Financing for South Sudanese Refugees

Global Impact

Rural Finance Initiative Uganda Limited (RUFI) was founded in 2017 during the civil war in South Sudan. Many of its clients fled across the border to Uganda and settled in refugee camps. RUFI followed its clients and began operations in northern Uganda out of necessity to recover those loans. This was possible due to the trust established with borrowers when they were still in South Sudan. At first, the MFI simply continued lending to refugees if they were previously RUFI clients. Gradually, they expanded services to other immigrants who have been in the country for 5+ years but still lacked access to funding. The local population also benefits from RUFI. Ugandan MFIs are heavily concentrated in urban areas surrounding Kampala, and a large percentage of the population remains excluded, especially rural women. In addition to finance, RUFI provides clients with training on local norms, financial literacy, and the use of funds. Read more

Feature Story

MiCrédito Services Generate Loyalty In Its Borrowers
By Francis Yasmín Soza Huete

Francis (third from left) visiting the MiCrédito Granada branch

MiCrédito, based in Managua, Nicaragua, is a non-deposit taking microfinance institution that started as an NGO in 2004. At our first meeting in 2014 I remember a friendly, enthusiastic and open atmosphere, which laid the foundation for a long-lasting partnership. When Envest started working with MiCrédito it was a small MFI with a big mission. It is currently the largest partner in Envest's portfolio by asset size. MiCrédito has grown from being a single MFI operating in Nicaragua to a regional MFI operating in three countries. MiCrédito Nicaragua has 15 branches and offers loans to micro and small producers and merchants, benefiting 66,525 people, of whom approximately 25% are rural and 59% are women. Recently, another Envest loan to MiCrédito was approved for $1 million dollars. Read more in English or in Spanish.

Investor Spotlight

Meet Our Newest Board Member: Iyassu Essayas

Iyassu Essayas is the CEO and Founder of Inflows, a professional networking platform designed exclusively for Registered Investment Advisors. He became Envest’s board member this September after serving on the advisory board for two years. Iyassu discovered Envest in 2013. “I was incredibly impressed with how Envest Microfinance was able to service the hard-to-reach and sometimes discarded microfinance institutions on a global scale. When Jon approached me to inquire if I was interested in joining the board - I was ecstatic about it. I humbly accepted the offer and am excited to help Envest carry on the mission”. Read more

Put Your Money To Good Work

Since the beginning of 2024 Envest added several new MFI partners, among which are Cooperativa Inclusiva based in Peru, and Niwahi from Kenya. Watch a video where Jon Bishop talks about Inclusiva’s mission to eliminate poverty by serving the rural sector. Annette Acila’s video presentation is about Niwahi’s role in financing small businesses through socially and environmentally responsible lending. Several MFI partners have gone through the Envest rigorous due diligence process and are currently waiting for a loan disbursement. An investment of $100,000 would help finance 100 entrepreneurs who would not otherwise be able to invest in their businesses. Contact us to learn more about available investment opportunities.

Sustainable Investing

Photo left to right: Caroline Shenoy, Manager Investor Relations, One Acre Fund; Krystal Langholz, Director of Strategy, Calvert Impact & Chief Community Officer, Climate United Calvert Impact; Anna Smukowsi, Sr. Director Capital Programs, Enterprise Community Loan Fund, and Bob Helmuth, Impact & Development Strategist, Envest Microfinance.

On October 2, Envest Microfinance’s Bob Helmuth participated in the Sustainable Investor Day in Denver, Colorado, along with over 40 other attendees. As a panel moderator, Bob and his fellow panelists focused on the ABCs of Community Investing. Presenters provided examples of positive outcomes from community investments—both domestically and globally, discussed what catalysts are likely to grow investments that provide critical social impact, and how can community investments address climate change.  