Indigenous-led enterprises in the Amazon are building livelihoods in ways that keep forests standing, drawing on knowledge that has guided life in relation to nature for generations. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, Kichwa-led organization Ruku Kawsay is just one example of how this works in practice, ensuring stronger livelihoods and a standing forest through the traditional Amazonian farming system known as “chakra”.
NESsT is recognized by the Ministry of the Environment in Peru (MINAM), alongside a group of impact investors and organizations that drive biodiversity-based solutions in Peru.
We’re delighted to release the NESsT 2025 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. In 2025, we reached a milestone that speaks to this mission: since its founding, NESsT has positively impacted the lives of over 4.7 million people from communities around the world.
Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera Santa Ana is a coffee cooperative in Perené, Junín that works with around 170 coffee farmers, nearly half women who are heads of their households and over half are over the age of 45.
Impact investing trailblazer ImpactAssets has named NESsT to the 2026 IA 50 Fund Managers list, a publicly available database that highlights fund managers delivering demonstrable social and environmental impact, setting the standard for uncovering opportunities across private markets. This is the fourth time NESsT has been included in the IA 50, first as an Emerging Manager in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship co-created a three-year accelerator programme to support enterprises in Poland and Romania that expand employment opportunities. The selected enterprises will receive market access assistance and advice, tailored business mentoring, technical assistance, in addition to flexible financing. Meet the enterprises now:
What if every purchase we made always had a higher positive return? The holiday season is a perfect time to make a gift that will provide a pathway out of poverty for low-income and marginalized individuals. Join us in celebrating our enterprises in their efforts to promote fair trade between consumers and local producers, and preserve local traditional culture
There are so many stories we hear from NESsT enterprises about individuals whose lives have been transformed by the opportunity to work in dignified jobs, but Gabriel’s story is one that brought extra big smiles to our team’s faces.
This summer, social entrepreneurs across the NESsT portfolio participated in hands-on training and networked with business mentors, investors and peers through a series of retreats and workshops. Held in each country, these events gave enterprise leaders the opportunity to strengthen their business skills, exploring topics as varied as investment readiness, financial management best practices, marketing and social impact measurement.
