Azure is a social enterpirse, supported by impact investing to expand water services for the poor.
Azure combines technical expertise with impact investing to upgrade and expand water services for rural and small urban communities.
Azure's mission is to provide a reliable supply of safe water to under-served urban and rural households.
Azure provides technical services and financing through two entities.
Azure Technical Services (ATS) is a partnership betweenCatholic Relief Services and Azure S.A., a Salvadoran-based social enterprise.
ATS supports Water Service Providers (WSP) to expand and improve water and sanitation services by providing:
Azure Technical Services are partially funded by WSPs that pay for these services. ATS activities are also subsidized by technical service grants from Catholic Relief Services, MIF, Rotary Club, and other supporters.
Azure Source Capital is a special financial vehicle established to mobilize loan capital for Water Service Providers in small cities and rural communities in Latin America. ASC is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) registered in the state of Maryland, and managed by Total Impact Capital.
In El Salvador, ASC established a trust (fideicomiso) called, "FideAgua", managed by the national development bank of El Salvador (BANDESAL). FideAgua loans capital to local financial institutions (banks and credit cooperatives) to on-lend to water service providers at competitive interest rates.
A portion of loan repayments from WSPs to FideAgua are invested into Azure Technical Services to provide ongoing support to WSPs that have accessed loans provided by ASC.
