FINCA

Recently, FINCA Uganda unveiled their new brand ambassador Janet Mudoola!

Janet Mudoola was among the first customers served in Iganga by FINCA Uganda in 1992 and has since grown her enterprise from a small startup to a thriving venture with FINCA’s support.

As brand ambassador, Janet will share her story and will inspire and support other women on their journey towards financial independence. She will also work closely with FINCA Uganda to promote financial inclusion and economic empowerment among women, particularly in rural areas.

In an event announcing her role, FINCA Impact Finance CEO Jeff Flowers stated that Janet's story is a testament to the power of financial inclusion.
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“We are thrilled to have her on board as our brand ambassador and look forward to working together to empower women and foster sustainable economic growth,” said Jeff

In Tajikistan, a significant percentage of the population is highly vulnerable to food insecurity, with more than 27% living on less than $1.90 per day.

Although many people face food insecurity, Tajikistan’s agriculture sector contributes to 22.6% of the country’s GDP and employs 45.7% of the population.

This is why FINCA Tajikistan is actively working to support farmers in boosting their profits and productivity, ensuring food security, and breaking the cycle of poverty.

To learn how FINCA is building sustainable futures by investing in agriculture in Tajikistan–continue below.

Investing in Agriculture in Tajikistan | FINCA FINCA actively supports agriculture in Tajikistan, working to help farmers improve their products and their profits.

Recently, FINCA DRC successfully launched their ZONGA N'TCHIC campaign during the end-of-year ceremony at BOBOKOLI School.

At the ceremony, FINCA DRC awarded 6 scholarships to the top students of the 2024-2025 academic year, highlighting FINCA's commitment to education and youth development.

In addition to the launch of their campaign, FINCA DRC also found success in opening 150 CLICK (savings) accounts for parents to put aside money for the future.

At FINCA, we are not only committed to providing access to financial services, but to supporting access to education so that students and their communities have the power to create their own destinies.

Over the past several years, the Global FINCA Star Award has become a proud tradition at FINCA. The annual award shines a light on FINCA employees from around the world in celebration and recognition of those that embody the FINCA values.

Every year, each subsidiary around the world nominates a FINCA Star and one Global Star is chosen from that group.

This year, FINCA Impact Finance CEO Jeff Flowers announced Grace Chibesa Kaoma, an exceptional call center officer at FINCA Zambia, as the Global FINCA Star in a virtual all-staff meeting.

“I began to see how FINCA was transforming people’s lives by providing them with much-needed financial support to enable them to build assets and take care of their families,” said Grace. “This truly motivated me.”

Continue below to learn more about Grace Kaoma and all the FINCA Stars around the world!⭐ 👏

The FINCA Global Star Award | FINCA The FINCA Global Star Award recognizes FINCA employees around the world that embody FINCA's values. Read more about this year's Global Star.

Happy 30th anniversary to FINCA Malawi! 🙌 🎉

In light of this recent milestone, staff, board members, partners, suppliers, and global FINCA leaders attended a dinner to celebrate.

​At the dinner, FINCA Impact Finance CEO Jeff Flowers commended staff for their work to serve more than 1 million customers since 1994, while looking ahead to digitization efforts that will continue to benefit clients and position the subsidiary for sustainable growth.

"I know FINCA Malawi will continue to be an impactful force in the financial landscape," said Jeff.

To add to the celebration, the subsidiary also held customer appreciation events and a festive parade through the streets of Blantyre, Malawi's center of commerce and finance.

Join us in congratulating FINCA Malawi on their 30 years of unwavering commitment to creating a brighter tomorrow!

Recently, FINCA RD Congo attended the National Microfinance Conference themed “Microfinance in the Era of Climate Change: Challenges and Perspectives."

At the conference, attendees explored the challenges of microfinance in the face of climate change and the innovative strategies and solutions needed to support vulnerable communities. FINCA DRC, a leader in environmental protection, called on all microfinance institutions at the conference to invest in the cause.

During the certificate award ceremony, FINCA DRC business loan supervisor Mr. Tychique had the honor of receiving a professional certification as a Branch Manager. This certification underscores FINCA’s dedication to staff development and our commitment to furthering our impact in the communities we serve.

Growing up wasn't easy for Rashid Ali. With his father struggling to support his family, Rashid dropped out of school and sacrificed his own education so that his younger siblings could stay in school.

Not long after, Rashid began working at a local power loom and quickly excelled. Then, Rashid's eyesight began to fail. Unfortunately, doctors were unable to treat his condition, and he became legally blind which forced him to resign from the factory to focus on his medical care.

