Early Dawn Microfinance Company Ltd
Region and country of operations: Asia, Myanmar
Jurisdiction of registration: Myanmar
Business sector: Microfinance
Date of agreement (month/year): 11/2020
Instrument: Loan
Finnfund’s financing: USD 11,000,000
Share of Finnfund’s financing: 11%
Size of project/financing: USD 100,000,000
Environmental and social category: FI-B
Project description
Save the Children Myanmar started the Dawn Microfinance Program in 2002. Over the following 13 years, Dawn evolved to become a successful microfinance program lending to women-owned businesses in the peri-urban areas of Yangon. In March 2015, the program was transformed into a regulated microfinance company, capitalized by Accion, FMO, and Triodos.
Today, Early Dawn Microfinance Company Limited (“DAWN”) serves over 200,000 clients through 61 branches in six regions across Myanmar. In terms of client outreach, DAWN is the third largest MFI in Myanmar. The fast growth of DAWN’s loan portfolio, 82% CAGR since 2016, reflects the huge market potential for microfinance industry in the country. In order to facilitate the strong loan portfolio growth, DAWN will need USD 100 million of debt funding during the next 24 months.
Main development impact
DAWN plays an important role in contributing to financial inclusion by serving the low-income segments and small businesses of Myanmar in underserved townships and peri-urban areas. The entire loan portfolio is focused on providing financing to the financially un/underserved women. These loans will help to enhance economic activities and improve livelihoods. DAWN promotes actively responsible business practices and provides extensive financial literary training to all its clients too. Through its extensive branch network, it has good presence in rural areas, and thus DAWN helps to increase financial inclusion of rural clients.