Stories of Impact & Sustainable Change

ACDI/VOCA and AV Ventures Announce Membership and Collaboration with the Corporate Council on Africa
PRESS RELEASE Washington, D.C. – The ACDI/VOCA Group, including its affiliates Tanager and AV Ventures, is proud to announce its …

USAID Launches a $19-million Activity Focused on Agriculture-Led Inclusive Economic Growth
PRESS RELEASE Dushanbe, Tajikistan, May 11, 2023 – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the new five-year, …

ACDI/VOCA Celebrates Women in Agricultural Market Systems in Northern Ghana
Women in northern Ghana work from sunrise to sunset to provide for themselves, their family needs, contribute to the national …

Partners in Northern Kenya: Transforming a Region
For decades, ACDI/VOCA has been implementing development programs in Kenya alongside local partners and communities to promote the growth of …

Engaging the Private Sector Series: Q&A on the Return of Tourism to Honduras
In January, ACDI/VOCA hosted a panel discussion on how the private sector is leading development as part of the Society …

ACDI/VOCA Volunteers Honored with 2022 Charles Cox Awards
Volunteers have a remarkable impact on the communities they serve. That’s why ACDI/VOCA is recognizing six of our outstanding Volunteer …

Engaging the Private Sector Series: Q&A with ReelFruit CEO on Growing Business Through Value Chain Development
In January, ACDI/VOCA hosted a panel discussion on how the private sector is leading development as part of the Society …

Engaging the Private Sector Series: Q&A with Founder of Brands on a Mission on Leveraging the Power of Companies to Drive Positive Health Outcomes
In January, ACDI/VOCA hosted a panel discussion on how the private sector is leading development as part of the Society …

Engaging the Private Sector Series: Q&A with Director of Biogas Startup ATEC on Supporting Bangladeshi Farmers
In January, ACDI/VOCA hosted a panel discussion on how the private sector is leading development as part of the Society …

Agro Belgrade Positions Serbia as Regional Hub for Trade and Knowledge Exchange in Fruit, Vegetable, and Wine Industry
Filling the gap in the Serbian and regional fruit, vegetable, and wine market space, Agro Belgrade is becoming one of …

ACDI/VOCA affiliate Tanager holds summit on gender and nutrition integration in agriculture
PRESS RELEASE Representatives of national, regional, and continental African institutions and organizations discussed practical findings collected over three years. Nairobi, …

Private Sector Engagement Interactive Site
Explore ACDI/VOCA’s private sector engagement approach through this interactive site.

Year in Review: Combatting Malnutrition in Burkina Faso
In the Centre-Nord Region of Burkina Faso, extreme poverty and malnutrition have been compounded by serious threats of conflict and …

Year-In-Review: Growth in the Philippine Coffee Sector
Since the program began in 2018, Philippine Coffee Advancement and Farm Enterprise (PhilCAFE) has been striving to help increase the …

Big Small Businesses Project Supports Young Agricultural Producers in Serbia for More Profitable Farming
Today, fewer young Serbians are willing to stay on their family farms and make a living in agriculture. The agriculture …

USAID Project in Serbia Expands New Revolving Fund Model to Benefit SMEs
In Serbia, the Big Small Business Project (Projekat Velika Mala Privreda) operates on the premise that with the right support …

300 Filipino Youth Form 4H Club with USDA And Local Support
In Tagbina, a town located in the Philippines’s Surigao del Sur, 300 young coffee farmers and students organized themselves as …

Q&A with Program Leader in the Philippines on Transforming Cooperatives into Agri-Businesses
Alfred Allaga is country director of the Cooperative Development Program (CDP) in the Philippines, funded by USAID and led by …

Boosting Tea Profits for Ethnic Farmers in Myanmar
Shwin Chang Lone Co., Ltd. (SCL) has been in the tea business for over 30 years. In 2001, they started …