Despite this setback, Rashid found hope once more after hearing about a plant in his neighborhood that manufactured specialty wire brushes. This job gave Rashid a renewed confidence and inspired him to open his own brush factory.

Now, with the support of FINCA Microfinance Bank Limited, Rashid has expanded his factory by acquiring more machines, hiring workers, and selling more diverse products. Along with creating jobs in the community, Rashid Ali has also been able to reach his dreams of providing a better life for his children.

Although people in poverty contribute the least to climate change, they unfortunately feel its impact the most.

To combat climate change, we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to its impacts, and FINCA partner Kentaste Products is doing just that.

Along with providing a robust pipeline for thousands of smallholder farmers to sell their coconuts, Kentaste is also committed to reducing their carbon footprint and supporting farmers mitigate the impact of climate change. Through promoting regenerative agriculture and training their farmers in the best sustainable farming practices, smallholder farmers are better equipped to take care of their trees.

Aligning with FINCA’s values, Kentaste’s business model also promotes waste reduction and utilizes renewable energy, while improving the overall quality of life for smallholder farmers and their families.

To learn more about how FINCA is combating climate change alongside Kentaste and beyond–continue below.
https://bit.ly/4dANKiP

Last month, FINCA Armenia celebrated their 25th anniversary at the National Gallery of Armenia in Yerevan, where they reflected on their achievements over the past 25 years and outlined their future goals.

At the event, FINCA Global CEO Andrée Simon, FINCA Impact Finance CEO Jeff Flowers, and FINCA Armenia Board Chair Zar Wardak joined staff and clients for the celebration. Representatives from the Central Bank of Armenia, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, and partner organizations were also in attendance.

In an interview with Banks.am, FINCA Armenia CCO Vardan Haroyan shed some light on how they have supported clients who were often overlooked by banks. By providing small loans to micro-entrepreneurs, FINCA Armenia has created a significant cultural shift in Armenia's financial landscape.

Join us in congratulating FINCA Armenia on their 25th anniversary! 👏 👏

We've been featured! The Gates Foundation and BBC StoryWorks recently published articles highlighting how well-designed microfinance organizations like FINCA are bridging the gap between women in poverty and their finances.

These articles feature the inspiring story of FINCA Uganda client Peace Alinda, and how her dream of providing a brighter future for her children drove her to reach greater heights with FINCA by her side. According to Peace’s son Mugume, “She’s a person who will do whatever it takes to make sure her children are having a great life.”

Continue through the link below to watch Peace share her story and read about how investments in women’s economic power can create a ripple effect that uplifts families and communities in poverty around the world.

Designing Credit that works for Women Access to formal credit is a vital economic resource that many of us in the Global North take for granted. We borrow money not only to afford expensive items, but also to invest in businesses, education, or skills that will generate income.

Did you know that nearly 1 in 10 people live in extreme poverty?

This is why FINCA remains strong in our commitment to end global poverty and why 100% of our work goes towards that mission.

Collectively, FINCA programs and partnerships are reaching over 16 million people around the world. And by having an active presence in the world’s economically disadvantaged regions, FINCA is enabling a pathway out of poverty for women entrepreneurs, smallholder farmers, families on the margin, and more each and every day.

For 40 years, FINCA has been leading efforts to end global poverty through sustainable and scalable solutions. Today, FINCA and our partners work in 45+ countries across 5 continents to bring that mission to even the most remote regions and to create a more prosperous future all.

While digital innovations have expanded access to formal financial services among unbanked and underbanked populations, many people in developing countries still rely on physical cash. And as an affordable and convenient way to convert their digital money to physical currency, and vice versa, customers look to agent networks.

However, these networks face a critical challenge: maintaining adequate liquidity for cash transactions for customers. This is why FINCA partner Kuunda Digital works to address these challenges through their innovative solution, Hapa Cash Overdraft.

Working jointly with FINCA Microfinance Bank and M-Pesa (a mobile phone operator), the Hapa Cash platform addresses liquidity management challenges by offering banking agents a single day overdraft to meet cash-in demands when liquidity is low. This expansion has not only gone to support agents but has provided reliable access to financial services for thousands of previously financially excluded individuals.

To learn more about how FINCA and Kuunda Digital are working to enhance financial inclusion across Africa–continue below!
https://bit.ly/4dg37gs

"Human potential is everywhere, opportunity is not."–FINCA co-founder, Rupert Scofield

Life hadn't always been easy for Resty Musoke. Although she was luckier than most to be enrolled in school until grade 7, Resty still had a dream to provide an even brighter future for her children and grandchildren.

