ETHIOPIA: ‘Missio-Invest’ Offer Opportunities for Self-Reliance to AMECEA Countries

The Pontifical Mission Societies of the United States Catholic Bishops Conference (USCCB) through Missio Invest Social Impact Fund is offering opportunity to Dioceses in AMECEA member countries and Africa as well as Religious Orders to invest in Church’s underused land for Agribusiness.

According to the National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) USA, Rev Fr. Andrew Small, OMI, donor funding continues to dwindle and financial support to the Church in Africa and other developing countries is becoming increasingly limited, as a result, there is a great need for self-reliance.

Fr. Small who was giving a presentation to the delegates of AMECEA 19th Plenary Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, explained that Missio Invest Social Impact fund combines technical assistance, training and project loans to empower a new wave of local entrepreneurs capable of generating new sources of revenue for their ministry while guaranteeing a more sustainable future for all.

“We are looking at the Church owned underused land in African dioceses, religious communities, seminaries and we try to bring them into production so that they can bring income to the Church,” Fr. Small said during his address to the delegates of AMECEA Plenary Assembly, currently going on in Addis Ababa.

“Over the past four years, we have made 18 loans of 1.8 million dollars in three countries Kenya, Uganda and Malawi and we are about to expand our loans to Nigeria and Zambia,” he disclosed, adding that they are offering six-year loans with an interest of 8 percent.

“Because we know that priests and sisters are enthusiastic though they may not have the technical expertise, we have been formulating a six-months Agri-entrepreneurship program, where four months is spent in the classroom and two months for practical experience. During this time the trainees will develop their business plans so that at the end they know exactly what they need and what they are going to do,” Fr. Small explained. He said 150 people have currently graduated from the program in five countries and they will be expanding into Tanzania, Ghana and Rwanda.

Dioceses or religious communities that wish to get into the program are advised to speak to the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Society in their countries. The training programs are done twice in a year and they usually try to get a big class of between 20 to 30 people to make it worthwhile.

“Everybody is welcome to approach the PMS director as our intention as PMS-USCCB is to make the program to be fully owned by the local bishops, rather than having it controlled by the people in New York,” Fr. Small indicated.

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By Pamela Adinda,