Founded in 1990 as an international development NGO, enda inter-arabe is the first and one of the largest microfinance institutions in Tunisia. It began with ecology-related projects, a community centre and a women's health programme. In 1995, it launched a microcredit programme; from 2001, it started to specialize in support for microentrepreneurs. With a $220 million portfolio, it serves 340,000 active clients (65% women) from 86 branches and 3 mobile vehicles throughout Tunisia. It began rural lending in 2007 and now 40% of its portfolio is in rural areas.