ACCION International’s mission is “to give people the tools they need to work their way out of poverty.” The organization provides small, low-interest loans to individual entrepreneurs in order to allow them to direct their own economic development. These micro-loans begin small but steadily increase as borrowers prove their reliability. ACCION International supplements its microfinance program with business training for new entrepreneurs. Such training helps small enterprises to succeed and contribute to the economic wellbeing of both individuals and communities.

ACCION works with thirty microfinance organizations in the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Most of ACCION’s efforts are focused within Latin America. Since 1992, ACCION International has loaned a total of $7.6 billion to more than 4.7 million people. Approximately 65% of the organization’s borrowers are women. ACCION International’s major donors include government agencies, charitable foundations and international organizations.

http://www.accion.org