Watch SIFTA Webinar: Leaders in Sustainable Agriculture
21 June 2023
11:00 - 13:00
Online
The webinar targets microfinance providers which finance the smallholder farmers and support rural communities. We will discuss approaches and examples of inclusive rural finance practices that support sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture aims to create a sustainable system that is environmentally friendly, economically viable, and socially just.
Participants will have the opportunity to hear from IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) about their expertise on defining smallholder inclusive climate finance market potential. PATRIA CREDIT from Romania will share their experience in the innovative agriculture financing, e.g. through facilitation of partnership between farmers and agritech companies or helping the farmers who sell on the agri-food open markets to obtain a POS terminal, enabling them to accept the card payments.
IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries; invests in rural people. It increases poor rural people’s productive capacities, their benefits from market participation, and strengthens the resilience of their economic activities to climate change and other shocks.
Patria Credit is a non-bank financial institution (NBFI) specializing in financing farmers and micro-enterprises. MFC recognized PATRIA CREDIT as “Leader in sustainable agricultural innovations“ in 2022 for projects and initiatives that support farmers in the transition to sustainable agriculture, promote the importance of agricultural education and non-financial support to farmers. PATRIA CREDIT supports and invests in impactful projects that support small-scale farmers and the development of their rural communities.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Our Experts
James Marc de Sousa-Shields
Lead Technical Specialist, International Fund for Agricultural Development
James Marc de Sousa-Shields, a national of Canada, is IFAD’s Lead Regional Technical Specialist, Rural Finance, markets in the NEN region. In addition to a focus on inclusive climate finance, Marc’s is involved in both fintech innovation and blended finance initiatives. Prior to working with IFAD Marc was Managing Partner of ES Global Consulting, Mexico, where he worked in a range of sectors from inclusive finance, impact investing, to corporate sustainability, with experience in over 40 countries. Prior to this, he was founder and Executive Director of the Social Investment Organization of Canada (now Responsible Investment Association of Canada). Marc has an MA in Regional Economic Geography from the University of Toronto, in Toronto, Canada. He is author of Invest Like You Give a Damn and various essays and articles on sustainable economic and corporate development.
Raluca Andreica
Chief Executive Officer, Patria Credit
With 25 years of experience in the financial-banking industry, Raluca is among the first microfinance specialists in Romania. With grassroots stories and from the deep reality of the Romanian rural, Raluca is a “true believer” and a “do-er” in the development of RO countryside.
Starting 2016 Raluca is Patria Credit’s Chief Executive Officer, one of the most important Romanian Microfinance Institution, specialized in rural finance, helping and supporting small farmers. This is a market of 1 mil entities in need for micro-finance solutions for their development, the biggest number of farms in European Union. Patria Credit is the first non-bank financial institution dedicated to micro-finance in Romania, with more than 20 years of experience and more than 18,000 financed clients.
At the same time, Raluca is actively involved in the region – currently Executive Director and Board Member of Patria Foundation, Advisory Board Member of the first financing institution of the social economy sector in Romania – AFIN, Board Member within the European Microfinance Network . More, she joined the establishment as founder member of Romanian Microfinance Association.
Raluca Andreica is a graduate of the Academy of Economic Studies and holds an MBA in Financial Management and Financial Services.
Raluca Andreica
Chief Executive Officer, Patria Credit
With 25 years of experience in the financial-banking industry, Raluca is among the first microfinance specialists in Romania. With grassroots stories and from the deep reality of the Romanian rural, Raluca is a “true believer” and a “do-er” in the development of RO countryside.
Starting 2016 Raluca is Patria Credit’s Chief Executive Officer, one of the most important Romanian Microfinance Institution, specialized in rural finance, helping and supporting small farmers. This is a market of 1 mil entities in need for micro-finance solutions for their development, the biggest number of farms in European Union. Patria Credit is the first non-bank financial institution dedicated to micro-finance in Romania, with more than 20 years of experience and more than 18,000 financed clients.
At the same time, Raluca is actively involved in the region – currently Executive Director and Board Member of Patria Foundation, Advisory Board Member of the first financing institution of the social economy sector in Romania – AFIN, Board Member within the European Microfinance Network . More, she joined the establishment as founder member of Romanian Microfinance Association.
Raluca Andreica is a graduate of the Academy of Economic Studies and holds an MBA in Financial Management and Financial Services.
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