This year’s European Microfinance Day, taking place on 22–23 May in Barcelona, comes at a symbolic moment for the sector: Spain now leads the European Union in microcredit provision, according to recent figures published by El Periódico.
With over 55,000 active operations and more than €900 million in circulation, Spain has become a benchmark in using microfinance to support financial inclusion, local development, and entrepreneurship. This growing trend is not just about numbers — it’s about real people building a future.
Real stories, real impact: Meet the women of Confía
One of the driving forces behind this success is Treball Solidari, a Mallorcan NGO and long-time member of the European Microfinance Network (EMN). Since 2011, their Confía program has helped hundreds of women start or grow their businesses by offering access to small, progressive loans, along with financial training and community support.
Take Maria Neide Barbosa, for example — a 64-year-old entrepreneur from Brazil who opened her beauty salon Neide Brasil in Palma de Mallorca with the help of Confía. “For me, Confía is everything. It helps so many people,” she says. Starting with just €600 to buy hair products, she has since expanded to a larger salon that now offers a full range of beauty services.
Or Meryin Bohórquez, originally from Colombia, who opened Premium Market in 2024 after receiving her residence permit and joining the program. “It was extremely difficult to get started,” she explains, “but thanks to Confía, I was able to expand my store, offer new services, and receive mentoring adapted to the local context.”
The Confía model is simple yet powerful: loans start at €1,200 and grow progressively. But beyond finance, the program builds a community of solidarity, where women meet in groups every two weeks to approve loans, attend training, and support one another.
Thanks to its results and innovation, Confía has been awarded a certificate of good practices by the European Commission and now benefits from EU-backed guarantees — enabling it to double its loan portfolio to €2.5 million by next year and extend its reach across Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Barcelona, Santander, Valladolid, and Madrid.
A European stage in a country of progress
With Barcelona hosting this year’s European Microfinance Day, it’s fitting that local initiatives like Confía take center stage. Spain’s growing microfinance ecosystem is driven by EMN members such as:
Treball Solidari
MicroBank
Asociación Española de Microfinanzas
Bizkaia Micro
With the support of the European Investment Fund (EIF)
Together, they represent a shared mission: to empower people, especially women and migrants, to build a better future through financial inclusion and entrepreneurship.
Join us in Barcelona
This May, join the EMN community in Barcelona to learn more about initiatives like Confía, meet the people behind the numbers, and shape the future of microfinance in Europe. Let’s celebrate what happens when trust, access, and community come together.
