As questions on the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion arise around the world, we maintain our commitment to advancing gender equity by injecting financing and business opportunities into social enterprises impacting excluded communities in South America and Central & Eastern Europe.
Since 1911, International Women’s Day (IWD) has been honoring the achievements of women across all aspects of life – social, economic, cultural, and political – while also advocating for gender equality. Over 100 years later, we have made great strides in accelerating gender equality, but we recognize there is still much more progress to be made.
This International Women’s Day, NESsT is celebrating our portfolio of enterprises that are making a real impact in advancing gender equity in South America and Central & Eastern Europe, as well as NESsT’s commitment to Gender Lens Investing and gender equity within our organization.
Gender equity is at the center of NESsT’s business and investment strategy. For NESsT, Gender Lens Investing (GLI) means bringing gender considerations as a cross-cutting lens into our investment strategies and discussions about climate, poverty, racial, equity, and diversity – rather than treating them as isolated topics. We work to further women’s social and financial inclusion by bringing gender-smart funding directly to enterprises working to eliminate gender biases in their hiring practices, pay equitable income, and provide the same professional development opportunities and level of job security to women as men.
We work closely with our portfolio enterprises to support them to become equitable and gender inclusive, moving beyond simply tracking the participation of women, toward measuring progress brought about through qualitative, transformative change to shift gender norms.
Our gender-lens investing strategy involves five key elements:
DEVELOP quantitative and qualitative metrics that can be easily adopted by enterprises that capture gender dynamics and gender intersectionality.
DBAĆ o to, aby równość płci i włączenie społeczne były oceniane i wspierane zarówno na etapie badania due diligence, jak i na etapie inwestycji.
UTILIZE the collected metrics to inform enterprises on ways to improve their business practices in order to support gender diversity, wellbeing and close gender disparities for employees and suppliers.
INCREASE the representation of women employees and entrepreneurs in leadership positions, reflecting the intersectionality of the communities where your portfolio operates.
INFORM the fund investors on key gender outcomes of their investments.
See also: NESsT’s Gender Lens Investing Blog Series
As an organization committed to advancing gender equity, NESsT checks in regularly with our portfolio of enterprises as well as with our own standard operating practices. We get updates from our portfolio through our quarterly Performance Measurement Tool (PMT) as well as our biannual Dignified Employment Survey.
As we strive to live out the principles with which we assess our investment portfolio, let’s look at the roles women play within the NESsT ecosystem and how we apply a gender lens in our day-to-day work.
63% of NESsT leadership are women
Women hold key leadership positions at NESsT, shaping our strategy and operations across six countries. Seven of the 11 members of our management team are women including Tiana Lins and Alejandra Ramírez, country directors from Brazil and Colombia; Renata Truzzi, the director overseeing the whole of our acceleration portfolio; and our Chief Executive Officer, Kirsten Dueck. With women making up 63% of leadership, this figure is nearly double the industry average for senior management positions in Wealth and Asset Management and Institutional Investors in the United States, according to the 2024 Women in the Workplace Report by LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company. These numbers reflect our broader commitment to embedding gender equity into NESsT’s organizational leadership.
57% of the NESsT team are women
With a team of 57 people across three continents, there are 33 women on board represented in every department of NESsT, including Finance, IT, Operations, Communications, and Portfolio Management. At a percentage of 57% of staff—including entry-level positions up to C-Suite—NESsT outranks the 2024 average makeup of entry-level positions held by women in the United States at 48% (LeanIn.org/McKinsey), with the report indicating those averages drop as you include management and senior roles.
Of our team of 30 overseeing the activities of our acceleration and investment portfolios (including portfolio managers, program managers, acceleration leads, and fund associates), 13 are women and operate in key roles across South America and Central & Eastern Europe—Mariana Lima joined NESsT in 2024 as the Investment Officer for the NESsT Lirio Fund’s expansion into Brazil, and Ioana Samoil joined NESsT in 2021 as a portfolio manager, rising to Acceleration Lead in Romania in 2024. With near gender parity (43%), this is more than double the median percentage of women portfolio managers (16%) reported by Morningstar’s Diversity in Asset Management Report.