41 Philippine Co-Ops Team Up with USAID’s Cooperative Development Program
This post is authored by Felipe Cook, a Leland Fellow with the Congressional Hunger Center working with ACDI/VOCA. On September …

Video About Plan T, the Social Transformation Initiative Empowering Colombian Youth
Plan T, a social transformation initiative implemented by the Presidential Office for Youth (DAPRE), Colombia Joven, and USAID and ACDI/VOCA’s …

A Look at USAID’s Indigenous Peoples & Afro-Colombian Empowerment Activity
Ethnic inclusion directly impacts Colombia’s sustainable development. Studies have shown that countries can increase their GDP by US$2.1 trillion every …

Sergio Rivas Named President of Tanager
PRESS RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C., November 7, 2022 — Sergio Rivas was appointed to the role of President of Tanager on …

USAID and Honduran Government Obtain 500 Temporary Jobs for Honduran Agricultural Workers in Spain
Spanish authorities recently notified Honduras’s Secretaria de Trabajo y Seguridad Social of a request for 500 agricultural workers from Honduras to …

How a Women’s Cooperative is Leading the Way for Specialty Coffee in the Philippines
The foothills of Mount Apo are home to the Philippines’s growing specialty coffee industry. Specialty coffee is at the heart …

How a Pair of Eyeglasses Can Improve Incomes for Women in Rural Laos
Eyeglasses were invented roughly 700 years ago, but today an estimated 2.5 billion people lack the corrective lenses they need …

ACDI/VOCA Awarded the Feed the Future Tanzania Kilimo Tija Activity
We are pleased to announce that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has named ACDI/VOCA to lead the Feed …

Colombia’s First Vice President and Ambassador of Afro-Descent Align with USAID and ACDI/VOCA’s Inclusion Efforts
History was made in Colombia this year. After protests riddled the country in 2021, the new president-elect Gustavo Petro, as …

ACDI/VOCA Awarded the Food for Progress Jamaica Spices Project by USDA
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the organization with the Food for Progress …

This World Tourism Day, Volunteer Shares Experience Supporting Kyrgyzstan’s Budding Tourism Industry
Rich Harrill is a tourism and hospitality expert from South Carolina with more than 30 years of experience. He recently …

ACDI/VOCA Awarded the Market Driven Rural Development Activity by USAID
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded ACDI/VOCA an associate award under the Farmer-to-Farmer cooperative agreement to lead the …

ACDI/VOCA Names Experts of Tech World and Global Development to Board of Directors
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce the appointment of one new and one returning member to its board of directors: Erica …

Detonante Program Invites Honduran Youth into the Digital Economy
Employment challenges persist in Honduras, especially among young people. But one positive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the …

In Kenya, Fodder Farmers Provide Livestock Lifeline During Drought
For pastoral communities living in Northern Kenya, livestock production is the dominant livelihood. Healthy and plentiful livestock is a significant …

PhilCAFE Coffee Mentors Help Filipino Farmers Improve Production
In the Philippines, “coffee mentors” are lending their expertise to other coffee growers in a bid to improve farming practices. …

USDA-Supported Filipino Coffee Farmers Break Record Prices in Auction
Filipino coffee farmers who won at this year’s Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) earned record prices during the online auction, …

Soccer Star Cuadrado Becomes Youth Ambassador of USAID Colombia Youth Resilience Activity
In Medellin’s Comuna 8, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, one of the most important Colombian soccer players in recent years, was presented …

AV Ventures’ Portfolio Company AgroCenta Joins U.S.-Based Accelerator for Food Tech Startups
Over the next three months, the technology-driven agricultural platform provider AgroCenta, an investee company of AV Ventures founded in Ghana …

Struggles and Successes of Testing a Business Accelerator Model for Women in Bangladesh’s Agricultural Market
Access the article by Bidowra Khan and Nathalie Me-Nsope, published by Agrilinks, July 2022 here.

