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Our Work

Farmer-to-Farmer Access to Finance Program

An surface level image of a young African Xhosa Male in his greenhouse vegetable garden, sits on his haunches while referencing information on his tablet.

Approach

Focusing on Kenya, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka, the F2F Access to Finance Program worked with local partner organizations and volunteer hosts to field pro bono experts from the U.S. agriculture, corporate, and banking sectors to address systemic capacity constraints for farmers and lenders in each targeted country and unlock finance for improved agricultural production leading to utilization of agricultural technologies and increased sales and incomes. IESC mobilized volunteer experts to complete 251 assignments, reaching 36 hosts and 52,710 beneficiaries.

Volunteers improved farmers’ bankability via pre-loan preparation, such as business plan development, financial management training, and improvements in productivity and market access. This included identifying appropriate equipment or technology and how to obtain it. Volunteers mentored youth and women with entrepreneurship training, and linked farmers and agribusinesses to lenders.

Volunteers built the capacity of rural savings and credit cooperatives, microfinance institutions, banks, and government enablers, such as youth forums and development banks, to catalyze product development, application of technology, and market outreach. This assistance helped hosts understand the needs of farmer borrowers, mitigate the risks of agricultural lending, and better reach women and youth as customers.

Volunteers coached borrowers to manage cash, repay loans, and increase savings. They provided complementary assistance to improve production and sales, including by advising on the efficient use of financed inputs, equipment, and technology.

Summary

IESC served as the lead implementer for the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Access to Finance program to address deficits in the financial ecosystem hindering investment and growth in agriculture for individual farmers, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises through delivery of volunteer technical assistance. IESC designed a thematic program to generate sustainable, broad-based economic growth and create jobs in the agricultural sector with a special focus on assistance to women and youth. IESC worked with Grameen Foundation, an organization experienced in providing digital finance and technology for the agricultural sector, to provide volunteer technical assistance and address gaps in the financial ecosystem.

Program details

Results

  • Generated $1.7 million in rural loans
  • Increased sales of hosts by $2.8 million
  • Increase net annual incomes of hosts by $71,000
International Executive Service Corps

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC)
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Suite 250
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-589-2600
Email: iesc@iesc.org

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