In 1956, ECLOF investigated the possibility of expanding its projects outside Europe. At that time, some European ECLOF offices were returning their capital back to ECLOF International, and it was getting more financial support from churches and institutions around the world. In 1959, the first extra-European office was opened in Burma (Myanmar). It was followed by the founding of offices in Tanzania in 1960 and Argentina in 1961.
It is estimated that ECLOF provided some 1200 loans in its first 20 years in over 20 countries – primarily for building churches, schools and community centres. ECLOF played a key role in those early years in expanding outreach and diaconia of the Churches in the countries where it operated.