UN Global Compact Communication on Engagement
Read the UN Global Compact Communication on Engagement published on June 23, 2022.

$20 Million Loan Guarantee for SMEs Launches in Zambia with Support of Local Government, Donors, and Private Sector
A newly launched loan guarantee program in Zambia has the potential to significantly impact the lives of small- and medium-sized …

ACDI/VOCA Names New Members of Executive Leadership Team
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce several new members who have joined our executive leadership team. Bob Fries has been named …

ACDI/VOCA Awarded the Feed the Future Mozambique RESINA Activity by USAID
We are pleased to announce that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has named ACDI/VOCA to lead the …

ACDI/VOCA to Take the USAID Transforming Market Systems Activity in Honduras to Scale
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce that USAID/Honduras has awarded the organization with the third and final task order to continue …

ACDI/VOCA Awarded the Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience Activity by USAID
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently named ACDI/VOCA to lead the five-year Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems …

Philippine Cooperatives Can Play a Key Role in Development
This week, ACDI/VOCA launched the USAID-funded Cooperative Development Program in the Philippines. During the launch event, more than 125 people, …

Carolina Blackburn Named Executive Director of Fundación ACDI/VOCA LA During President & COO Sylvia Megret’s Visit to Colombia
On March 17, 2022, ACDI/VOCA’s President & COO Sylvia Megret named Carolina Blackburn as the new executive director of Fundación …

Sylvia Megret to Succeed Charles J. Hall as ACDI/VOCA CEO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MARCH 16, 2022 The ACDI/VOCA Board of Directors approved a plan of succession for the chief …

Seed Capital to Revive Crisis-Stricken Businesses in Cortés, Honduras
In many parts of the world, micro, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Honduras struggle to secure loans from formal …

USAID Program Reaffirms Commitment to Reconciliation with Colombian Media Outlets
Two events held in Bucaramanga and Bogotá, Colombia, recently helped spread awareness of lessons learned and future opportunities for reconciliation …

Economic Analysis of the Honduras Remittances Ecosystem
Access the “Economic Analysis of the Honduras Remittances Ecosystem: An Assessment of the Role Remittances Have on Financial Inclusion and …

Q&A with Veteran Volunteer on Latest Remote Assignment with a Georgian Fishery
Joe Sullivan is an aquaculture expert and fish pathologist who has completed more than 35 volunteer assignments in 17 countries. …

Colombian Youth Leaders Hit the Ground Running in 2022 with Youth Resilience Activity’s Support
At the end of last year, a record 1.2 million Colombian youth voted to elect 10,824 of their peers to …

Innovating Primary Education and Creating Jobs in Southern Kyrgyzstan
Aidana Alibaeva worked abroad for 10 years as a Chinese language interpreter. She was always inspired by her grandparents, who …

Remote Volunteer Helps Students with Entrepreneurial Dreams in the Kyrgyz Republic
Paul Fisher has consulted for small businesses, served on negotiating committees representing both management and union interest, and taught accounting …

Case Study: Feed the Future Kenya USAID Kuza & The Impact for Northern Kenya Fund
Read the Feed the Future Kenya USAID Kuza & The Impact for Northern Kenya Fund case study here. This case …

Seguridad Alimentaria [Food Security] Activities of the Paraguay Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Department Program
Access the Food Security video that outlines activities conducted by the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance’s Paraguay Disaster Risk Reduction …

PhilCAFE’s 2021 Successes, Despite COVID-19 Challenges in the Philippines
The year of 2021, much like the previous, was all about adapting. In the Philippines, the five-year Philippine Coffee Advancement …

Fortification for Nutrition: Outcomes and Learnings from the USAID Cereal Market Systems Development Project (NAFAKA II)
Watch NAFAKA II’s final learning event: Fortification for Nutrition: Outcomes and Learnings from the USAID Cereal Market Systems Development Project …

Outcome Harvest: Influencing Systemic Changes in Agricultural Market Systems in Southwest Bangladesh
Using Outcome Harvesting to Detect and Describe Systemic Change in Bangladesh Overview The recently completed USAID-funded Rice and Diversified Crops (RDC) …

Q&A with Volunteer Providing Business Development Support to SMEs in Zambia
Lusekelo Mwafulilwa is a financial accountant who is partially qualified by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. A resident of …
Transforming the Livestock Market in Northern Kenya
Learn more about the Feed the Future Kenya Livestock Market Systems Activity here.