The NESsT Board of Directors also reached gender parity in December 2024, which outpaces findings that women hold less than a quarter of the world’s board seats (23.3%), according to a 2024 report by Deloitte.
40% of NESsT portfolio enterprises have a focus on women, 58% report women in leadership
NESsT invests in and accelerates social enterprises from traditionally excluded communities that create job opportunities to benefit people and the planet. As such, 40% of NESsT portfolio enterprises name women as an area of impact or people supported by their social impact. Additionally, by the end of 2024, 58% of our acceleration portfolio reported their organizations as either being women-led or having hybrid leadership (balance of men and women in leadership).
Meet the 57 NESsT portfolio enterprises driving gender equity – from women-led businesses to those creating solutions that support and uplift women – and learn how they continue to make meaningful impact in their communities.
The Associação Bebô Xirin do Bacajá (ABEX) is an Indigenous association that represents the Mebengokrê-Xikrin People of the Trincheira Bacajá Indigenous Land (TITB), defending and upholding their social and territorial rights.
AFIMAD (The Indigenous Forestry Association of Madre de Dios) is an association formed by Amazon nut collectors. It emerged as an alternative solution to the unsustainable practice of indiscriminate tree felling, which had been a source of income for local Indigenous communities in the past.
Agil to przedsiębiorstwo technologiczne, które oferuje przystępne cenowo rozwiązania e-commerce dla małych, mikro i rodzinnych przedsiębiorstw z branży HoReCa (hotelarstwo, restauracje i catering) w Chile oraz wspiera kierowców dostarczających żywność, aby uzyskać trwały dochód.
Founded over a decade ago, the Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera Alta Montaña sources Fairtrade and organic coffee from over 400 small-holder farmers in the region, with close to 25% of its suppliers over the age of 65, and approximately 30% rural women.
ALTRNTV (wcześniej znana jako "Atelier Merci") produkuje ręcznie robioną odzież wykonaną z wegańskich i organicznych materiałów pochodzących ze zrównoważonej produkcji. W swoim sklepie stacjonarnym w Bukareszcie ALTRNTV sprzedaje ręcznie robioną odzież, obuwie i artykuły gospodarstwa domowego wykonane przez rumuńskich rzemieślników z niedostatecznie reprezentowanych społeczności.
Apoena was founded to improve the safety, efficiency, and quality of cassava processing for local farmers. The social enterprise collaborates closely with cassava flour producers to enhance their working conditions and provides training in organic farming and cassava processing techniques.
Founded in 2015, La Asociación de Productores Amazonas – Alto Mayo (“Apromayo”) sources coffee beans from over 300 producers in remote rainforest areas of San Martín and Amazonas, supporting them to make a living income while conserving the environment. Today, the association has become a key player in the region's coffee industry.
Spółdzielnia Socjalna ARTE zapewnia wszechstronne wsparcie zawodowe i psychologiczne osobom z grup marginalizowanych, zwłaszcza osobom z problemem bezdomności, byłym więźniom i osobom z problemem narkotykowym.
Asoprocegua buduje dobrze prosperujące, zrównoważone źródła utrzymania dla społeczności rolniczych w Guaviare w Kolumbii. Wspiera drobnych rolników w uprawie amazońskich owoców, takich jak açaí, które są naturalnie produkowane w lasach i mogą być pozyskiwane bez wycinania ani jednego drzewa.
Associação dos Agropecuários de Beruri (ASSOAB) has been supporting small Brazil nut collectors in Beruri, Amazonas since 1996, generating stable income for the isolated communities while respecting their traditional livelihoods and the environment.
ADP produces and sells upcycled textile products made from 100% recycled cotton. The Romanian enterprise also supports other impact-first businesses, including bakeries that provide jobs to youth and mothers from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as recycling and cosmetic businesses that hire people with HIV or/and physical and mental disabilities, among others.
Bendito Residuo odbiera śmieci od chilijskich firm i gospodarstw domowych i transportuje posortowane odpady do odpowiednich zakładów utylizacji, oferując jednocześnie przejrzyste usługi zarządzania odpadami i programy szkoleniowe dla swoich klientów.
Bioingredientes Amazónicos ("BioIncos") pozyskuje dzikie owoce od rdzennych społeczności w Amazonii Piemont w Kolumbii i przekształca je w naturalne oleje do stosowania w przemyśle kosmetycznym.
