Asociación Arariwa

Unidad Microfinanza Arariwa (Arariwa) is part of a larger umbrella NGO Asociación Arariwa that was founded in 1977 and began offering microcredit in 1994 with the goal of improving the quality of life, skills and equity of the population of the rural Cusco region.

With a market presence stretching across the entire province of Cusco as well as portions of Puno, Apurimac and Madre de Dios provinces, Arariwa currently serves approximately 14,000 low income entrepreneurs with financial and business development services. Arariwa maintains a strong focus on the village banking methodology, outreach to women – approximately 72% of borrowers are women – and education (all village banking clients receive training in one of four areas). Arariwa’s services are tailored towards micro-enterprise owners interested primarily in group loan products.

Arariwa was cited as one of the Top 25 Peruvian Microfinance Institutions in October 2009.