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By Jon Bishop, CEO and Founder
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The seventh version of African Inclusive Finance Week, a biennial pan-African microfinance conference, took place in Nairobi, Kenya from October 13–17. Envest sent Annette Ecila, Elizabeth Rodriguez, and me to join over 1,100 attendees from all over the African continent and beyond. The first three days consisted of sessions on current topics in microfinance, followed by an investors fair in which Envest was one of 24 participating investors. We attended the conference to meet with representatives of microfinance institutions that might be good lending partners as Envest grows and to hear the perspectives and trends of key players in the African microfinance sector. Read more
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The Role and Value of a Supportive Husband in Microfinance
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We want to share the stories of three Ugandan women whose husbands played a key role in helping them overcome significant economic challenges. Molly's husband (pictured here) offered his banana plantation as collateral to secure a loan for sewing machines, allowing her tailoring business to grow. Edith’s husband, Caleb, works alongside her in her fishing business and is a proud, active supporter of her success. Loni invested profits from his quarry to help his wife, Patience, open her own beauty salon. These stories shine a light on husbands who are modeling a kind of partnership that deserves recognition. Read more
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Latha Bhaskara: The Power of Investing with Purpose
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Latha became Envest’s newest board member in September 2025 after serving on our advisory board for two years. Latha will be serving as board secretary, succeeding Wayne Orthwein who recently stepped down from the role - see Wayne's inspiring farewell message. We are deeply grateful for Wayne's contributions and are excited to have Latha join our board. Click here to learn how Latha combines her passion for microfinance with her investment experience to create meaningful impact.
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Pana Pana, Empowering Indigenous Communities in Nicaragua
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Pana Pana is the only microfinance institution in the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (RACCN) of Nicaragua that provides loans to low-income, indigenous entrepreneurs on a sustained basis. Envest disbursed a loan of $300,000 to Pana Pana on December 16, 2025, which was the 10th loan of a relationship that began in 2014. Envest is the only international lender that has provided credit to Pana Pana continuously during that period. Read more
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Envest is currently active in 12 countries, and our portfolio is diversified across 24 independent microfinance partners. Click on the MFI partners' names to learn about the amazing work they each do in their local communities. During a time of global economic uncertainty Envest disbursed loans to organizations focused on clean energy, gender equality, and client well-being. If you are in the position to contribute, we have excellent partners that could put your funds to good use. Contact us to learn about available investment opportunities.
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