We’re delighted to release the NESsT 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a year defined by far-reaching impact and transformative growth.
For nearly three decades, NESsT has worked at the nexus of people, profit, and the planet.
Our unique approach positions high-performing enterprises in South America and Central and Eastern Europe to realize their full potential, making a tangible impact now while paving the way for a world where everyone can thrive.
In 2024, we reached a milestone that speaks to this mission: since its founding, NESsT has positively impacted the lives of over 3.4 million people from communities around the world, including Black people, Indigenous Peoples, the LGTBQIA+ community, migrants and refugees, people with disabilities, smallholder farmers, women, and youth.
2024: A year defined by far-reaching impact & transformative growth
In 2024, we deepened our impact across our flagship programs and initiatives made possible by the dedication of our global teams and the determination and resilience of the social entrepreneurs we support.
Our 2024 portfolio included 85 small and medium-sized social enterprises across Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Poland, and Romania that all share a common theme of supporting people and the planet.
Throughout 2024, we supported these businesses – 58% of which are led by women – to create 38,000 dignified jobs and impact the lives of 1.2 million people.
NESsT assesses its impact through the Performance Management Tool (PMT), a tool developed in 1999 that has supported more than 250 social entrepreneurs to manage and measure their businesses, social, and environmental performance.
In 2023 and 2024, NESsT sent its teams to meet 531 people its portfolio enterprises work with or employ in person to conduct our fourth series of Dignified Employment Surveys.
““NESsT is uniquely positioned to meet the challenges we face today and address them head-on. I look forward to working closely with our committed team, trusted partners, and engaged Board to further the profound impact NESsT creates”.”
Highlights from our 2024 impact journey
Our impact is rooted in the belief that lasting solutions are those co-created alongside the people and communities we serve, ensuring that our work remains both impactful and responsive to their needs.
During 2024, we cemented this commitment in our work with the NESsT Amazonia portfolio through the release of a series of recommendations on investing in bioeconomy initiatives driven by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Their voices not only shaped the study but also led its dissemination alongside the NESsT team at key events, including COP16 in Cali, Colombia.
Our South America acceleration and Lirio Fund teams came together in new ways to support enterprises like Federación Campesina del Cauca (FCC).
In late 2024, the NESsT Lirio Fund extended a revolving working capital line to this long-standing federation of coffee growers, complementing the strategic support it receives as part of the NESsT Acceleration Portfolio.
2024 also saw the expansion of the NESsT Lirio Fund into Brazil, signaling the strength and viability of business development in the region and creating a next step in the NESsT journey for more high-achieving companies in our portfolio.
In December 2024, the Lirio Fund approved a revolving working capital credit line to Cooperativa dos Agricultores do Vale do Amanhecer (COOPAVAM) based in Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Read more about the Lirio Fund's latest investment in Brazil in the full report.
The NESsT Violet Fund continued taking steps to build Europe’s first investment fund for the LGBTQIA+ community, with the investment committee approving the first company at the end of the year.
The enterprise – a Polish manufacturer of natural cosmetics with a strong track record of LGTBQIA+ inclusion, with a strong commitment to advancing its inclusive employment efforts – is set to receive funding and officially join the portfolio in early 2025.
Additionally, we further strengthened the Central Eastern Europe Accelerator (CEE) Program, incorporating the lessons from the NESsT Refugee Employment Initiative and growing our activities in Poland and Romania that help small and medium sized enterprises tackle the many interconnected challenges of emerging social enterprises today.
Supporting cross-sector connections between our portfolio enterprises to drive mutual growth and impact was a key priority in 2024.
We connected Romanian tech start-up Jobful with eco-friendly packaging manufacturer Box Elyte, which provides dignified jobs to marginalized groups at its production facility in northwest Romania.
To reach Ukrainian jobseekers arriving in the region, Box Elyte publishes its job opportunities on Jobful’s jobs4ukr.com platform, and has supported over 36 refugees and migrants with quality jobs.
In April 2024, NESsT team members from around the world gathered in Peru to reflect on NESsT’s impact, reaffirm our collective purpose, and envision the next phase of our mission.
As a remote organization, this retreat was great for strengthening team cohesion and deepening commitment to the work being done.
Our visit to Peru was a powerful reminder of the human connection at the heart of NESsT’s mission. These moments underscored the importance of connecting with people face-to-face and hearing stories told firsthand – ensuring that our work remains grounded in the voices and realities of those we aim to support.” – Dana Kuffa, NESsT Development Associate
We invite you to read the full report here: