Shared Interest Society

Shared Interest is a social lender, pooling the investments of 11,500 people to support producers living in disadvantaged communities. Together, they share the risk of providing finance to businesses who in most cases have no other source of funds.

Last year our Share Capital of £52 million helped support 374,249 people in 49 countries, to trade and earn a living. By providing low-interest loans and credit facilities, we support businesses through the entire supply chain, from smallholder farmers to large-scale coffee and cocoa co-operatives and buyers. We believe access to finance is crucial in helping businesses to grow sustainably and become more resilient to increasing challenges such as climate change. Financial support is integral in increasing production, and providing farmers with the income needed to prepare their land effectively. As production increases, so does the amount of Fairtrade Premium paid, which benefits the wider community. Elmer Sánchez, Founder and General Manager of Peruvian coffee co-operative CECAFE said: “The financial support provided by Shared Interest has allowed our co-operative to pay farmers on delivery of their coffee. We have also launched projects to strengthen the women’s committee, and supported new technology that helps the sustainability of the industry.”