Root Capital and DFC Invest in Rural Women Through the 2X Challenge

When you run a small enterprise in a rural community, it’s difficult to access the financing you need to grow. If you’re a woman running one of these enterprises, it’s even harder. The International Finance Corporation estimates that up to 70% of women-owned enterprises in emerging markets are overlooked by lenders. These women-owned enterprises face a…

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Topics: News and Announcements | Partnerships | Women in Agriculture |

Preserving Lives and Livelihoods: An Update on Our COVID-19 Response

As the COVID-19 crisis unfolds, we believe that saving lives must go hand in hand with preserving livelihoods. Agricultural businesses can play a key role in reaching the most vulnerable populations with creative, rapid responses that build long-term resilience. In a survey of our client businesses, we found they are struggling to manage their cash flow…

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Topics: News and Announcements | Our Community |

Latest Findings About Root Capital’s Impact on Rural Livelihoods

Note: This blog is the final post in a four-part series exploring how Root Capital measures and manages the impact of our lending. Read parts one, two, and three. Impact measurement and management is at the heart of Root Capital’s work, helping us optimize our efforts to transform rural communities. By measuring our impact, we…

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Topics: Livelihoods | News and Announcements | South America | Stories of Impact |

An Update on Root Capital’s COVID-19 Response

It has been five weeks since we closed the Root Capital offices and switched to remote work across the globe. First and foremost, I’m grateful to report the good health of our team and clients and wish the same for you and your loved ones. 

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Topics: News and Announcements | Our Community |

How We’re Continuing to Support Rural Businesses and Smallholder Farmers During the Coronavirus Outbreak

As individuals, communities, and organizations, we are all adapting to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Root Capital and the agricultural businesses we support are no exception; which is why we’re doing everything we can to continue advancing our mission during this uncertain time. 

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Topics: News and Announcements | Our Community |

COVID-19 Update From Root Capital

As the world faces an outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), our thoughts are with all of you in our global community. This is a difficult time, with many unknowns. But one thing is certain: we must continue being in solidarity with the most vulnerable.

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Topics: News and Announcements | Our Community |

Root Capital’s Impact in 2019

Last year, we partnered with agricultural enterprises to unlock prosperity in some of the most economically and environmentally vulnerable regions of the world. With the help of our donors and investors, we reached more than three million people in rural households. Thank you for supporting our mission to build prosperous, inclusive, and resilient rural communities.

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Topics: News and Announcements | Stories of Impact |

Meet Root Capital’s New Chief Operating Officer

Root Capital is pleased to welcome Frances Reid as our new Chief Operating Officer. We recently sat down to learn more about her background and what brought her to Root Capital.

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Topics: News and Announcements | Our Community | Staff Profiles |

New Members Bring Expertise in Coffee and Gender Equity to Root Capital’s Board of Directors

Root Capital is thrilled to announce the addition of two sector-leading experts to our board of directors. Lindsey Bolger, who has spent the last three decades promoting sustainable sourcing within the coffee industry, has joined us alongside Marissa Wesely, a lawyer and life-long advocate for women's economic opportunity. You can read more about Lindsey and Marissa below. 

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Topics: News and Announcements | Our Community |

Meet the New Chair of Root Capital’s Board

Ana Zacapa (third from right) accompanies the Root Capital team to visit client agricultural businesses in southern Mexico. In December 2017, I was in Chiapas State in southern Mexico when Root Capital’s Senior Manager of Advisory Services for the region, David Lozano, turned to me and said: “I’m so excited she’s on our board, asking such insightful questions—and in her native Spanish!” David was talking about Ana Zacapa, who was accompanying us deep into the mountains of Chiapas to visit coffee and honey cooperatives, and to hear directly from farmers both about the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they can access as part of an agricultural business.

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Topics: News and Announcements | Our Community |