In 2025, the Fund took an important step towards strengthening its impact measurement approach by commissioning 60 Decibels (https://apo-opa.co/4dAqYdi) to build an industry-standard impact management framework and conduct independent impact measurement across its investment portfolio. Job creation is Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund’s primary impact objective, and the studies were designed to strengthen the Fund’s understanding of how its investments contribute to employment and broader economic opportunities.

As part of this process, VCHF developed an impact thesis for each investee, and commissioned baseline studies to understand who its investees reach, how their services influence the lives of their customers and, most importantly, their contribution to job creation.

The findings provide an important baseline for tracking impact over time, combining investee-level data with insights from end customers on how access to finance is influencing their businesses and households.

“Our conviction has always been that the right capital, combined with hands-on technical support, can help African financial service providers reach underserved businesses, create jobs and improve livelihoods.” said Edmund Higgenbottam, Chief Executive Officer of Verdant Capital. “Our first impact studies provide encouraging evidence of this, but this is only the beginning. We are committed to using the data and insights from these studies to strengthen our approach and deepen our impact measurement”.

Key Impact Highlights as of 31 December 2025

•  USD 39.5 million deployed across six investments.
• 179,000+ MSMEs reached.
• 316,000+ jobs created across the portfolio, with an additional 1,066,000+ jobs supported.
• 24 Technical Assistance projects delivered for investees, supported by KfW on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
• Six investees operating across 12 African countries, mainly low income and lower-middle income countries.

VCHF has made six investments in inclusive financial institutions to date: WATU, Mogo, LOLC Africa, Zeepay, UsPlus and Bfree. Through these investments, the Fund helps expand access to financial solutions that enable individuals and small businesses to grow their enterprises, strengthen their incomes and contribute to employment generation. The highlights above are drawn from independent 60 Decibels studies with over 850 customers across four investees.

Looking ahead, VCHF has USD 51 million in AUM and plans to grow its portfolio through additional investments and expansion into new markets over the coming years. The Fund is also seeking to mobilise additional capital from investors who share its commitment to delivering commercial returns alongside measurable impact.

Beyond the numbers are the stories of individuals accessing financial services, entrepreneurs expanding their businesses, households strengthening their livelihoods and businesses contributing to more resilient value chains.

This report marks an important milestone in VCHF’s impact journey. It strengthens the Fund’s understanding of the outcomes associated with its investments and reinforces its commitment to measuring not only the scale of its reach, but also the changes experienced by the people and businesses behind the numbers.

Verdant Capital extends its sincere appreciation to its partner, KfW Development Bank, for its continued support, and to its investees for their commitment and collaboration throughout this process.

Verdant Capital also extends its appreciation to 60 Decibels for its valuable partnership as the impact measurement advisor, as well as to the entire Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund team for its dedication and contribution to this important milestone.

Together with its partners, VCHF continues to demonstrate that commercial returns and meaningful impact can go hand in hand.

Read the full report here: Click Here (https://apo-opa.co/4B26qV8)

• Kentucky Town 254 launches on 20 October 2026, marking the first East African rollout of KFC’s limited-time festival.
• An exclusive Kenyan-inspired menu at selected KFC restaurants features The Colonel’s Mandazi Burger, The Colonel’s Mandazi Pops, The Kentucky Choma Burger, Samosa Crunch, Catch These Masala Fries, Birthday Cake Krusher and One in a Melon Krusher.
• Four Friday to Sunday pop-ups will open at The Junction Mall, The Hub Karen, Galleria Shopping Mall and Garden City Mall, featuring games, live experiences, music and an exclusive apparel collection co-created by KFC and home_254, the Nairobi-based fashion house known for wearable expressions of Kenyan identity.
• Anyone who buys a Kentucky Town meal at a participating KFC restaurant can use their receipt to unlock access to any of the pop-up experiences.

KFC is bringing its Kentucky Town experience to Kenya for the first time, marking the platform’s East African debut with a menu, merchandise collection and series of pop-up events shaped by Kenyan culture.

Kentucky Town 254  launches on October 20, 2026, and will run until 15 November 2026. It includes a Kenyan-inspired menu available at selected KFC restaurants, an exclusive apparel collection co-created by KFC and home_254, a Nairobi-based, made-in-Kenya fashion house, and four rotating weekend pop-ups across Nairobi malls.

“We didn’t want to bring Kentucky Town to Kenya and simply put a Kenyan name on it. We wanted Kenya to have a say in what Kentucky Town becomes,” says Dorothy Muthoni, Chief Marketing Officer at Kuku Foods East Africa, KFC’s franchisee in Kenya.

