Triple I was founded by Oxfam Novib in October 2014 by establishing a separate enterprise called: Inclusive Impact Investments BV (“Triple I”). This Dutch based limited liability company invests directly in SMEs in Nigeria, Uganda and Vietnam. By the end of 2016 a new partner, LimeTree Participations BV, joined this initiative by acquiring 60% of Triple I whereby Oxfam Novib remained as a 40% shareholder and continues supporting the investment work by combining their SME development program with Triple I.
Oxfam Novib believes in people and their power to change their lives. As a global confederation of 17 organisations with decades of experience in the developing world, Oxfam knows that the most effective solutions to poverty are found when people are able to exercise their rights to livelihoods and decent work, and when they can work together to increase living standards and reduce vulnerability. That is why entrepreneurship fits Oxfam like a glove.
Oxfam has a long tradition of supporting men and women to build their livelihoods. It has supported small farmers, male and female micro entrepreneurs with grants, saving programmes and loans for decades. To build on this experience and respond to opportunities in the market, Oxfam has innovated in the past few years by diversifying its financial instruments and private sector strategy towards supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) directly and through financial intermediates with impact investments and business development support (BDS). Beyond supporting portfolios of investable SMEs, they invest in MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning) systems that create a deep understanding of social impact as well as economic impact, with a strong gender focus. Oxfam also links the investment initiatives to policy and advocacy efforts to create widespread systemic change and create a supportive enabling environment for SME-development with social impact.
Currently, Oxfam is active in the investment space with various funds, enterprise development programmes and impact measurement training and support (e.g. the provision of impact evaluation studies) in over 40 countries. Current funds range from micro finance to supporting small and growing businesses, changing the lives of small farmers, women and youth. Through its diversity in funds and services Oxfam is able to support the full spectrum of SMEs in the Missing Middle and provide them with the tailor-made programmes and finance. Oxfam works in close collaboration with local actors to ensure the sustainability of its efforts.
LimeTree Participations BV (“LimeTree”) strives to optimise sustainable social impact while aiming for a modest financial return. LimeTree provides growth capital and hands-on venture assistance for small and medium sized enterprises, which, generally, have: a theory of change for strong, positive, measurable and scalable impact on people or planet and a viable and scalable business model in common. LimeTree is an initiative of Dick Haan, who has been an active ambassador for Oxfam Novib for many years. After his graduation at the Rijksuniversiteit of Groningen (Business Economics) he commenced his working career at Coopers & Lybrand, where he became a Chartered Public Accountant in 1994. One year later, he switched careers and moved into a job of International Sales & Marketing. In 1999 he started up his own company, being one of the leading distributors of waxes globally today.