BII and Finnfund Stand by Women Led Businesses via Kashf Foundation

British International Investment (BII) and Finnfund have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Kashf Foundation, a prominent microfinance institution in Pakistan. BII pledges $15 million USD, while Finnfund commits $10 million USD as follow-on investments. Since their initial investment in 2021, Kashf has expanded its services, becoming the largest distributor of microinsurance solutions in Pakistan. They aim to address the country’s low financial inclusion rates, particularly among women, by providing access to formal safety nets and financial services. With over 750,000 customers, Kashf prioritizes women’s economic empowerment, offering loans to micro-enterprises owned by women and providing financial management training. Additionally, they are developing a Climate Risk Policy to address climate change impacts. This investment aligns with BII’s mission to reduce gender inequality in financial services and qualifies as a 2X compliant gender lens investment, reflecting Kashf’s focus on serving female customers and promoting women’s employment and leadership.