ILCU International Development Foundation

Thank you to Gurranabraher Credit Union for donating to our work. With your support, the Foundation can continue to focus on supporting the education and training of staff and volunteers in credit unions and apex organisations to strengthen operations and governance within their credit union movements and to ensure the provision of much-needed access to affordable and ethical financial services.

We are hugely grateful to those who continue to support the Foundation and our work to build financial inclusion for all.

Please click here - www.ilcufoundation.ie/credit-unions if your credit union would like to donate to our work.

Did you know?
There are 25 credit unions in Sierra Leone, with over 22,000 members, of whom 62% are female.

With the support of the Irish credit unions, the Foundation continues to assist in Sierra Leone, helping to build an equitable financial environment for all by providing access to education and affordable and ethical savings and loan products, working towards achieving financial inclusion for all.

Thank you to Abbeyfeale Credit Union for their support of the Foundation's work. Your support allows us to continue supporting the development of credit unions in countries including Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania.

The cornerstone of credit union philosophy is "people helping people". With the support of the Irish credit unions, the Foundation supports the development of credit unions in other countries to ensure financial inclusion for everyone.

The Foundation is delighted to welcome Zeleke Yibetele, Head of SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperatives) Regulation at the Ethiopian Cooperatives Commission (ECC), to Ireland. The visit offers an opportunity to share knowledge and experience, as the ECC is working on reforms to strengthen cooperative societies as actors in Ethiopia’s domestic economy, including improvements in organisation, governance, market competitiveness, financial capacity, and regulatory oversight.

During Zeleke’s time in Ireland, he met with the Foundation team, attended an IFAD event, and met with the Central Bank. He also travelled to meet with Julie Galliagan from Cavan Credit Union Ltd and Michael Cunningham from St. Declan’s Ashbourne Credit Union, who shared their credit union's history and community impact. Whilst in Cavan, Zeleke also met with Niamh Kieran from Collaborative Finance CLG to hear more about Cultivate.

Thank you to everyone in Cavan Credit Union and St. Declan’s Ashbourne Credit Union for your warm welcome and to everyone who took the time to meet with Zeleke Yibetele. It was a fantastic opportunity to see cooperation among cooperatives in action. By strengthening the credit union movement, we are one step closer to achieving financial inclusion for all.