Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance Program (SIFTA)

SIFTA provides project advisory and market development support to financial institutions active in the microfinance and/or social entrepreneurship sectors.

In July 2022, the EaSI TA program transitioned to Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance Program (SIFTA), managed by European Investment Bank. MFC, together with Frankfurt School of Business and Management and EMN, forms the consortium of SIFTA services providers.

SIFTA provides:

1. Open-enrollment services

workshops to exchange practices and tools among microfinance and social enterprise finance providers
analytical support to provide general guidance on how to apply for financing

2. Tailored services. Targeted capacity building and technical assistance services

tailored trainings to provide knowledge and skills to the staff working at MF/SE providers targeting areas of improvement
investment readiness trainings to prepare providers for taking on investments, loans, grants, or guarantees under InvestEU
training/coaching on the implementation of the Code to train Microfinance providers on the implementation of the European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision (the Code)
analytical support to provide general guidance on how to apply for financing
peer-to-peer training and study visits to learn from experiences and practices of other microfinance/social enterprise finance providers
portfolio analysis and pipeline building to support providers in building portfolios and evaluation of associated risks.

3. Rating, assessments and code evaluation services: through a specialised service provider, Microfinanza Rating Srl.

In view of the on-going exercise aimed at revising and updating the European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision (the Code), microfinance institutions requesting services in connection with the Code (i.e. evaluation, renewals and training on the Code) will be assessed in accordance with the new Code framework entering into force in 2027. From 2027 onwards, all microfinance institutions will be assessed exclusively in accordance with the new Code.