Expanding financing and increasing impact in Roma communities
How can we expand access to finance and increase the economic and social impact of microfinance in Roma communities?
This was the central question of the REDI Fund Partner Forum 2026, held in Poiana Brașov, Romania, and bringing together partners from Romania, Moldova, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania.
Under the theme “From Access to Scale,” the Forum brought together current and potential REDI Fund partners to exchange practical experiences, discuss challenges and identify solutions for reaching more Roma entrepreneurs and increasing the impact of inclusive finance.
From financing to impact
A key message of the Forum was that access to finance needs to be supported by practical knowledge, technical assistance and strong community partnerships.
Technical Assistance remains at the core of REDI’s approach. During the Forum, partners discussed practical TA experiences and explored how support such as financial education, loan officer training, digitalization, product design and outreach can help financial institutions better serve Roma entrepreneurs.
The Partner Showcase also offered an opportunity for institutions from all six countries to share success stories, challenges and lessons from the field, with a focus on what can be replicated, improved or scaled.
From Access to Scale
The discussions continued around a key challenge: how do we reach entrepreneurs who are not being financed today?
Participants explored missing financial products, the types of technical assistance that could accelerate growth, the importance of trust and proximity within Roma communities, and how REDI can approach innovation differently.
The REDI Business platform was also presented through a live walk-through, followed by feedback and discussion with participants. The platform is part of REDI’s effort to connect Roma entrepreneurs more directly with financing opportunities and support.
Key priorities moving forward
The Forum highlighted several priorities for increasing impact:
- expanding practical technical assistance and financial education;
- strengthening partnerships and involvement of Roma associations;
- supporting farmers through technical seminars and certification;
- continuing to develop the REDI Business platform through testing, feedback and innovation.
Ultimately, the Forum reinforced REDI’s commitment to moving from access to scale — reaching more Roma entrepreneurs and combining finance, technical assistance, partnerships and innovation to create lasting economic and social impact. The expected outcomes of the Forum focused precisely on how to reach more entrepreneurs, what needs to change, and which investments and partnerships can accelerate scale and sustainability.
REDI Fund thanks all partners for their contribution, experience and commitment to building a more inclusive financial ecosystem across the region.
Explore the REDI Business platform: https://redi.business/
