Integrated Health and Microfinance: Harnessing the Strengths of Two Sectors to Improve Health and Alleviate Poverty in the Andes

This state-of-the-field report is the second in a series of publications that describe the innovative work of microfinance organizations globally to use their existing infrastructures to deliver effective and sustainable health protection services to their clients. It describes how microfinance and health organizations in the Andes region of Latin America are working together with facilitation from Freedom from Hunger as part of the Center for Health Market Innovations project.The project has brought together practitioners, social funders, researchers, and academic institutions to advance the state of the practice in microfinance and health in the region. Findings include:

• There is a vibrant and growing landscape of integrated health and financial services in the Andes, with great potential for further innovation, scale, and impact;
• Microfinance organizations in this region reach more than 31.5 million clients with loans and other financial services;
• More than 500,000 families currently benefit from some type of health program offered by their microfinance provider.