Magdalena Mwalongo

ASA International

ASA International is a global microfinance company that provides affordable financial services to enable low-income female micro-entrepreneurs enhance their business and increase incomes for themselves and their families. Given ~350 million underserved women across Asia and Africa, ASA International was founded in 2007 to utilize the award-winning ASA model of microfinance with a mission: to achieve socioeconomic progress of low-income communities via financial inclusion. The ASA model (developed by ASA Bangladesh NGO) is characterized by establishing low-cost operations with a decentralized branch network, proprietary IT systems, strong risk management and internal controls to distribute microloans for exclusively income generating activities to clients within low income communities. The Company has successfully replicated the ASA model and established 13 MFIs in Pakistan, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Myanmar in Asia, and Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia in Africa. As at June 2022, the operations had 2.4 million clients across 2,129 branches in the thirteen countries. As of June 2022, the Company managed a loan portfolio of ~USD 378.4 million and of which 23% are client deposits. ASA International has a strong Board of Directors and is supported by a vastly experienced senior management team, operating out of both Bangladesh and the Netherlands, who have together overseen ASA International's evolution since inception. They manage and supervise a cadre of experienced operating managers sourced from ASA Bangladesh working in the Company's various operating countries together with local staff. ASA International has an excellent social performance record and all its MFIs subscribe to the 'Client Protection Principles'​ to maintain transparency and accountability to its clients.