Box Elyte manufactures premium, eco-friendly cardboard boxes for chocolates and pastries while employing 150 individuals from excluded groups, including migrants and refugees from Ukraine and Asia, as well as local women from low-income backgrounds and ethnic minorities. It also prioritizes the purchase of goods and services from local businesses that integrate people with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds into the labor market.
Café Orígenes' mission is to sell traceable, ethically-sourced specialty coffee and ensure fair pay for producers who are often excluded from the traditional coffee value chain. Today it supports 64 coffee growers and their families.
Based in Cundinamarca, Flores Cattleya SAS (“Cattleya”) manages 18 hectares of land to produce and sell roses for export to the US. Cattleya currently employs 350 individuals, primarily from the nearby rural towns of Suesca and Sesquilé, providing them with a stable source of income and fair wages.
Cedros Café is a cooperative that supports smallholder coffee farmers in the region to improve their business practices and income opportunities. Cedros offers its associates 30% more than conventional buyers and provides business management and personal finance training, while helping farmers grow their production capacity and obtain Fair Trade and organic certifications.
Chunaky Baru is an Indigenous-led association dedicated to advancing the livelihoods of artisans in the San José community in the Colombian Amazon. Founded almost two decades ago by master craftsmen and women belonging to the community, its mission is to recover and conserve the cultural and artistic heritage of the Ticuna, Huitoto, and Cocama Indigenous communities and provide dignified income opportunities that align with Indigenous practices and values. It currently benefits 30 small artisans, producers, and suppliers.
For over two decades, Cooperativa Agraria Sonomoro del VRAEM (“COAS” – formerly known as Asociación de Productores Agrarios Naylamp de Sonomoro) has been working to improve the lives of smallholder farmers in these regions. It equips farmers with resources to cultivate organic, Fairtrade cacao, highlighting the benefits of sustainable farming practices.
Cooperativa Mista dos Povos e Comunidades Tradicionais da Calha Norte ("COOPAFLORA") została utworzona w 2019 r. w celu reprezentowania rodzin kolekcjonerskich z różnych terytoriów rdzennych, Quilombola i osadniczych w Calha Norte w brazylijskiej Amazonii.
Coordinadora Rural de la Papa del Perú (CORPAPA) was founded to support the livelihoods of traditional potato farmers in Ayacucho. The association supports over 130 local producers to grow organic potatoes, which it buys at preferential prices and sells to clients in the agroindustrial sector, supermarkets, restaurants, and government programs for public schools and soup kitchens.
Cuencas del Huallaga Asociacion De Productores Agropecuario (“Cuencas”) sources high-quality Fairtrade, organic cocoa from over 500 smallholder farmers, paying fair prices for their products.
Diaspora.Black is a social enterprise in the tourism and events sector with a mission to promote positive racially- and ethnically-diverse travel experiences. Its digital platform connects tourists, professionals, and entrepreneurs throughout 145 cities in 18 countries to offer a diverse array of travel and leisure services that aim to promote and foster Black culture.
Disruptia leverages technology to bridge the gap between the skills of jobseekers and the demands of companies in the digital job market in Colombia and other countries in Latin America. Its accessible training services have impacted 3,000 people, 44% of whom are from diverse backgrounds, including at-risk youth aged between 18 and 30, women, ethnic minorities, migrants, and people over the age of 50.
Ecocitex sells 100% recycled textile products through more than 250 women-led businesses across Chile. The social enterprise oversees an extensive production chain that involves anyone with access to clothing in the circular economy.
Ekoinbud specializes in community-based, sustainable construction solutions for schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and single and multi-family homes. Since 2015, the socially impactful enterprise has specialized in prefabricated wooden construction with dedicated teams that lead the architectural design, manufacturing, and on-site assembly and construction of green buildings.
Empanacombi produces high quality empanadas, baked and frozen food products that are sold in coffee shops and convenience stores throughout the country, as well as through their own catering business. By training people with disabilities in baking and catering, Empanacombi supports them with accessing quality jobs, improving their livelihoods, and becoming more visible members of Peruvian society.