“That means food that tastes familiar, fashion that feels like us, and an experience that gives people a reason to come together.”

From Oct. 20, the limited-time Kentucky Town menu will be available at selected KFC restaurants and will feature:

• The Colonel’s Mandazi Burger
• The Colonel’s Mandazi Pops
• The Kentucky Choma Burger
• Samosa Crunch
• Catch These Masala Fries
• Birthday Cake Krusher
• One in a Melon Krusher

The menu draws on flavors already familiar to Kenyan consumers, reimagined through KFC’s format. Kentucky Town 254 extends beyond restaurants to four weekend pop-ups across Nairobi, each combining food, fashion, music, games and interactive experiences:

• October 23–25: The Junction Mall, ground-floor courtyard
• October 30–November 1: Galleria Shopping Mall, parking area next to KFC
• November 6–8: The Hub Karen, The Piazza
• November 13–15: Garden City Mall, main entrance

Customers who buy a Kentucky Town meal at a participating restaurant can use their receipt to unlock access to any of the pop-ups, featuring music, games, merchandise and interactive experiences. The first 100 visitors at the pop-up on October 23 will also receive a complimentary Samosa Crunch.

Visitors can also take part in activities such as the Wrap the Beat dance challenge, virtual reality gaming, a basketball hoop challenge and a photo booth, with the opportunity to have their caricatures drawn and take them home.  “A highlight of the pop-up is the merch shop stocked with an exclusive limited-edition collection by the Kenyan fashion and design brand home_254,” says Muthoni.

The collection includes crop tops, T-shirts, varsity jackets, sweatshirts, cosy sweatpants,  jorts, shrugs and puffer jackets, with a styling corner and photo spot where visitors can try on and photograph pieces from the range.

“Everything is designed and made in Kenya and hand-printed locally, so a Kentucky Town piece carries a little bit of home long after the campaign ends,” says Job Brian Jura, founder of home_254. “That is what the brand stands for, wearable art that lets people carry Kenyan creativity and pride with them.”

A mix of Kenyan creators and influencers, including Kendi Q, Comedian Mwirigi and Wangari Kairu, will support Kentucky Town across social media and at the pop-up events, sharing content around the food, fashion and cultural elements of the experience.

Kenya is KFC’s second-largest African market after South Africa, with 48 franchise-owned restaurants. Kentucky Town originated in South Africa and has previously run in Namibia and Mauritius; Kenya marks its first East African rollout.

“Kentucky Town is all about introducing KFC to new audiences with entertainment, fun, exclusive experiences and merch, and a menu that takes the Original Recipe to new and exciting places,” says Hloni Mohope, Chief Marketing Officer at KFC Africa.

“We know Kenyans love KFC, and this is a wonderful opportunity to thank them for their support. Twende funky!”

As part of the collaboration, Bank NXT will migrate its ATM and debit card portfolio to Network’s end-to-end processing platform, enabling more streamlined operations, strengthening security controls, and enhanced customer experience.

The agreement underscores Bank NXT’s strategic commitment to advancing its payments infrastructure in partnership with Network. Migration supports the Bank’s expansion agenda by building trust among existing and new customers.

The partnership comes at a significant time, as Egypt’s banking sector is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, driven by the Central Bank of Egypt to foster a thriving digital economy.

Tamer Seif El-Din, CEO and Managing Director of Bank NXT, said: “Our collaboration with Network International is a cornerstone of Bank NXT’s strategy to modernize our payments infrastructure and better serve our customers. Migrating our debit card and ATM portfolio to Network’s robust processing platform will enable us to achieve greater operational efficiency, introduce innovative services faster, and ultimately, provide a seamless, secure, and digitally advanced banking experience. This collaboration reaffirms our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive our strategic expansion and meet the evolving needs of the Egyptian market, contributing significantly to the nation’s digital transformation.”

Dr. Reda Helal, Group Managing Director – Processing, Africa & Growth Markets at Network International, commented: “We are excited to work alongside Bank NXT, especially as the nation continues its digital transformation journey. This collaboration underscores our commitment to expanding our geographic footprint and supporting the digital evolution of banks across the MEA region. By providing our expertise and end-to-end processing capabilities, we are enabling Bank NXT to scale their services effectively, while contributing to Egypt’s strategic financial goals. This is a testament to our leadership and value proposition in payments modernisation and our dedication to fostering growth for our partners.

Through this partnership, Bank NXT continues to strengthen its infrastructure and enhance its capacity to deliver scalable, secure, and future-ready financial services.