Evaluating How Root Capital’s Client Businesses Impact Smallholder Livelihoods: Oil Palm in Ghana
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.
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.
It will take a concerted push by governments, investors, philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, and more to build a thriving, resilient smallholder agricultural market. But this effort is critical.
We’ve learned over decades of experience that farming communities have resources and infrastructure ready to be mobilized in times of crisis. By leveraging these resources, we can preserve both lives and livelihoods in vulnerable rural areas.
The 2019 annual report focuses on the different pathways to resilience for the agricultural enterprises we work with and their communities. We envision a better future. A future where a thriving agricultural sector—fueled by tens of thousands of well supported local enterprises—enables rural communities around the world to become more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient.
In this report, we present a high-level summary of the survey results, as well as an update on activities implemented and/or planned as part of Root Capital’s ongoing COVID-19 response.
