Pathway: Women’s Empowerment

Root Capital’s Head of Advisory in Africa, Rose Ochieng (left) and Chief External Affairs Officer, Scott

Root Capital’s Director of Women in Agriculture Initiative, Leonor Gutiérrez, delivers a systems change talk to

The Women in Agriculture Initiative (WAI), now in its 12th year, expands access to finance to

Poverty today, at the global level, is concentrated in a single industry: agriculture. More than 2

Portia Gban founded SWEO in 2018 to empower women in northern Ghana through farming and processing soybeans, maize, and shea butter. With Root Capital's support, SWEO now helps 1,200 farmers. Despite cultural resistance, SWEO improves livelihoods, promotes women's empowerment, and trains youth in income-generating activities.

2023 was a year of sustained progress for Root Capital, thanks to our dedicated community of

The Women in Agriculture Initiative (WAI), now in its 11th year, expands access to finance to more women-led and gender-inclusive businesses across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

The WAI was launched in 2012 to promote gender equity and inclusion for women in agriculture. The initiative has already transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of women in developing economies by unlocking the potential of investing in businesses committed to gender equity.

Since 2012, Root Capital has invested $621 million in gender-inclusive and women-led enterprises, reaching more than half a million women employees and farmers.

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Our biennial report covers two years of progress, highlighting our impact pathways, two client stories, financials from the years, and more. 

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This case study showcases how three CSAF members turned their gender intentions into action, each focusing on the entry point and gender lens investing (GLI) actions most aligned with their business and impact priorities. It was created in partnership with Root Capital, Value for Women, and CSAF.