When Resty first began farming, no one would lend her the capital to invest in her business. However, once she was presented an opportunity with FINCA Uganda and joined a Village Banking™ group, her life began to change.

Now, thanks to the power of FINCA loans, Resty is able to afford her family’s school fees and has upgraded her home with concrete flooring, proper furniture, and solar lighting. She has also gone on to build the foundation for a 10,000+ liter water tank to collect water from her roof to reduce the need to haul water from nearby streams or from the tap in town when the streams are dry.

According to Resty, "None of this would happen without FINCA."

Recently, FINCA Azerbaijan attended the annual AMFA Awards and were successful in winning two out of their three nominations! The FINCA Azerbaijan team was honored to receive the awards titled, "Leading Microfinance Institution in Providing Digital Financial Services to Clients'' and the "Leading Microfinance Institution Dedicated to Enhancing Financial Literacy Among Its Clients."

At FINCA, we are committed to empowering our clients around the world by providing them with the necessary financial education and tools to create their own destinies–and these awards further underscore that commitment.

Join us in congratulating the FINCA Azerbaijan team!👏 👏

According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, smallholder farmers produce ⅓ of the world’s food. And while they contribute a large portion to the world's food supply, smallholder farmers often face food insecurity themselves and form a majority of the world’s poor who live on less than $2 a day.

Since the beginning, FINCA has been committed to uplifting smallholder farmers and providing the resources they need for a brighter tomorrow. To support our clients, FINCA subsidiaries around the world provide a range of services including agricultural loans to effectively serve smallholder farmers and their unique needs.

According to FINCA Armenia client Siran Galeyan, “FINCA has been instrumental in securing an agricultural loan. This has proven particularly beneficial for our livestock, providing a crucial lifeline during difficult times when financial resources are limited, and enabling us to meet essential needs. In moments of need, it feels like a helping hand, and it's beneficial.”

To learn more about how FINCA is working to improve the lives of smallholder farmers around the world each and every day–continue below.
https://bit.ly/4bNGBdB

“I got a chance with FINCA, I love it.”–FINCA Uganda client, Robert Tumusiime

Located in Kiryandongo, Uganda, you will find the resilient FINCA Uganda client, Robert Tumusiime. Although he was only left with an inheritance of five cows, no land, and no money, this didn't hinder Robert’s dreams of growing a business, paying for his children's school fees, and having enough money to put good food on the table. While Robert was only able to finish primary school, he and his wife wanted more for their children's futures. That’s why when Robert found out about FINCA, he jumped at the opportunity.

Now, Robert and his family of five own a 50-acre farm and 70 cattle thanks to his determination and the power of FINCA loans. Next, Robert plans to buy more cows on his second farm in another part of Kiryandongo to create an additional source of income.

“The business is helping me build a better future. FINCA is part of that success. I also want to be able to leave my children a legacy. The money will give them freedom that I didn’t have.”

Robert’s story is one of many that showcases just how powerful a FINCA loan is. To learn more about how FINCA works to create opportunities for people just like Robert–continue below!
https://bit.ly/460d137

In 1995, FINCA further expanded our efforts of ending global poverty to Eurasia and launched FINCA Bank Kyrgyzstan. Since then, FINCA Kyrgyzstan has supported the lives of more than 1 million business owners and currently serves more than 230,000 clients across the nation.

With 30 years in the market, FINCA Kyrgyzstan continues to leave a lasting impact on the customers we serve through providing responsible financial services, contributing to community and educational development, supporting women’s empowerment, and more.

According to FINCA Kyrgyzstan client Makhpuza Talibaeva, “Thanks to FINCA, I’m not alone in this big world and I have a big support, which changed my life and made it more positive. The impossible is possible. FINCA gave me the power to struggle and to keep moving forward.”

To learn more about FINCA’s history and our commitment to ending global poverty–continue below!
https://bit.ly/3Ljd6Wb

Did you know that nearly 100% of FINCA’s efforts and partners contribute to reducing gender inequality?

At FINCA we know that women’s empowerment is a fundamental component in our fight of ending global poverty. And since our founding, FINCA has built a track record of supporting women entrepreneurs through removing the barriers that weigh heavily on their ability to succeed–and when a woman is empowered, their families and communities reap the benefits as well. In fact, FINCA’s female borrowers have hired over 500,000 people as a direct result of women’s entrepreneurship.

