SECAM: MissioInvest Urges Investment in the Global South
Fr. Andrew Small
By Luke Bisani
MissioInvest, an impact investor affiliated with the Catholic Church, is advocating for increased investments in the Global South to help the Church in these regions become self-reliant.
During the opening session of the 20th plenary assembly for the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), which took place at the Kigali Convention Centre, Fr. Andrew Small, OMI, the Chief Executive Officer and President of MissioInvest, called for funds that could be directed towards supporting Church-run social enterprises across Africa.
“Aid is becoming scarce, and funders are pulling back. Yet, Catholic organizations, dioceses, congregations, universities, and foundations in the West manage tens of billions of dollars in investments,” said Fr. Small.
He emphasized the need for institutions with significant investments in the West to contribute a percentage, specifically 10 percent to support effective service to the community while empowering local churches to achieve independence.
Fr. Small also highlighted the successes of MissioInvest, which include job creation, loan disbursement, and restoring the environment through tree planting, among other initiatives.
Since its establishment, MissioInvest has focused on strengthening essential social services in Sub-Saharan countries such as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Uganda.
The organization has now expanded its efforts to additional countries, aiming to enhance the Church’s social impact by promoting human life and dignity.
