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Promoting Financial Inclusion and Women's Leadership in Mexico
Since 2022, AlphaMundi Group has been financing the growth of Avanza Solido through its SocialAlpha Investment Fund (SAIF). Avanza Solido is a microfinance institution with 14 years of experience serving underserved regions in Mexico.
By the end of 2024, Avanza Solido had more than 50,000 clients, 53% of which were women—demonstrating the institution’s commitment to traditionally underserved populations. Since its founding, the company has consistently expanded its operations, with an annual growth rate of 12% in both the number of transactions and beneficiaries. In 2024, it reached a historic high of 78,000 transactions, strengthening its impact in rural communities across southern Mexico.
1. Company Profile
Avanza Solido is a gender-focused microfinance institution specialized in providing microloans to rural populations in economically vulnerable situations, with a particular emphasis on women microentrepreneurs.
Founded in Chiapas, Mexico, over 14 years ago, the company promotes responsible and inclusive finance, aiming to reduce inequality gaps through both financial and non-financial services. It has a strong impact on women and their families by strengthening business, digital, health awareness, and environmental sustainability skills.
Avanza Sólido is primarily active in the state of Chiapas but also operates in four other states, with 22 branches and institutional access points. Throughout its history, it has benefited more than 370,000 individuals—including microentrepreneurs, women, and rural populations.
2. The Challenge: Rural Financial Inequity, a Barrier in the Fight Against Women’s Poverty
Avanza Solido’s mission is to promote financial inclusion with a gender lens in rural and semi-urban communities in southern Mexico. Its stated purpose is “to strengthen women’s economic autonomy through inclusive and responsible financial and non-financial services that enhance family well-being and generate sustainable impact in their communities.”
In Mexico, over 51% of women entrepreneurs operate in the informal sector. Chiapas is one of the country’s poorest states: more than 67% of its population lives in poverty1, facing challenges related
to social security, housing, and healthcare. In this context, access to adequate financing is crucial for improving quality of life and fostering economic development.
1 According to the Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL)
Furthermore, the multidimensional measurement of poverty—reflected in a Gini coefficient of 0.467—highlights the inequality in the state where Avanza Solido has its greatest presence. This underscores the institution’s purpose of closing existing gaps. According to the 2021 National Survey on Financial Inclusion (ENIF), 36% of women in Mexico did not have access to formal credit.
In this context, Avanza Solido has faced several challenges in its growth journey. Limited infrastructure in many communities hinders both operations and clients’ access to financial services, while the geographical dispersion of the population increases logistical and operational costs related to loan disbursement and recovery.
Low financial literacy in the region also poses a critical challenge, as many individuals are unfamiliar with best practices for credit management, increasing the risk of delinquency and complicating the adoption of appropriate financial products. In addition, there is a pressing need to develop credit evaluation models tailored to clients with informal or nonexistent financial histories, requiring alternative risk analysis mechanisms.
The competitive landscape also presents a challenge for Avanza Solido. The presence of fintech companies and commercial banks has intensified the competition for attracting and retaining clients, making it essential to differentiate its value proposition. Finally, while digitalization and the adoption of new technologies present opportunities to improve operational efficiency, they require investment and training to be effectively implemented in communities with limited access to technology.
3. The Solution: Strategic Responses for Sustainable Growth
Avanza Solido has developed innovative strategies tailored to the rural context. In response to the lack of infrastructure and geographic dispersion, the company has established strategic partnerships with local businesses, cooperatives, and community promoters to facilitate the promotion, disbursement, and recovery of loans.
The company has built a key support network to strengthen women’s leadership, promote financial inclusion, and generate a positive and sustainable impact on the lives of thousands of women leading change.
A core element of Avanza Solido’s business model and success is the use of free non-financial services to raise awareness in target communities. It employs sales agents who visit potential clients, collect information, assist with loan applications, and once approved, manage loan collection through regular follow-ups and personal visits. In addition, the company has incorporated banking correspondents and digital platforms, optimized payment management and reduced operational costs.
As a fundamental part of its gender-focused strategy, Avanza Solido offers free non-financial services, including financial education for microentrepreneurs, digital tools to reduce the technology access gap, free healthcare services in the communities it serves, as well as environmental education and projects. This not only strengthens client relationships but also helps mitigate risks by promoting responsible credit use and financial planning. In turn, this reduces delinquency rates and improves the financial stability of its beneficiaries.
