The Dutch microfinance institution Qredits has recently signed an agreement with Cofiter, a microfinance institution from Italy, to adapt and launch the e-learning “How to write a business plan” in the Romagna region in Italy. This is the first step in Cofiter's plan to improve its non-financial services for customers.

The e-learning “How to write a business plan” is tailored to the particular needs of small, independent entrepreneurs, can be followed online at their own pace, and consists of a combination of theory, real-life examples, test reviews and video clips to help the entrepreneur develop their business plan. The e-learning tool was already available in Italian but will now be adapted specifically for Cofiter and its brand.

Qredits will also continue to lend its support to Cofiter by consulting with the organisation as it prepares to add microfinance lending to its core business activities.

A fruitful collaboration

This agreement is the result of a collaboration that started during the 2017 EMN Annual Conference in Venice. Since then, Cofiter and Qredits have been in regular contact to explore partnership opportunities. The two EMN members had the chance to strenghten their ties during the EaSI TA Thematic Seminar for Mutual Learning and the EMN Peer-to-Peer visit that took place in November at Qredits' headquarters in Almelo.

Cofiter is a mutual guarantee company which was founded in 1998 and which has been supervised by the Bank of Italy since 2011. Through Cofiter's activities, SMEs and professionals as well as self-employed people and other guarantee companies are able to avoid the historical disadvantages that the credit system creates. Cofiter reduces information asymmetry and improves lending conditions.

Qredits is the only microcredit institution in the Netherlands that operates at national level. As a non-profit organisation, Qredits' mission is to improve and support the social and financial inclusion of micro-entrepreneurs that have a viable business plan, yet are unable to obtain financing or coaching through traditional channels.