Publications

Sustained impact is unlocked when we share data and insights across sectors. Root Capital publishes original research, impact studies, evaluations, and articles demonstrating how to effectively build rural prosperity.

THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION NEWS — Fighting COVID-19 Where It Matters Most: Rural Communities
by Willy Foote and Raj Punjabi

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.

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2019 Annual Report
by Root Capital

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.

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2019 Annual Report
Impacts of COVID-19 on Agricultural Businesses in Africa, Latin America, and Indonesia: Summary of Survey Results and Root Capital’s Response
by Root Capital

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.

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Evaluating How Root Capital’s Client Businesses Impact Smallholder Livelihoods: Cocoa Cooperatives in Peru
by Katie Naeve and Isabel DoCampo

This study assesses the impact of Root Capital-financed businesses in the Peruvian cocoa sector on farmer livelihoods and gender inclusion using a retrospective comparison group matching technique.

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STANFORD SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW — How Investors Can Integrate Social Impact With Financial Performance to Improve Both
by Root Capital and the Impact Frontiers Collaboration

Root Capital is a member of the Impact Frontiers Collaboration, which developed four steps to help investors integrate impact with financial analysis in their decision-making. It could change the way investors around the world allocate capital to achieve financial, social, and environmental goals. This article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review shows how.

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Women in Agriculture Initiative: 2019 Annual Report
by Root Capital

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 2019, during which we reached a record number of women farmers, increased the proportion of women in our training workshops, and helped rural businesses strengthen gender equity.

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2018 Annual Report
by Root Capital

In honor of our 20th year, we’ve published our first-ever annual report to showcase those communities and the agricultural enterprises that sustain them. Our vision, which I know you share, is a future where a thriving agricultural sector enables rural areas around the world to become more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient.

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FORBES — Three Ways Mission-Driven Leaders Can Foster Social Intrapreneurship
by Willy Foote

Root Capital has been blessed with a number of social intrapreneurs with game-changing ideas. Some of these innovations became “business as usual” that fundamentally changed the way we operate; some of them grew beyond Root Capital and are well on their way to transforming our entire sector.

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Women in Agriculture Initiative: 2018 Annual Report
by Root Capital

Root Capital supports the advancement of rural women, whether they work on the farm or in the boardroom. This report highlights our impact in 2018, during which we reached 246,000 rural women—an all-time high—and expanded our gender-inclusive programming to address new and diverse challenges faced by women farmers, managers, and employees.

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