In many parts of the European Union, finance is still out of reach for businesses led by women, owned by refugees or based in less developed regions.
Microfinance and socially inclusive finance help build resilient communities. Through the InvestEU-funded Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance (SIFTA) programme, EIB Advisory works with microfinance institutions and social enterprise finance providers to expand access to finance for vulnerable groups.
Tailored support for social finance providers
SIFTA helps specialised financial intermediaries develop new products, strengthen internal processes and improve how they manage risk and take decisions. Support includes staff training, mentoring on regulatory compliance and advice on accessing financing from public and private investors.
“The guidance was practical, hands-on, and tailored to our real needs.”
Raimon Gassiot
Coordinator at Coop57
Whether it is preparing a business plan, improving reporting or designing lending products for people who struggle to access traditional finance, SIFTA helps social finance providers grow while staying financially sound.
“Through SIFTA, we’ve been able to strengthen our internal systems and better understand EIF regulatory requirements, including rules on know-your-customer, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism,” says Raimon Gassiot, Coordinator at Coop57, a specialised social enterprise finance provider based in Barcelona. “The guidance was practical, hands-on and tailored to our real needs.”
A central part of SIFTA’s work is supporting microfinance providers in adopting and implementing the European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision, a European Commission framework that promotes high ethical standards and responsible lending.
In special training, staff learn how to align operations with the code’s standards. They improve how they assess loan applications and learn from peers through study visits and exchanges with other institutions. Training programmes on portfolio analysis, risk evaluation and investment readiness help institutions strengthen their operations and prepare for loans or guarantees under InvestEU.
Impact on the ground
In Italy, Banca Etica received an EIB loan together with advisory support through SIFTA to help build a portfolio of investments focused on gender equality, refugee inclusion and local development in some of the country’s poorest areas. EIB Advisory helped structure the financing and ensure that social goals were aligned with sustainable banking practices.
“During 2025, our partnership with SIFTA enabled us to structure our loans to SMEs in a way that maximises social impact while remaining financially viable,” says Fabrizio Montini Trotti, Head of Credit Facility at Banca Etica. “The advisory support also helped Banca Etica think through operational challenges and anticipate the needs of the communities we serve, improving the disbursement process of the EIB loan.”
Since its launch, SIFTA has supported 66 financial intermediaries, and another 20 are now in the pipeline, across 18 EU Member States. Of the 86 eligible applications received so far, more than 80% come from microfinance institutions, with the remainder from social enterprise finance providers.