Leveraging the Power of Small Agricultural Businesses to Address Climate Change and Gender Inequity
In 2019, Root Capital piloted an innovative approach to strengthening women’s inclusion and climate resilience, in partnership with coffee cooperatives in Mexico and Central America. The evaluation uncovered key lessons for philanthropic and business partners.
In 2019, Root Capital piloted an innovative approach to strengthening women’s inclusion and climate resilience, in partnership with coffee cooperatives in Mexico and Central America. The evaluation uncovered key lessons for philanthropic and business partners.
This report documents Root Capital’s gender lens investing journey, capturing the organization’s goals and motivations, path toward realizing those goals, challenges faced, results of the work, factors behind success, and key learning.
In 2020, our world faced challenges that none of us could have predicted. In the face of uncertainty, Root Capital, our supporters, and our client agricultural enterprises around the world took action. Together, we were able to keep rural communities safe by protecting lives and preserving livelihoods.
Leaders in social entrepreneurship have had to rethink existing approaches during the COVID-19 crisis, but breakthrough collaboration has allowed them to channel support through social entrepreneurs at the frontlines.
After two devastating storms battered Central America, many families have been left with no choice but to migrate. Ana Zacapa, Root Capital’s board chair, makes the case for local, sustainable solutions grounded in rural prosperity.
This evaluation analyzes the extent to which affiliation with an agriculture business supported by Root Capital's lending and advisory services—in this case, an oil palm aggregator in Ghana called Serendipalm—improves the wellbeing of smallholder farmers. With insights directly from the business' supplying producers, the report highlights the impacts of affiliation with Serendipalm on farmer livelihoods, as well as lessons about the efficacy of Root Capital's engagement with the business.
Recognizing the impact of climate change on women and the important role of women in mitigating its effects, in 2019 Root Capital launched its first-ever climate resilience-focused Gender Equity Grants (GEGs) in Mexico and Central America. This report, prepared by Value for Women, examines the effectiveness and relative impact of this intervention. It also recommends best practices for investors, donors, and other organizations working to promote rural women’s climate resilience through agricultural enterprises.
The Biden administration’s new Central America immigration plan must involve investing in rural economies so would-be migrants can have a better future.
At Root Capital, we believe that agricultural enterprises are one of the most effective platforms for delivering services and opportunities to rural women. This report highlights our impact in 2020, during which we supported women farmers, employees, and entrepreneurs as they promoted gender inclusion and equity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