According to FINCA co-founder John Hatch, “It has been proven time after time that increasing the incomes of poor mothers results in an almost immediate improvement in their children’s diet, and an increased likelihood that they can send their children to school. And when a child is educated, he or she has better opportunities to live outside of poverty.”

To learn more about FINCA’s unwavering commitment to promoting and –continue below
https://bit.ly/4bqgPM9

Recently, FINCA Azerbaijan signed an Intention Memorandum with the Azerbaijan Business Partners Club (BPC) to empower women in business. Through this partnership, FINCA aims to support women entrepreneurs who lack access to financial resources and provide them with essential financial literacy training.

FINCA Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan BPC kicked off this new collaboration with a breakfast event, where 50 women partners from various regions and sectors like agriculture, education, service, trade, and more attended to share our initiatives and efforts in supporting women.

Located in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, you will find Vilma Esther Similox working behind her successful juice stand, eager to serve her customers. Unfortunately, life wasn’t always this simple for Vilma. Before, she and her husband constantly struggled to afford life's expenses like rent and their children's school fees. That’s when Vilma decided to take her friend's advice of opening her own juice stand to support her family.

At first, Vilma lacked the capital to fund her new business idea. However, once she came across a flyer detailing the opportunity of a Village Banking™ group loan from FINCA Guatemala, Vilma was finally able to start bringing her entrepreneurial dreams to life. As her business grew, she acquired a new juicer, purchased a large table, and bought an extractor thanks to FINCA loans. Unlike other juicers in the neighborhood, Vilma attracts customers with her creative drinks. One being her vitamin-enhanced juices that offer customers a chance to strengthen muscles and fight ailments.

Today, Vilma no longer has to worry about earning enough to pay her rent or her children's school fees. In fact, with the growth of her business, Vilma was able to rent a larger, more comfortable house to better accommodate her family. Vilma reports her next goal of building her own house where she will be able to keep livestock and continue to smile brightly for her customers and her family.

To learn more about Vilma Esther Similox and her inspiring journey with FINCA–continue below!
https://bit.ly/3L4MZCm

FINCA co-founder John Hatch, FINCA Impact Finance CEO Jeff Flowers, and several other FINCA Global staff members recently paid a visit to the DRC and were greeted by the FINCA DRC team.

During their trip, the team went out in the field to meet with FINCA clients and gained direct insight into FINCA’s impact on the fabric of communities we serve.

In addition to the rewarding field visits, John Hatch and Jeff Flowers had the honor of meeting with the Central Bank Governor, Malangu Kabedi Mbuyi. This meeting went on to reinforce FINCA’s financial and development initiatives, as well as highlighted FINCA DRC's role as a leader in in the DRC.

Over the past month, FINCA subsidiaries around the world participated in a variety of events and initiatives, all sharing the goal of creating a brighter, more sustainable future.

FINCA Azerbaijan won the Leadership Commitment to WEPs award at the Women's Empowerment Principles Conference in Gabala. During the conference, participants discussed a variety of topics surrounding women including gender and corporate sustainability and the role of trade chambers in promoting .

FINCA Bank Kyrgyzstan celebrated the success of a project in Osh, where two years ago it financed the construction of a school greenhouse. Today, the greenhouse provides stable income for the school and contributes to the region’s economic development.

FINCA Zambia and FINCA Armenia have newly established call centers, positioning both subsidiaries to focus on customer service and take advantage of centralized lending. According to global call center consultant Ghada AlMalouf, “Customers will benefit from improved service and convenience. Additionally, the call centers are designed to be scalable, allowing us to efficiently expand operations as needed."

FINCA DRC won the Africa Bank 4.0 Award: Best Use of Branchless Banking at the 14th Pan Africa Summit in Nairobi. Through strengthening their network of more than 1,600 banking agents across the country, FINCA DRC is continuing to expand financial access for clients in rural areas and building relationships with local communities.

FINCA Armenia launched a national contest called Women in Agriculture to emphasize the pivotal role women play in the agriculture sector.

In light of it being FINCA Armenia’s 25th anniversary, the contest concluded with 25 winners from 25 diverse communities spanning across the nation. The 25 women later participated in a two-day course aimed to foster community development and enhance agricultural education.

FINCA Armenia reports their plan of sustaining similar programs in the future, as initiatives like this are crucial in creating a more prosperous future for all.

“Getting a loan (in FINCA) is a quick process, efficient and the staff are very helpful. I recommend to all women who do not have financial support for their business, to take a loan from FINCA…”- FINCA Kosovo client, Xheva Haziri

Located in Zbovc village you will find FINCA Kosovo client Xheva Haziri and her family of five. A few years ago, when she first opened her business of processing and conserving vegetables, Xheva applied for a FINCA loan to meet her business’s needs. Between then and now, Xheva's life completely changed.

