When agricultural enterprises have access to the credit and capacity building they need to grow, they generate benefits for their communities. Our work spans four impact pathways that are vital for rural resilience:

How We Measure Our Impact

We carry out extensive social and environmental due diligence for every business we finance to ensure that not only are they not harming human or environmental health—they’re actively driving positive impact in their communities.

To ensure we’re helping our clients build critical skills and knowledge, we closely monitor and assess our advisory services. We also conduct deep-dive impact studies of our clients to understand their influence on farmer income, gender equity, environmental conservation, and more. Our in-house impact measurement and management team partners with external experts to conduct these studies, which we share with our partners in rural communities and in the broader sector.

Learn more

Latest Impact Findings

Recent impact studies have found that our model is delivering real results for businesses and families in rural communities. For example:

39%

more income for farmers

Farmers at a Root Capital-financed enterprise in Ghana earned 39% more income from their crops than farmers not affiliated with the business.

3.6x

more access to training

In Peru, women cocoa farmers working with a Root Capital client were 3.6x more likely to receive technical assistance than women farmers in the control group.

85%

improved farming practices

After a digital-focused pilot in Rwanda, 85% of farmers increased their application of sustainable agricultural practices that help them boost their yields.

2x

increase in knowledge

After a targeted Root Capital intervention in Mexico, women farmers’ knowledge of climate-smart agricultural practices
increased more than twofold.

39%

more income for farmers

Farmers at a Root Capital-financed enterprise in Ghana earned 39% more income from their crops than farmers not affiliated with the business.

3.6x

more access to training

In Peru, women cocoa farmers working with a Root Capital client were 3.6x more likely to receive technical assistance than women farmers in the control group.

85%

improved farming practices

After a digital-focused pilot in Rwanda, 85% of farmers increased their application of sustainable agricultural practices that help them boost their yields.

2x

increase in knowledge

After a targeted Root Capital intervention in Mexico, women farmers’ knowledge of climate-smart agricultural practices
increased more than twofold.

Impact Dashboard

Cumulative through December 31, 2022.

ACCESS TO FINANCE

Immediate Impact
Lasting Change

768

Lending clients reached

93%

Root Capital loans commercial lenders would not have made

$1.85B

Cumulative Total Disbursements

34%

Borrowers without access to finance, beyond Root Capital, access commercial financing in 2.3 years (on average)

$61M

Average portfolio balance

75%

Clients with improved business management performance

1,812

Advisory clients reached

25%

Average Year-on-Year Client Growth

31,805

Training days delivered

2.4M

Farmers and employees reached

CLIMATE ACTION

Immediate Impact
Lasting Change

114

Climate action leaders receiving Root Capital loans this year

$98.8M

Climate finance flowing to vulnerable communities this year

116

Businesses receiving Agronomic and Climate Resilience Advisory

32

Clients with new/improved climate action plans or programs

473K

Farmers and employees reached by Climate Finance or Advisory

2.7M

Hectares sustainably managed

GENDER EQUITY

Immediate Impact
Lasting Change

300

Gender-inclusive (G-I) or Women-led (W-L) clients receiving Root Capital loans

10

Clients with new/improved gender inclusion policies or programs

$92.3M

Disbursements to G-I and W-L clients this year

128

Additional jobs for women supported by Root Capital

1,641

Women who received advisory training
(Since 2021)

21

Increased decision-making roles held by women

49

Businesses that received gender equity advisory

581K

Women farmers reached

NEXT GENERATION JOBS

Immediate Impact
Lasting Change

2,083

Youth who received advisory training
(Since 2021)

TBD

Clients employing more youth as a % of staff

60

Talent Partnerships launched

TBD

% youth trained occupying more senior (leadership) positions management performance

3

Youth activities funded

TBD

% youth trained reporting increased skills & ability to succeed