Estrafalario produces a line of trendy ethical fashion products sold online and at their stores. The enterprise trains and employs survivors of domestic violence, women who are incarcerated, and low-income single mothers, to create their line of clothing and accessories.
Federación Campesina del Cauca (FCC) pozyskuje ekologiczną kawę Fair Trade od blisko 500 drobnych rolników działających w Cauca w Kolumbii, z których ponad 30% to kobiety. FCC zapewnia swoim członkom dochód wystarczający na utrzymanie i wspiera ich w zwiększaniu odporności na zmiany klimatu poprzez dywersyfikację źródeł dochodu.
Heca wspiera osoby z niepełnosprawnościami umysłowymi i fizycznymi, a także młode osoby w sytuacji bezdomności. Pomaga im zyskać dostęp do nauki zawodu i znajdować dobre miejsca pracy. Spółdzielnia oferuje nie tylko edukację, staże, mentoring w zakresie poszukiwania pracy czy przestrzeń do pracy, ale też bezpośrednio zatrudnia absolwentów i absolwentki swoich programów.
Helyénvaló helps the small agricultural producers to sell and promote their locally-produced, artisanal goods, including meat, fresh vegetables, pastries, herbal spices, and bee products. Living within 75km of the city, these smallholder farmers are key drivers for the revival and conservation of local orchards, protecting the biodiversity of the Romanian-native fruit and vegetable species.
Fundación Hilo Sagrado wspiera rdzennych rzemieślników w Kolumbii w produkcji i sprzedaży rękodzieła, które zachowuje wiedzę, kulturę i tradycje ich społeczności. Zyski są bezpośrednio reinwestowane w projekty rozwoju społeczności w celu poprawy lokalnych źródeł utrzymania.
Jobful brings a human-focused approach to talent acquisition and staff training. Its annual-subscription recruitment platform is designed to be integrated with corporate career sites and is currently used by B2B clients in diverse sectors, including Coca Cola HBC, ING Bank, Microsoft, and ERSTE Bank.
Kemito Ene to prowadzona przez rdzennych mieszkańców spółdzielnia producentów narodowości Asháninka z dorzecza rzeki Ene, zajmująca się zrównoważoną produkcją i sprzedażą certyfikowanych ekologicznych i sprawiedliwych ziaren kakaowca, produktów kakaopochodnych, czekolady oraz palonych i mielonych ziaren kawy.
Kulkao sources cocoa from over 400 smallholder farmers living in the remote regions of the Amazon basin, purchasing their cocoa at prices typically higher than the market price. Its products include cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and cocoa nibs that are sold to local and international markets such as Europe and North America.
Cooperativa Cafetalera Laguna de los Cóndores was born as a vital support network for rural producers and their families. Today, the cooperative sources coffee from almost 460 smallholder farmers operating in the Peruvian Amazonas region, working to alleviate their severe financial strains and ensure coffee producers earn a living income.
Llama Pack operates in the the high-Andean communities located along the Urubamba Mountain Range, parallel to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and exists to support the local agricultural and pastoralist communities to generate an alternative source of income while providing a socially and environmentally-minded tourism service.
Make It Real oferuje bootcampy online do szkolenia studentów w pełnym stosie rozwoju oprogramowania lub nauki o danych, oferując przystępne i elastyczne opcje finansowania, w tym umowy o podziale dochodów, które umożliwiają studentom płacić za naukę po wylądowaniu ich pierwszej pracy w tech.
Mamo Pracuj is committed to diversifying the tech workforce in Poland with women’s talent. It provides technical training and wraparound services to ensure that women are equipped to stand out during the recruiting process and thrive in their roles long after hiring. Since its founding in 2011, Mamo Pracuj has created an impactful and widely recognized career development network for women.
ManejeBem is a Brazilian enterprise that provides digital tools and technical assistance to rural farming families to enhance their agricultural processes and improve their incomes. Its products include an online platform and a mobile application that enables farmers to communicate with each other and document important farming information when working on the field.
Maré de Sabores oferuje usługi cateringowe dla imprez w kompleksie Maré w Brazylii. Przedsiębiorstwo społeczne zapewnia kobietom, zwłaszcza samotnym matkom o niskich dochodach, szkolenia, doświadczenie zawodowe i możliwości pracy w przemyśle spożywczym.
