Simona Haiduc, Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships, has been at Opportunity International for twenty years, and a few things have stayed the same: like the core of the organization’s mission to empower people living in poverty to transform their lives and build sustainable livelihoods.

But it’s the how, Haiduc says, that is always shifting.

“The innovations and the different approaches to how we get to that ultimate goal of helping our clients climb up the economic ladder, for sure those have changed.”

“And I’ve seen a lot of cool stuff,” Haiduc added.

For Haiduc, it’s the constant adaptability of this 51-year-old-organization that sets it apart—as well as their dynamic approach to finding inclusive and innovative market and business solutions to ending poverty.

Since its founding, Opportunity has helped deploy over $19 billion in capital to millions of micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. They’re currently serving nearly 19 million clients in in 30 countries (focusing primarily on Africa, Latin America, and Asia).

Founded in 1971 by Al Whittaker, former president of Bristol Myers, and David Bussau, an Australian entrepreneur, Opportunity International was one of the first nonprofits to venture into microfinancing.

“But the work that we do actually differs from the traditional microfinance model where it’s just about the loan,” Haiduc explains.

Opportunity International goes beyond the loan to offer a wraparound set of services for their clients—who can be farmers, business owners, and small-scale entrepreneurs. (In fact, 95% of their clients globally are women.)

They provide access to financial services, combined with specialized training and information about markets, and even the digital financial tools to support these services.

Using human-centered design principles and technological innovations, Opportunity International will help their typical client, for example a farmer, open a bank account, find out what crops have the highest market prices and returns, and get connected to buyers for their produce.

“We come in and try to understand their needs holistically and put them at the center of our design, of our solution,” says Haiduc.

Investing in agriculture is risky—along with challenges of weather and fluctuating markets there’s now climate change to deal with.

“So, a lot of players, they’ve just stayed away, especially not looking at the smallholder farmer level. But for us that opportunity, that’s our mission. That’s who we’re called to serve.”

Responding to these risks, Opportunity International has implemented unique solutions, like introducing programs that encourage regenerative agricultural practices to address climate change issues.

Another avenue in their approach to ending poverty is supporting innovative education and employment programs.

Africa is home to the youngest population globally, a growing workforce that needs education and skills to find employment.

Read the full article about Opportunity International by Amber Cortes at Global Washington.