About Deki
Registered in 2008, DEKI was the first charity in the UK to raise loan capital through peer-to-peer lending. The organization began with a £2,000 bequest to its founder and, with the support of £8,000 from the University of the West of England, launched its first pilot program in Nepal. Over the years, DEKI has operated in various developing countries and currently focuses its efforts on Togo, West Africa, in association with its local partner Institution d'Aide au Développement Economique et Social (IADES).
IADES is a non-profit, non-political, secular, economic and social development non-governmental organization that began operations in 2012 and was formally registered in in Togo in 2014, focused on providing affordable microfinance services to low-income people. The Microfinance Institution (MFI) operates in two of the 25 prefectures in which the country is divided, namely, the prefectures of Avé and Golfe, both in the southern maritime region of Togo.
What is DEKI's mission?
DEKI’s mission is 'to empower communities to be free from extreme poverty'. The target clientele of DEKI is small and micro entrepreneurs, women, and small-scale farmers.
What types of financial services does IADES provide?
DEKI has five strategic programs that it works together with its field partner, IADES. These programs include loans for small farmers, loans aimed at increasing the financial inclusion of women, loans to increase access to clean and affordable energy, as well as varied programs to improve access to health care and basic drinking water.
How much interest does IADES charge?
MFIs charge higher rates of interest for several reasons. Firstly, the administrative costs of making many small loans are much higher than making fewer larger loans; secondly, they take more time assessing the feasibility of applications and thereby reducing risk because borrowers cannot offer traditional forms of collateral nor do they have salaried incomes; thirdly MFIs often operate in geographically remote areas with low population densities and this means that they incur greater operational costs; and fourthly they often accompany loans with a range of training and technical advice.
The most representative loan product of IADES funded by Lendwithcare attracts an Annual Percentage Rate (APR)* of 40.7%.
*The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is a standard way of expressing the cost of a loan that allows for comparison between loans. It includes annual interest, insurance, and fees that the borrower must pay, and is expressed as a percentage of the amount borrowed.
Does IADES provide any training?
In addition to providing loan capital, IADES, with the support of DEKI and different partners, provides training on a number of topics, depending on the type of loan. This is a key component of what they do. For farmers, IADES has a structured set of training that takes place during the farming season and covers topics such as soil fertility, crop rotation and the use of fertilizers. Meanwhile, for beneficiaries of loans allocated under its women's empowerment program, entrepreneurs receive training in topics such as business administration, women's rights, and family planning. In addition, different initiatives contribute to raise awareness about the use of sustainable sources of energy.
Where can I find out more information about DEKI?
Further information about Doselva is available at the organisation's website here.
DEKI: Basic facts and figures (June 2025)
Full name: | Institution d'Aide au Développement Economique et Social |
Established: | 2014 |
Average loan size: | US$1,647 |
Number of active loans: | 398 |
Outstanding loan portfolio: | US$384,728 |
Portfolio at Risk (PAR) at 30 days*: | 4.83% |
Proportion of loans given to women: | 80% |
Proportion of loans given in rural areas: | 35% |
*PAR30 is a commonly used metric that provides an insight into the quality of an MFI's loan portfolio, which is generally its major asset and therefore its greatest source of risk. It is computed by dividing the amount of delinquent loans greater than 30 days over the total amount of the loan portfolio.
Togo: Basic facts and figures (August 2025)
Population: | 9.5 million* |
Currency: | West African CFA franc |
GDP per capita: | US$1,043* |
Inflation (GDP deflator): | 2.9%* |
Life expectancy: | 63 years* |
Human Development Index ranking: | 161 (of 193 countries)** |
Population using safely managed drinking water: | 19%*** |
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births): | 38**** |
Percentage of adults with a bank account: | 52.9%**** |
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