On April 26, we gathered in the vibrant halls of Les Ateliers des Tanneurs in Brussels to reflect on our 2024 cooperative’s results and to celebrate a powerful milestone: 30 years of Alterfin.

2024 in numbers: Growth through resilience

During the formal General Assembly, we offered a detailed review of our financial results, as well as our social and environmental impact reached last year. A year marked by challenges, but also by significant resilience and positive change.

In a world facing rising inequality and climate threats, our commitment to rural communities and small-scale farmers is more vital than ever. We stay focused on the long-term, sustainable solutions.

Looking back at what we’ve collectively achieved in the past year, our Environmental- and Social Impact Officer, Pallavi Hariharan, also introduced our latest impact study on our partner Bailyk Finance. Read our article to discover the impact we create together in Kyrgyzstan.

In a nutshell, here's what we achieved together with our 5901 co-op members:

• 143 sustainable investments in 31 countries, supporting partners that drive fair development.
• Nearly 4.800.000 lives impacted, of which 77% are women and 65% live in rural areas - showing our continued focus on reaching the most vulnerable.
• Within our agriculture portfolio, 76% was invested in certified products, reflecting our commitment to ecological sustainability.

Although 2024 tested us in many ways, we showcased the strength, adaptability and impact of our cooperative model.

• Hungry for more? Read our full Annual Report.
• Couldn't make it? You can still read the full minutes of the General Assembly, including the answers to the questions raised during the session.

Why a special edition? From governance to inspiration

The afternoon unfolded in two parts. The first one was exclusively dedicated to our co-op members, followed by a celebratory late-afternoon gathering that welcomed everyone.

This special event turned numbers into stories, featuring powerful testimonials from the visionaries behind the cooperative and projects we support, while highlighting some of Alterfin’s key impact figures.

Our moderator for the day, Ann Maes, guided the thought-provoking talks with:

• Hugo Couderé, founder of Alterfin, set out through personal anecdotes why Alterfin was created, and to which needs we responded at the time.
• Berthinic Kikwaya and Dimitri Moreels from our Congolese partner Copak, predominantly active in de cacao sector, walked us through their operations, challenges and the impact of our partnership.
• Caterina Giordano (Chief Impact Officer) and Jean-Marc Debricon (CEO) reflected on Alterfin's way forward in a complex international landscape - and why international solidarity is more important than ever.

Each voice on stage offered a different perspective – from grassroots to strategic visions – but one conviction echoed throughout: our collective strength is what drives real change.

Stay in the loop and find out more about those memorable exchanges on our dedicated 30 years of impact page.

Looking ahead: our shared commitment

Our General Assembly is more than a governance tradition — it’s a celebration of the community behind Alterfin. Whether you’ve been with us since 1994 or joined last year, your engagement fuels our purpose.

Our key takeaway from this afternoon? Without you, none of this would be possible. So, thank you – for showing up, for speaking up and for standing with us.

Here’s to another 30 years of meaningful change!

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