Rising to the challenge: more than 800 votes cast in Monaco Government’s first Solidarity Challenge

Yuleisi, micro-entrepreneuse en Equateur, a recueilli le plus grand nombre de votes lors du Défi Solidaire, pour son projet de culture biologique de cacao©Babyloan

Between 1 and 30 June, more than 800 Monaco Government staff cast their votes on the dedicated Solidarity Challenge platform to choose the micro-entrepreneurs who would receive funding from the Department of International Cooperation. Thanks to this fantastic response and the loans granted by the Prince’s Government, 52 micro-entrepreneurs and their families will see their standard of living improve.

The Department of International Cooperation (DCI) and its partner, Babyloan, have been delighted to see the enthusiasm for the Solidarity Challenge, which shows that the Monegasque Government has a genuine commitment to the cause of international solidarity. An innovative initiative which sought to unite government staff around the development aid activities supported by the Prince’s Government, the Solidarity Challenge has met its objectives in full.

The 52 micro-entrepreneurs selected by government staff come from nine countries.* Priority was given to women and to countries in South America.

Thanks to the microloans allocated by the Prince’s Government through microfinance institutions (the average loan was for €450 over nine months), these micro-entrepreneurs will be able to develop income-generating activities in the agricultural, craft and retail sectors. The additional income will enable them to provide an education for their children.

Support for social entrepreneurship and local economic development is part of the Prince’s Government’s international development policy, which prioritises combatting poverty.

www.cooperation-monaco.gouv.mc

* Benin, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Uganda, Peru and Morocco

Grâce au Défi Solidaire, Maria va pouvoir obtenir un micro-crédit pour développer sa librairie au Nicaragua©Babyloan

Agustin, agriculteur au Pérou, est l'un des micro-entrepreneurs qui sera soutenu par le Gouvernement Princier©Babyloan