Finalists for the European Microfinance Award 2021 on ‘Inclusive Finance & Health Care’ Announced

On the 22 and 23 September 2021, the Selection Committee for the European Microfinance Award 2021 (EMA 2021) on “Inclusive Finance & Health Care” chose the three finalists who will go on to compete for the EUR 100,000 prize: CRECER IFD from Bolivia, Dreamlopments Ltd. from Thailand and Fonkoze from Haiti.

Access to quality health care underpins everything else: it allows education to play its role in opening new opportunities; it allows people to earn, invest and employ others; it lets groups and societies prosper. But paying for health care is the single biggest financial risk facing poor households in low- and middle-income countries. They struggle to access and afford even basic or day-to-day health care, and those who can receive it may nevertheless face the financial burden of a health shock for years, taking on debt or selling income-generating assets, leading to a negative feedback loop.