Inpulse is a Brussels-based impact investment manager that helps banks and other financial institutions offer small loans to vulnerable populations and low-income people. It focuses on social projects and microfinance while supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Inpulse grants loans to cooperatives, credit unions and microfinance institutions to foster youth employment, the development of rural areas, and female entrepreneurship. As of 2022, Inpulse funds invested over €100 million in more than 50 financial intermediaries in 24 countries.

“When meeting our clients on the ground, we get to know incredible people, proud of their projects and passionate about making a positive change in their communities. This is what drives our microfinance experts,” Blondeau says.

With Inpulse’s rapidly expanding portfolio, the team needed more specialised staff and expertise. But this growth brought challenges.

Inpulse was founded in the 1980s to help close the gap between the financial sector and cooperatives and social economy operators.

Nicolas Blondeau

Manager at Inpulse

“We needed support in reviewing our organisational structure and human resources strategy to better meet the needs of our clients,” says Zahra Khimdjee, a senior investment advisor at Inpulse.

Under the Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance (SIFTA) initiative, EIB Advisory is improving the efficiency and knowledge of microfinance and social enterprise finance providers. This includes tailored training, workshops, peer-to-peer exchanges and study visits on a wide range of topics related to financing micro- and social enterprises. It also provides rating, assessment and evaluation services for these companies.

The advice we received from the EIB was very helpful in revamping our organisational chart and HR processes, and improving our internal communication tools. This helped build a stronger team and boost our company’s agility and efficiency.

Zahra Khimdjee

Senior Investment Advisor at Inpulse

“Poor access to financing is one the most significant barriers to starting a micro- or social enterprise,” says Bruno Robino, manager of SIFTA at the EIB. “We put together a strong team of microfinance and social enterprise finance experts within the Bank, and a consortium of consultants. We offer advice on new technological solutions, institutional resilience and how to develop new products and services.”

SIFTA also helps microfinance providers comply with the European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision, a European Commission instrument that ensures high ethical standards and responsible lending in the microfinance sector.