One Acre Fund

Are you in search for career fulfillment? 👀 Have you ever wondered if a career in People could be your path to professional fulfillment? 🤔 Our team believes it could! Check out their insights on why working in People is not just a job, but a chance to make a real impact while advancing your career. We’d like to hear your thoughts! Is a role in People something you’d consider? Share your comments below! 💬👇🏾 #CareerFulfillment #ImpactCareers #WorkingatOneAcreFund

🌾 Women Farmers: Key to Africa’s Food Security 🌍 Women produce up to 80% of sub-Saharan Africa’s food [The World Bank], yet they often lack equal access to resources. If women farmers had the same opportunities as men, their yields could increase by 20-30%, lifting millions out of hunger [FAO]. Alphonsine's story shows the potential of women farmers across the continent. A 24-year-old farmer in Rwanda, she joined One Acre Fund and saw her harvests grow fivefold, creating surplus income to invest in a shop and secure her family’s future. 🚜 As Africa's population heads toward 2.5 billion by 2050 [United Nations Economic Commission for Africa], empowering women farmers isn’t just an option—it’s essential. By addressing the specific challenges women face in accessing land, financing, and markets, we can unlock massive productivity gains that will improve food security and foster sustainable growth. The data backs this up: closing the gender gap in agriculture could add $1 trillion to global GDP and lift 45 million people out of hunger [FAO]. 🌍 At One Acre Fund, we’re taking action by providing women farmers like Alphonsine with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive. But there’s still more to be done. Let’s continue working together to create inclusive, resilient food systems to secure Africa’s agricultural future.

Big news for smallholder farmers!🥳 Smallholder Resilience Ventures (SRV), a subsidiary of One Acre Fund, partnered with SLS Energy and secured grant funding from the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities, which supports renewable energy solutions across Africa. This funding will support our mission to deliver a sustainable Irrigation-as-a-Service model designed specifically for smallholder farmers.💧 Through this initiative, farmers will have access to mobile, shareable irrigation kits powered by rechargeable batteries. Our aim? To boost yields, reduce irrigation costs, and cut harmful carbon emissions. ️🌍 Learn more about this 👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/e_MEQ4YH

90% of Burundi's rural population lives on majestic - but steep - hillsides. These hillsides present challenges to smallholder farmers like Asterie Ntahonvukiye, who are at risk from land degradation as heavy rains caused by climate change wash away soil and cause landslides. 🧑🏿🌾 A 2017 Country Environmental Analysis found that the country loses 1.6% of its GDP annually to land degradation and has lost 5.2% of its land area to soil degradation since 2020. [World Bank Advisory Services and Analytics]/[The World Bank Group] Through climate-resilience training provided by One Acre Fund, Asterie has safeguarded her land. 💪🏿 She now contours her fields, plants trees that reinforce the soil, and makes and applies her own compost, which helps restore soil nutrients and moisture.🌱 "The training that the One Acre Fund program has given me has enabled me to improve the quality of my arable land and become more resilient to climate change. Now I have a large harvest and sell the surplus to generate income and set up new projects," says Asterie. As we approach #COP29, it is vital to highlight the value investing in smallholder farmers holds when building climate resilience and a sustainable future. Read more. 👇🏿

Could smallholder farmers be the key to sustainable transformation and Africa’s landscape restoration? 🧑🏿🌾 Smallholder farmers are the backbone of African agriculture, managing 80% of the region’s farms and contributing up to 90% of food production in some countries. With 65% of African farmland degraded, farmer-led models are vital to making change and transforming restoration through local ownership, from micro-nurseries to sustainable practices. Scaling initiatives, like our 5,500+ tree nursery network, not only restore land but also enhance livelihoods. With increased investment, this model could reach millions and reshape Africa’s agricultural future. 🌍 Discover more about how smallholder innovation could be the key to sustainable transformation in this article by Andrew Youn and Milindi Sibomana, PhD. 👇🏿

Since 2007, we’ve partnered with smallholder farmers in Rwanda to help build a thriving, resilient agricultural sector. 🇷🇼 By collaborating directly with farmers and the Rwandan government, we tailor our approach to meet the country’s unique agricultural needs. Beyond providing high-quality farm inputs, flexible financing, and a tree-planting initiative, our work encompasses several high-impact areas: ⭐ Youth Empowerment in Agriculture: We’re creating pathways for young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector, driving job creation and innovation. ⭐ Nutrition Improvement: Through behavior change campaigns, we empower farmers with the knowledge they need to improve farming practices and make informed choices for household nutrition. ⭐ Strengthening the Food Value Chain: Supporting agri-SMEs with capital, financial training, and governance guidance to bolster local food systems. ⭐ Seed Supply Investment: Through The RICA Seed Center, in partnership with Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, we support seed companies in developing crop varieties that better align with farmers’ needs. Together, we’re helping farmers grow more food, earn more income, and build a sustainable future for Rwandan agriculture. 🌱

🌱A Win for Farmers! 🌱 Thank you to the Green Climate Fund for investing in a sustainable future for Burundian farmers. With their support, we will expand our efforts to provide smallholder farmers with climate-smart farm supplies, step up our tree-planting initiatives for smallholder farmers to contribute to Burundi’s reforestation goals, and deliver training in modern agricultural techniques to boost farmers' climate resilience.  We are excited about the positive impact this will have on the lives of countless farmer families.

🌍 Why would a chemical engineer pursue a career in the agriculture space? Meet Sian, who swapped the world of manufacturing and business consulting for a career focused on social impact!💡 Find out why she made the switch 👇🏾 https://bit.ly/3Y2JH8B What’s the biggest career leap you’ve taken? #CareerChange #SocialImpact #ImpactCareers #LifeatOneAcreFund

As the world prepares for the United Nations's COP29, the conversation around just transitions is gaining momentum—but it’s not just energy that needs our focus. A just agricultural transition is equally vital for transforming global food systems and safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. These farmers are on the frontlines of climate change and urgently need support to adapt and thrive. Achieving a just transition requires a significant increase in climate finance, better incentives, and stronger regulations to empower smallholders and build resilience against extreme weather. In this article, our Director of Global Partnerships John Mundy, calls on global leaders to commit to prioritizing agriculture in climate finance at COP29. The time for action is now. Read the full article on Devex to learn how we can deliver a just agricultural transition. 👇🏿

At One Acre Fund, we believe that putting #FarmersFirst means overcoming even the toughest logistical challenges to ensure that essential resources reach the most remote communities—like Nkombo Island in Rwanda. 🇷🇼 This island community depends on farming, but years of soil erosion have led to increasingly acidic and less fertile land, drastically reducing crop yields. To address this, we provide farmers with high-quality fertilizers, seeds, lime, and expert training, working alongside the government’s efforts to restore the land through terracing and reforestation. After travelling more than 50 km by truck, crossing 1 km by boat, and being hand-delivered by local farmers, these vital inputs reached over 900 households—enabling farmers to plant on time, improve their yields, and strengthen their livelihoods. By overcoming these logistical barriers, we’re demonstrating what’s possible in agriculture, creating a sustainable impact one farmer and one community at a time. 🌱