Hugo Couderé

Alterfin is a Belgian social cooperative that offers everyone the chance to make a socially, environmentally and economically justified investment. Today, Alterfin has a capital of almost 70 million euros and brings together more than 6,000 individual cooperators and 200 organizations and companies. Alterfin manages an investment portfolio of around EUR 100 million through 146 partners in 33 countries. The partners are located in the microfinance and sustainable family farming sectors.

• Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m Hugo Couderé, I founded Alterfin in 1995 and was its Managing Director until 2013, when I became Senior Advisor. For over five years, I was also a director of FEFISOL, the fund for Africa co-created with SIDI. I am currently retired, but remain a director of the Alterfin Guarantee Fund.

• For a French audience, Alterfin can be likened to a sort of alter ego of SIDI in Belgium, since like SIDI you collect patient capital to invest in microfinance institutions and agricultural sectors in developing countries. When did your partnership with SIDI begin, how did it develop and what does it mean?

In 1999, SIDI signed a partnership agreement with Alterfin and we became mutual shareholders. This partnership has given rise to concrete cooperation in the field, including: joint missions in support of common partners, co-financing and the setting up of specific funds. For example, we have worked together on the board of Hattha Kaksekar (an MFI in Cambodia), carried out joint technical missions in Africa, become joint shareholders in FDL (an MFI in Nicaragua), and jointly founded the first and second FEFISOL funds.

Not only are SIDI and Alterfin mutually reinforcing each other in the field, but thanks to their collaboration they are also able to mobilize major international institutions such as the European Investment Bank, approached for FEFISOL.

Since the SIDI-Alterfin partnership is based on shared values, it has also proved to be a very sustainable one. The partnership between SIDI and Alterfin goes beyond the institutional aspect and is also reflected in the good and pleasant cooperation between the staff of the two organizations.