s most important microfinance issues and trends. We also sponsored several partners’ participation in the Harvard Business School Program on Strategic Leadership for Microfinance. 

•  We rocked stadiums at home and abroad when The Police chose us as their charitable partner for their 2008 Concert Tour, leading to significant publicity and financial support for our mission and work.

These are just a few of the year’s highlights. We have no doubt that 2009 will be even more incredible, and we hope you’ll be there with us every step of the way!

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