Figure 1- Mega Health Campaign Yucatán, Mexico
Since 2018, these programs focused on financial education, health, and economic empowerment have benefited more than 55,000 people. In 2024 alone, they directly benefited 10,938 individuals and indirectly reached an additional 4,497, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to the holistic development of communities.
Avanza Sólido’s model not only promotes financial inclusion but also generates significant social and economic impact in rural communities. Its work contributes to poverty reduction, the strengthening of women’s leadership, and expanded access to economic opportunities for populations traditionally excluded from the formal financial system.
Products
To meet financing needs, Avanza Solido offers financial products specifically designed for the characteristics of the rural sector. CrediAvanza supports microentrepreneurs in commerce, production, and services by providing working capital and financing for the acquisition of fixed assets. Mejora tu Vivienda (“Improve Your Home”) offers financing to families seeking to improve, expand, or renovate their homes, thereby promoting dignified housing. Below are the financial products offered by Avanza Sólido, along with their corresponding features 2:
- CrediAvanza Individual: 25,509 active loans, average amount of USD 1,500, average term of 7 months.
- CrediAvanza Grupal: 19,987 active loans, average amount of USD 2,200, average term of 9 months.
- Mejora tu vivienda: 6,401 active loans, average amount of USD 1,133, average term of 28 months.
- CrediAvanza PYME: 6 active loans, average term 46 months.
Gender Lens: Women’s Economic Empowerment Program
This program, designed to strengthen the economy of women and their families through the growth of their businesses, is a key pillar in Avanza Solido’s social impact and gender-focused approach. Through this initiative, 4,489 women have been trained in business strategies, digital skills, and finance.
As part of this commitment, various actions were carried out in 2024 to promote women’s entrepreneurship:
- Financial Education: Workshops on financial management, costs, and budgeting.
- Asoli Educa: Financial education training capsules.
- Business Fairs: Spaces to boost the commercial activity of women entrepreneurs.
- Payment Terminal Distribution: Support for women-led businesses by facilitating access to payment collection tools.
- “Avanzamos Contigo” Contest: Training in digital tools to strengthen the presence and competitiveness of women-led businesses.
- Coffee Growing Territories: Economic empowerment of women to strengthen their productivity and competitiveness capabilities.
- Violence Prevention Talks: These talks aim to inform and raise awareness among participants about different types of violence, while strengthening soft skills and leadership.
Women’s Leadership at Avanza Solido
Avanza Solido’s commitment to women’s empowerment is embodied by Katia Navarro, Director of Fundraising and Stakeholders, and Diana Jerónimo, Director of Social Impact. In addition to leading various processes within the company, Katia serves as Vice President of the National Fundraising Committee of ASOFOM (Association of Multiple Purpose Financial Societies in Mexico, A.C.), while Diana chairs the ESG, Gender Equality, and Inclusion Committee of the same organization. Through these roles, both play a key role in strengthening and developing not only the Chiapas region but the entire country.
Differentiation and Competitive Advantages
To position itself as a leading player in rural financing, Avanza Solido has designed a differentiated value proposition based on flexible financial products and comprehensive services. It offers accessible microloans with extended terms and competitive interest rates, complemented by financial education, health programs, and productive training, enabling a tangible impact in the communities served. Additionally, it has strengthened its business model by diversifying its funding sources, accessing capital from international funds and development banks. This strategic combination has allowed it to scale sustainably, positioning itself as a benchmark in impact finance.
4. AlphaMundi’s Contribution
“At Avanza Solido, we collaborate with institutions aligned with our values. Impact funding is key to sustainable growth, as it not only drives economic development but also promotes social and environmental progress. Together with our funders, we have created a partnership where financial success aligns with positive social impact”.
Katia Navarro, Director of Funding and Stakeholders, Avanza Solido
AlphaMundi Group Ltd (AMG), founded in 2008 in Switzerland, is redefining business leadership in Latin America and Africa through impact investing, turning sustainability and inclusion into competitive advantages for SMEs, driving innovation, scale, and market transformation.
Since 2022, AlphaMundi, through its SocialAlpha Investment Fund (SAIF), has provided Avanza Solido with USD 1.5 million in debt financing to support the growth of its portfolio. Avanza Solido is a portfolio company example with strong social impact and a gender-focused approach, aligned with AlphaMundi’s objectives.
