Patria Credit IFN S.A., Romania’s oldest non-bank financial institution dedicated to microfinance, has signed a grant agreement worth EUR 1,831,125 with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) for the implementation in partnership with REDI Association, of the project “Seeds of Change – Building viable businesses for Roma communities and smallholder farmers.”
The agreement marks the first grant signed by CEB under the InvestEU Blending Facility for Microfinance, financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), reinforcing Patria Credit’s position as a reference microfinance institution supporting entrepreneurship in Romania.
EUR 1.8 million from CEB for inclusion: Patria Credit and REDI launch ‘Seeds of Change’ for smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs from Roma communities
Patria Credit IFN S.A., Romania’s oldest non-bank financial institution dedicated to microfinance, has signed a grant agreement worth EUR 1,831,125 with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) for the implementation of the project “Seeds of Change – Building viable businesses for Roma communities and smallholder farmers.”
The agreement marks the first grant signed by CEB under the InvestEU Blending Facility for Microfinance, financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), reinforcing Patria Credit’s position as a reference microfinance institution supporting entrepreneurship in Romania.
The program will be implemented by Patria Credit in partnership with REDI - Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, a long-standing and trusted partner with extensive experience in supporting Roma entrepreneurship in Romania and Eastern Europe.
Roma communities continue to face systemic barriers in accessing education, finance, business formalization, and commercial markets, with many entrepreneurs operating in the informal economy. Smallholder farmers are equally vulnerable to climate challenges, market volatility, and EU regulatory requirements, and often lack adequate access to technology, finance, and commercial networks.
Running between 2025 and 2028, the Seeds of Change project will directly support more than 2,000 beneficiaries through structured interventions, including:
“Seeds of Change is deeply rooted in our mission: to bring finance where few institutions reach and to contribute meaningfully to building thriving communities. We know that microfinance alone - without education and personalized support - cannot generate lasting impact. This is why the program blends financial inclusion and access to finance with training, coaching, and market development for Roma entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers, creating an ecosystem in which they can truly succeed. We are proud to receive CEB’s support and to expand our collaboration with REDI, partners who share the same vision.” - Raluca Andreica, CEO, Patria Credit IFN
“By financing this project, CEB supports inclusive economic development and strengthens vulnerable groups. The combined initiatives of training, coaching and access to finance represent an effective and scalable intervention model, fully aligned with our mission to reduce inequalities and promote social cohesion across the European Union.” - Tanja Faller, Director, Technical Assessment & Monitoring Directorate, Council of Europe Development Bank
“Through this initiative, we continue our work in Roma communities - identifying entrepreneurs with potential, supporting them to formalize their businesses, grow, and create jobs locally. Seeds of Change allows us to combine our field experience with the financing access offered by Patria Credit, providing a comprehensive package adapted to local realities.” - Petrică Dulgheru, Executive Director, REDI (www.redi-ngo.eu).
The initiative benefits from support from the European Union under the InvestEU Fund and ESF+ programme, which focus on employment, social inclusion, and sustainable economic development. For more information on Patria Credit’s activities and programs, please visit www.patriacredit.ro.