Ujjivan Financial Services Working to Reduce Poverty in Urban India 
 

More than 350 million people reside in India’s urban communities and at least 30 percent live in poverty. Ujjivan Financial Services, an innovative microfinance institution, was founded with the mission to reach economically active poor women and provide financial and support services to enable them to create a better life for themselves and their children.

Just 26 months after opening its first branch office in Koramangala, Bangalore in 2005, Ujjivan has grown into a network of 32 branches offering a variety of loan services as well as life insure, health insurance, and health outreach and education programs. Distinguishable by its holistic approach to alleviating poverty and focus in urban areas, Ujjivan now serves 55,000 of India’s poorest women in Bangalore, Delhi, and Kolkata.

Ujjivan’s holistic model offers a range of products that truly meet the financial and social needs of urban customers. Ujjivan was launched with seed funding from Bellwether Microfinance Fund, UNITUS and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. The foundation made its near $475,000 equity investment because Ujjivan’s goals are well aligned with its own, and the fast-growing Ujjivan has demonstrated itself to be a professional, well-organized institution that is committed to alleviating poverty with measurable impact by tracking social performance indicators of progress.

Currently, Ujjivan offers various loan products for business, housing, emergency and other needs. Its system of lending fosters relationships with women and educates them on using financial services and credit.

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