Agribusinesses (value chain actors)

This topic covers the the role of value chain actors (agribusinesses/agro-enterprises) as providers or channels of finance to smallholder farmers, and models/experiences of value chain finance. The FAO broadly defines agricultural value chain financing as any financial services flowing to or through a value chain to address the needs and constraints of those involved in that chain. Common examples include input-supplier finance, off-taker or outgrower finance, and warehouse receipts; and accounts receivable (trade) finance for cooperatives.

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Three practical steps agribusinesses can take to help close the gender gap in smallholder outgrower schemes

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Enabling environment and smallholder finance: A complex relationship

Analysis: Part 6 of the Pulse series highlights early learnings around the smallholder finance enabling environment and makes recommendations for future research.

The fund manager perspective: Moving the needle on inclusive agribusiness

Analysis: The fifteenth briefing note in a series from the Initiative for Smallholder Finance interrogate how different impact-oriented agribusiness funds combine public and private capital to build a more inclusive agricultural market.

Fund management and inclusive agribusiness: A global perspective

Analysis: Part 3 of ISF's and RAF Learning Lab's Pulse series shares a fund manager's perspective on inclusive agribusiness and fund management.

Investing in smallholder farming: Six outgrower schemes that are getting it right

Report: In Africa, where agricultural production remains far below potential, companies are working with smallholder farmers to raise crop yields, open up new market opportunities, and strengthen rural economies. In a new case study, AgDevCo’s Smallholder Development Unit features six examples of outgrower schemes that are delivering results.

Going far, together: Breaking silos to unlock smallholder finance

Analysis: Part 2 of ISF's and RAF Learning Lab's Pulse series shares insights and trends on progressive partnerships across sectors and at the last mile in the rural and smallholder finance sector.

Webinar materials: Last mile partnerships for smallholder finance

Media: On February 28 and March 1 the RAF Learning Lab team – in collaboration with Dalberg – hosted a webinar summarizing insights from our second Learning Brief, Better together: Last mile partnerships for smallholder finance.

Learning Brief 2: Last mile business partnerships for smallholder finance

Analysis: The second in the Lab's Learning Brief series, "Better together: Last mile business partnerships for smallholder finance,"* offers baseline insights for building or enabling businesses partnerships to better serve smallholders. These are early findings from an ongoing study of four value chain/technology players looking to partner with financial institutions.

Service delivery models: Insights for continuous improvement and farm impact

Report: Smallholder farmers are in need of inputs such as fertilizers, improved seeds and planting material, and access to finance, delivered in a stable and cost efficient system. Insights from a new report, published by IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, enable service providers to create these cost-effective and scalable solutions, empowering smallholders to grow and sustain their businesses.

The climate conundrum: Financing smallholder productivity and resilience in the age of climate change

Analysis: The thirteenth briefing note in a series from the Initiative for Smallholder Finance, explores the latest practices from the climate finance community and the agricultural finance community to understand how new combined models can boost returns and attract new investors.

Learning to manage risk: CSAF lenders' past year in the context of Inflection Point

Analysis: The Learning Lab recently supported research by the MIX on detailed 2015 lending data from leading social lenders, who make up the Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF). The findings were summarized in the 2015 CSAF annual report, which takes a deeper look into the current state of the sector through the lens of donors, investors, and lenders. Dan Zook, Director of Investments at the Initiative for Smallholder Finance (ISF), unpacks some of the key highlights from the report, many of which corroborate and illustrate major insights from our study, Inflection Point.

Financing farm renovation: How to build resilience using a blend of capital

Report: Root Capital releases a new learning report on financing farm renovation. This report explains how a blend of capital can help build resilience against a dwindling supply and rising demand in commodities such as coffee, cacao, and tea.