The fi‑compass Blog

Stories of how financial instruments have an impact on the ground

Cover picture
16 July 2023
Barabar, did you say?

Thanks to a microloan backed by SIS Credit under the ESF financial instrument, a group of friends created Infinite Games Ltd, a social enterprise active in the field of human rights education.

ESF
Bulgaria
Credit Fund Lombardy supports the agri-food chain
13 July 2023
Credit Fund Lombardy supports the agri-food chain

Implemented in 2017, the EAFRD Credit Fund Lombardy, a grant combination financial instrument made access to finance easier for agri-food companies while improving primary producers’ integration in the agri-food chain.

EAFRD
Italy
Turning adversity into opportunity
13 July 2023
Turning adversity into opportunity

Every migrant's journey is unique, and Viviana Santana's story is no exception. In 2020, Viviana, a 38-year-old lawyer, along with her family, settled in Spain and successfully launched a cleaning business. 

AMIF
Greece
Sewing thread
4 July 2023
The perfect fit

Thanks to a EUR 17 895 microfinance loan backed by SIS Credit under the ESF financial instrument, Stelian Radovenski and Lazar Lazarov founded Made Right, a profitable business specialising in the production of quality shirts for men in Pleven, the third largest city in Northern Bulgaria.

ESF/ESF+
Bulgaria
Karting
6 April 2023
A driving force for change

Thanks to the i-Run by BFC financing solution, Emmanuel Lear was able to change his career path, retrain, and open the very first open-air karting track in St Pierre, La Réunion. And the cherry on top: Mr. Lear’s go-kart business uses thermal and electric karts.

ERDF
France
The sweet taste of berries
13 April 2023
The sweet taste of success

The financial backing of the EAFRD risk-sharing financial instrument has helped Valentin Verzea, a former banker, make his farm in Southern Romania profitable.

With 13.5 hectares in production, he was able to deliver 90 tons of premium raspberries in 2022 to major supermarket chains in Romania.

EAFRD
Romania
HUB2
03 April 2023
HUB2 boosts digital banking in Africa

Thanks to a EUR 1.25 million equity investment from ESSOR PME La Réunion, HUB2, a Reunionese based SME was able to develop an Application Programming Interface enabling interoperability between mobile money wallets in Western Africa and answer the huge demand for more connectivity in mobile banking and banking systems in Africa.

ERDF
France
Showcase 2023
15 March 2023
FI Campus Showcase 2023
A unique opportunity to share and promote your financial instrument success stories within the fi-compass community. Congratulations to our Showcase 2023 winners who took home the trophy at the FI Campus event on the 15 March and a round of applause for all our other submissions.
ESIF
All EU Member States
Poland
1 February 2023
BGK: Financing the foundations of social inclusion

Thanks to financial instruments financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) — the Polish Development Bank — supports the development of cooperatives, foundations, associations and other social economy entities created by people at risk of exclusion and employing individuals from disadvantaged groups: seniors, persons with disability or at risk of exclusion.

ESF/ESF+
Poland
Southern Bulgaria and Sofia (Bulgaria)
2 February 2023
Sustainable Cities Fund: Future proofing cities in Bulgaria

Over the past four years, the Sustainable Cities Fund has financed more than 70 projects in Bulgaria thanks to ERDF financial instruments. From the restoration of schools, markets and theatres, to the renovation of parks, the Fund is helping cities thrive and become more sustainable. The Sustainable Cities Fund’s mission is to foster economic and urban development in Bulgaria, making the most of EU and National resources through financial instruments.

ERDF
Bulgaria
Lithuania
1 February 2023
INVEGA: Better access to finance for innovative and social enterprises

Through ESF and ERDF financial instruments, INVEGA, the Lithuanian National Promotional Institution wants to facilitate access to finance for innovative businesses and social enterprises.

ERDF , ESF/ESF+
Lithuania
Slovakia
3 February 2023
SIH: Preserving Slovak history through culture

The Grössling Spa, one of Bratislava’s 19th century iconic buildings, will be restored to its original function, and will share its premises with the City Library thanks to the support of ERDF financial instruments managed by Slovak Investment Holding (SIH), Slovakia’s National Promotional Institution.

ERDF
Slovakia