As a result of her hard work, Xheva went on to acquire a greenhouse to extend her product cultivation, expanded her land for a warehouse, and even employed seasonal workers–benefiting not only her business but the surrounding community as well. As her business continued to flourish, Xheva decided to begin exporting her fruits and vegetables to the overseas market.

Xheva Haziri is just one client that showcases the power of a FINCA loan and the determination of the woman entrepreneurs we serve. To learn more about how FINCA works to uplift small businesses just like Xheva’s–continue below.

https://bit.ly/4c7o78Y

During the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Spring Meetings, Melinda French Gates took the stage and promoted investments in unleashing capital for women entrepreneurs in Africa.

According to Melinda Gates, “It is really hard for women to get their businesses capitalized...And yet, there is so much opportunity.” In fact, as she later highlighted in the insightful article “The Capital Women Need, for the Future We All Need,” there is a staggering 1.7 trillion-dollar gap between the capital women desire and what they receive.

In support of Melinda Gates’ call-to-action, FINCA Global CEO Andrée Simon participated in meetings to share our on-the-ground insights and our successes in focusing on women in FINCA’s digitization initiatives. One being our test of increasing financial coaching for women clients through customer call centers–resulting in doubling deposit counts and almost tripling total transactions.

To learn more about FINCA and the Gates Foundation's shared commitment in building inclusive financial systems to empower women around the world–continue below.
https://bit.ly/3RtvNdq

Unleashing Capital for Women Entrepreneurs in Africa | FINCA Melinda French Gates recently issued a call to action for unleashing capital for women entrepreneurs in Africa.

In 1992, FINCA expanded our mission of ending global poverty to Africa and launched FINCA Uganda. Since its creation over 30 years ago, FINCA Uganda has served over 1 million clients and currently has a network of 30 service locations throughout the country to provide sustainable and responsible financial services to individuals even in the most rural areas.

To learn more about FINCA’s history of expanding our mission around the world–continue below
https://bit.ly/3VJuIAt

At FINCA, we work to effectively lift barriers for people in poverty by developing innovative solutions through the lens of our customers.

As a result of conducting thorough customer-driven research and quantitative analysis, FINCA is able to amplify the voices of our clients and deliver a range of products and services tailored to each individual and their unique needs.

To learn more about how FINCA uses research and data to target our clients' pain points and uplift communities out of poverty–continue below
https://bit.ly/4enYAKg

SACCO’s play a crucial role in financially including communities that are often excluded from traditional banks. Unfortunately, many of these member-based financial institutions end up being left behind in the increasingly digitized financial services sector.

This is why FINCA partner Kwara.com works to provide a cloud-based banking solution for SACCOs to better serve their members. Through Kwara offering a secure, simple, and affordable digital banking platform, SACCO members like Ann Muthee Wangchi are able to have easy access to loans and make payments immediately from their basic cell phones.

According to Ann, “I like it that I can now get a loan at any time. Kwara makes everything more efficient. It saves me time and time is money. And I know that I am not the only one, everyone in Nyeri South (SACCO) likes the app.”

Without SACCO’s being supported through companies like Kwara, members just like Ann Muthee Wangchi would have struggled to receive the financial services they needed. And with 1.7 billion adults worldwide lacking access to basic financial services, Kwara’s commitment to creating systemic change throughout the credit union ecosystem becomes all the more important.

While microfinance remains at the core of our mission and is critical in creating opportunity for people in poverty, its impact can be further magnified when accompanied by other forms of support.

This is why FINCA is working to further expand our services through integrating a holistic approach to better serve marginalized communities around the world and to fulfill our mission of ending global poverty.

Continue below to learn how.
https://bit.ly/3KBU0tU

FINCA's Holistic Approach to Ending Poverty | FINCA FINCA takes a holistic approach to ending poverty. Learn how we incorporating this approach through innovation in microfinance. Read more.

Across FINCA’s global network, we are continuously working to lift communities out of poverty through providing the tools and resources necessary to succeed. And one way FINCA does this is by supporting and giving back to local schools.

Recently, FINCA Zambia brightened the day for 7th grade students at Ng’ombe PTA School with a donation of essential school supplies including pencils, sharpeners, school bags, educational books, and mathematical tools to improve their educational experience.

At FINCA, we know that education is a key component in ending poverty. And through this donation, and our additional efforts, we remain strong in our commitment of ensuring that every person has the opportunity to build a brighter future.