Microfinance institution Asian Credit Fund (ACF) was established in 1997 as a micro and small business lending programme in Kazakhstan by MercyCorps, an international NGO. To this date, ACF offers financial services that support rural households and businesses, and promote home ownership in cities and villages. With its headquarters in Almaty, it has a network of offices throughout the country. ACF also provides financial education, and advice on various themes, including smallholder farming, construction and sanitation for residential housing, and how to implement energy-efficient measures.