Movimento Black Money (MBM) jest ośrodkiem innowacji, który wzmacnia pozycję ekonomiczną Czarnych ludzi w Brazylii. Przedsiębiorstwo społeczne wspiera Czarną populację w czterech obszarach - rzecznictwo, edukacja, usługi finansowe i doradztwo.
Nebucode is a Poland-based software development company that creates innovative digital solutions for SMEs and corporations, in addition to prioritizing the creation of job opportunities in the IT sector for marginalized groups.
Firma Okolo z siedzibą w Kolumbii produkuje ekologiczne pieluchy wielokrotnego użytku i promuje ich korzyści dla środowiska i zdrowia. Prowadzi również program Brand Ambassador, który zapewnia matkom elastyczne możliwości zarobkowania.
Olsztyn Food Bank (OFB) is a non-profit entity based in Poland with a mission to save food from waste. In parallel to its food aid services, OFB promotes innovative and inclusive food solutions in the community through educational workshops to promote zero-waste cooking, good shopping habits, and conscious eating.
Organic Rainforest sources organic cacao from lush regions of Peru’s northern and central jungle, partnering with three local cooperatives and supporting close to 400 cacao growers – 30% of whom are women.
Associación Intercomunitaria Painü (“Painü) was founded over ten years ago in Leticia, Amazonas to improve the livelihoods the Indigenous communities of the Yahuarcaca Lakes while protecting their territory and recovering and preserving ancestral knowledge.
Cooperativa La Perla de los Andes is an agricultural cooperative made up of 90 smallholder farmers in Ancash, Peru. La Perla de los Andes supports local farmers in the Huaylas province to grow tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis), a nutrient-rich legume native to the Andes that has been cultivated and consumed since pre-Colombine times.
PesCo. is a social enterprise that connects seafood lovers directly to artisanal fishing communities in Peru. Through stores located in key locations of Greater Metropolitan Lima, it makes sustainable seafood easy to purchase from home, at local supermarkets, and in restaurants.
Plantus develops and manufactures natural and organic inputs for pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food industries. Led by an all-women management team, the social enterprise is committed to creating income opportunities for local communities while safeguarding the planet.
Plastic Corporation uses single-use plastic waste and reclaimed plant fibers as an alternative to lumber to make products such as furniture, playground equipment, and construction materials, contributing to a robust local circular economy. It supports the livelihoods of 150 plastic recyclers.
Posh Academy is both a training center and a provider of beauty services. The social enterprise offers on-the-job training and upskilling for at-risk women, ethnic minorities, young people, and LGBTQIA+ individuals in a range of services such as hairdressing, hair coloring, manicures, pedicures, and other specialized beauty treatments.
RONAP eksportuje surowe orzechy brazylijskie, amazońskie orzechy bogate w zdrowe tłuszcze, antyoksydanty, witaminy i minerały, na rynki Stanów Zjednoczonych i Europy. Stowarzyszenie eliminuje pośredników i pozyskuje orzechy bezpośrednio od 33 zbieraczy orzechów brazylijskich w Madre de Dios w Peru, zapewniając im uczciwe ceny za ich produkty.
Shanantina to przedsiębiorstwo społeczne, które współpracuje wyłącznie z rdzennymi społecznościami przy uprawie sacha inchi, orzecha pochodzącego z peruwiańskiej Amazonii, używanego przez rdzennych mieszkańców Peru od co najmniej 2000 lat.
Studio M6 Foundation’s mission is to generate quality job opportunities for residents of Torun. The social enterprise aims to revitalize Torun’s community by launching business initiatives and organizing events such as local festivals, concerts, fundraising, and social campaigns.
Fundacja Targ Pietruszkowy dostarcza lokalne produkty ekologiczne bezpośrednio do klientów w Krakowie dzięki sklepowi online i organizowanym co dwa tygodnie targom rolniczym. Ekologiczne produkty pochodzą z 70 małych gospodarstw rolnych (większość z nich ma mniej niż 3 hektary).
UtilDeco provides tailored career training to people with disabilities, individuals coming from the child protection system, ethnic groups, and migrants – helping them to build confidence and improve financial stability. Through its placement service, UtilDeco has helped over 150 excluded people to get trained and find a job on the open market.