Financing Opportunities

MIF resources go towards projects falling under three main categories:

• Business Framework
• Enterprise Development
• Financial Democracy

Funding is also available through the

• Social Entrepreneurship Program (SEP)

To apply for MIF financing, you'll first have to see if your institution meets the necessary requirements set out in the list of criteria. If so, you will soon be able to fill out an electronic application form, which will help us process your application more systematically and quickly, ensuring that it reaches the right people.

Business Framework

The environment in which the private sector develops, or, what it costs the private sector to operate in a country. MIF projects in this area aim to reduce the barriers that contrain private sector development, such as the time it takes to start a new business, and create more incentives for companies to do business in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Enterprise Development

While there is no shortage of entrepreneurs in the region, there is a lack of business and job opportunities to accommodate them. MIF works to reduce poverty by promoting the creation of new businesses and jobs, boosting the competitiveness of smaller enterprises and supporting business models that emphasize both worker skills training, or human capital development, and greater use of technology.

Financial Democracy

Imagine trying to buy a house or start a business without access to financial tools like mortgages, credit or savings, a reality for millions in the region left out of the financial mainstream. MIF aims to put these financial services within the reach of more people, especially micro and small entrepreneurs. Smaller businesses will then be able to grow and contribute to wider-scale private sector development, providing jobs and helping people overcome poverty barriers.

MIF looks for projects exhibiting the following characteristics:

• Innovation: Projects should be fresh, introducing new approaches to promote private sector development and poverty reduction.
• Demonstration Effect: Projects should have the potential of being taken to scale, or replicated in other sectors and/or countries.
• Sustainability: Projects should have a feasible plan and strong potential for financial sustainability once MIF financing comes to an end.
• Partnership: Projects are carried out with local partners, which are responsible for contributing between 30 to 50% of project costs.
• Additionality: Projects must show that MIF financing is essential to their execution and is the most appropriate funding source.