FISIQ

The Quebec International Solidarity Investment Fund (FISIQ) is an initiative of the Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI). It is a socially responsible financial tool designed to help social/solidarity-based economy businesses that are partners of Quebec international cooperation organizations (ICA). It is active in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The FISIQ is a co-financing and guarantee tool that aims to foster dialogue between social/solidarity- based economy businesses (cooperatives, mutual associations and organizations) and local lenders in developing and emerging countries. Its objective is to expand available financing as part of existing technical cooperation programs.

PRINCIPLES AND VALUES

Promote social responsibility among partner organizations
Promote gender equality
Encourage democratic governance and collective structures
Support sustainable development and environmental protection

GOALS

Give businesses in the social/solidarity-based economy that are in partnership with ICAs access to loans that meet their needs on fair and equitable terms
Create, maintain and develop economic activities that generate decent income
Facilitate socio-economic development by and for communities
Promote the integration of principles of social responsibility
Promote the development of sustainable and mutually beneficial business relationships among social/solidarity-based economy businesses and local financial institutions
Increase the impact of international cooperation and solidarity actions carried out by Quebec ICAs

The FISIQ mobilizes the resources of various economic players that support a form of innovative financing that is complementary and in addition to support already offered by ICAs. The FISIQ relies on the support of:

Operational partners: the AQOCI and Quebec ICAs that are members of the FISIQ
Government partners such as the Quebec government through the Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie