In March, I went on my fourth trip with Root Capital—one very near and dear to my heart because it was to my home country: Honduras. As someone who was born and grew up there—and who has since spent a career working to address the challenges of poverty, climate change, and migration in this region and beyond—it was very meaningful to once again be amid the verdant farms and vibrant communities at the heart of this work...
Read moreTopics: Mexico and Central America |
“In Sub-Saharan Africa today, the ‘missing middle’ financing gap for agricultural small and medium enterprises (agri-SMEs) is $65 billion a year.” -Root Capital’s CEO and founder Willy Foote at the 20th Skoll World Forum in Oxford, England, speaking on the ever-widening financing gap that exists for agribusinesses in developing economies.
Read moreTopics: News and Announcements |
Root Capital is pleased to announce the addition of two members to our board of directors: Fleur Boos and Philip Brown. Fleur is new to the board and Philip is a returning member, who previously served on the Finance and Risk and Credit Committees. They both have extensive financial services experience and bring a deep understanding of Root Capital’s…
Read moreTopics: News and Announcements | Our Community |
Deep in the Meru region of Kenya, Shalem Investments has witnessed firsthand the effects of shifting weather patterns and climate change on its community. Much of Kenya is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years, with devastating consequences for farmers of “thirsty” crops like maize. As a grain aggregator and climate action leader, Shalem is building a local market…
Read moreTopics: Environment |
This article originally appeared on the blog of Cooperative Coffees, a Root Capital partner. PHOTOS: James Rodriguez. At Root Capital, we’ve always believed in the power of small-scale, organic agroforestry to contribute to climate stabilization and increased resilience. In our conversations and visits with partners over the years, we’ve seen that producers’ work to plant and conserve…
Read moreTopics: Environment | Mexico and Central America | Partnerships | South America | Stories of Impact |
Most people in Western Uganda are farmers, dependent on the land and predictable weather patterns for their livelihoods. But climate change has led to unpredictable weather and increased natural disasters. Intense floods have caused mudslides that devastate farmland, while extreme droughts have dried out coffee berries, affecting crop yields, coffee quality, and, ultimately, the income of farming families. “At…
Read moreTopics: East Africa | Environment | Stories of Impact | Women in Agriculture |
Approximately, 2.5 billion people worldwide rely on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods. Most of them live below the poverty line. Especially women. In 2012, Root Capital launched our Women in Agriculture (WAI) Initiative to expand access to finance and technical assistance to more women-led and gender-inclusive businesses. 10 years later, our Director of Women in Agriculture Initiative, Leonor Gutiérrez,…
Read moreTopics: Uncategorized | Women in Agriculture |
Smallholder farmers across the world are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, with rising temperatures, droughts and floods, and severe storms threatening their livelihoods. Through our Climate Resilience Initiative, Root Capital connects agricultural enterprises with urgently needed resources, including localized data on climate risks, best practices for mitigation and adaptation and capital for climate-smart investments. We recently sat down…
Read moreTopics: Environment | Staff Profiles |
As the youth population explodes worldwide, Root Capital is turning a demographic challenge into an opportunity for impact. Jobs in rural communities are often low paying and sporadic, with little opportunity for advancement-prompting many young people to migrate. Root Capital’s Talent Partnerships program places young graduates into internships at local agricultural enterprises, creating a win/win situation: jobs for the next…
Read moreTopics: East Africa | Youth |
2022 was a year of tremendous progress in our work-work made possible by our dedicated community of supporters. As we enter 2023 ready to partner with rural communities for even greater impact, here are our top five highlights from last year. 1. Celebrating 10 years of our Women in Agriculture Initiative This year marked a decade of…
Read moreTopics: Uncategorized |