2 Figures as of March 2025
5. Impact achieved
Avanza Solido aims to generate a positive and sustainable impact in the communities it serves, primarily low-income women entrepreneurs and rural populations in Mexico. Through its microfinance model, the institution not only provides access to financial services but also promotes economic inclusion and local development.
In terms of direct impact, an increase is expected in the number of people served, the volume of loans disbursed, and the expansion of geographic coverage. These tangible results are key indicators of the organization’s operational reach.
On the other hand, indirect impacts include improvements in the financial stability of clients, strengthening of their small businesses, greater economic empowerment of women, and, in the long term, contributions to the socioeconomic development of their communities. These changes reflect deeper transformations in the quality of life and economic resilience of the households served.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, and 13, Avanza Solido promotes well-being, gender equity, and environmental sustainability, demonstrating that it is possible to generate economic growth while building a positive and lasting social impact.
Avanza Solido’s business model is aligned with the following SDGs.
SDG 1: No Poverty: Avanza Solido seeks to improve the quality of life for women and rural populations and their families by promoting their economic and social development.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: “Avanza tu salud” (“Advance Your Health”) is one of Avanza Solido’s strategic pillars, promoting physical well-being as a key tool to prevent over-indebtedness. Through this program, medical campaigns, free screenings, midwifery services, and actions to strengthen nutritional health are carried out, bringing comprehensive care to the communities that need it most.
SDG 5: Gender Equality: Avanza Solido promotes the FEM (Women’s Economic Empowerment) training program, an initiative that fosters female economic empowerment through continuous capacity building. The program offers seminars, entrepreneurship bootcamps, financial education, training in digital and soft skills, as well as tools for violence prevention, providing participants with a solid foundation to achieve autonomy and leadership.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Avanza Solido drives economic growth in one of Mexico’s most vulnerable regions by providing microloans to people excluded from the traditional financial system. This support is complemented by free non-financial services, generating real development opportunities and strengthening financial inclusion from the ground up.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The company offers inclusive and responsible financial services designed to meet the needs of women and populations in rural and highly marginalized areas.
SDG 13: Climate Action: Through its strategic pillar “Avanza Verde” (“Advance Green”), Avanza Solido promotes a comprehensive environmental agenda combining community action and sustainable management. The organization offers free training on waste management, compost creation, and responsible water use, while working to identify climate risks facing its portfolio, measure the impact of its interventions, calculate its carbon footprint, and reduce emissions by optimizing resource consumption. Thus, Avanza Solido integrates environmental sustainability as a key axis of its financial inclusion model.
6. Looking to the Future
With a forward-looking vision, Avanza Solido’s strategic pillars guide its commitment to continue leading the way toward a more inclusive world. Together with its partners, executives, employees, advisors, and other stakeholders, Avanza Solido works with a higher purpose that drives its actions. These actions, outlined in its Strategic Plan, align with major global challenges, focusing on people, access to financial and non-financial services, education and skills development, climate resilience, gender equity, governance, innovation, and transformation.
In 2025, the company aims to expand and open new branches in rural areas in other states of the Mexican Republic, focusing on stronger growth in the state of Yucatán. Avanza Solido expects to close the year with approximately USD 66 million in total portfolio, benefiting more than 55,000 clients.
Avanza Solido’s success is measured not only in financial terms but also by the positive impact it generates on women and communities in Chiapas and throughout Mexico.
Figure 2- Climate Mitigation Training
7. About AlphaMundi Group
AlphaMundi Group (AMG), founded in 2008 in Switzerland, is a pioneering impact investment firm dedicated to promoting social inclusion and sustainable economic transformation in Africa and Latin America.
With local teams in Colombia and Kenya, AlphaMundi Group specializes in identifying and supporting scalable impact enterprises that address social and environmental challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including climate change, financial inclusion, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and affordable housing.
Since 2009, AlphaMundi Group has profitably invested USD 130 million in 66 impact enterprises across both regions, executing 326 debt and equity transactions through its SocialAlpha and AlphaJiri funds, as well as related co-investments. The companies in AlphaMundi Group’s portfolio have benefited over 10 million low-income people, mostly in rural areas, with approximately 40% being women. AlphaMundi Group holds B-Corp certification and is a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI).
AlphaMundi Group also promotes sustainable development through the AlphaMundi Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington D.C., which provides catalytic financing and technical assistance to small businesses and advances the Climate and Gender agenda across AlphaMundi’s portfolio and pipeline companies.
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