Internet of Things Technology Helps Filipino Coffee Farmers Boost Productivity
About 400 coffee farmers will soon be using internet-based technology to monitor and manage their farms. They have the Philippine …

USDA-Ghana Poultry Project Ends, Critical Activities Continue
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded Ghana Poultry Project (GPP), which began in 2015, closed in December 2021, but …

Three Approaches to Transforming the Northern Triangle
To address the most pressing challenges facing the Northern Triangle of Central America, we need strong alliances. Alliances between governments, …

ACDI/VOCA to Lead the USAID Indigenous People & Afro-Colombian Empowerment Activity
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce USAID has selected the organization to lead the USAID Indigenous People and Afro-Colombian Empowerment (IPACE) …

Honoring Exceptional Volunteers as ACDI/VOCA Celebrates 50 Years of Global Volunteer Programs
This year marks 50 years of ACDI/VOCA mobilizing volunteers from the United States and around the world to support global …

Volunteer Programs To Celebrate 50th Anniversary
Save the Date for a Virtual Event Join us on Thursday, December 9, 2021, from 9:30-10:45 am ET as we …

USAID Supports Local Entrepreneurs in Zambia to Advise Other Business-Owners and Create Outgrower Scheme
The USAID Zambia Enterprise Development and Growth Enhanced (EDGE) Activity believes that training farmers — combined with extensive one-on-one coaching …

ACDI/VOCA to Lead the Feed the Future Ethiopia Alliance to Accelerate Agricultural Growth Activity
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce USAID has selected the organization to lead the Feed the Future Ethiopia Alliance to Accelerate …

How Development Programs Can Help Prevent Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence is often associated with the disproportionate risk that women face globally. In the United States, one in four …

Are We Too Focused on Access to Credit? Agent Banks Boost Resiliency during COVID-19 Pandemic
In early 2020, the Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice and Diversified Crops Activity began an assessment to understand how the …

ACDI/VOCA to Lead the USAID-Funded Food Security, Agriculture and Resilient Market Systems (FARMS) Activity in Honduras
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce USAID has selected the organization to lead the Food Security, Agriculture and Resilient Market Systems …

Resilience Learning Activity Facilitates Dialogue on Resilience in the Horn of Africa
For the last seven years, USAID/Kenya and East Africa has held annual resilience events that converge stakeholders in the resilience …

PhilCAFE and Coffee Mentors Train 1,000 Filipino Coffee Farmers
Philippine Coffee Advancement and Farm Enterprise (PhilCAFE), an activity funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and implemented by …

ACDI/VOCA to Lead USAID’s Cooperative Development Program in Guinea and the Philippines
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce USAID has selected ACDI/VOCA to lead the Cooperative Development Program (CDP) in Guinea and the …

‘Champions of Change’ share COVID-19 safety and vaccine information in Northern Kenya’s Turkana County
Many communities in Northern Kenya are susceptible to environmental shocks and calamities, such as drought. Now, these communities face the …

Shaping Arts, Entrepreneurship, & Safe Spaces for Colombian Youth
Over the last eight months, the Youth Resilience Activity (YRA) has been working with local partners to implement small pilot …

Adolescent GIRL Group Builds Community Resilience in Northern Kenya
Twenty-two-year-old Diana Camilla is the chairperson of the Shiners Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods (GIRL) group in the Ngaremara area …

Feed the Future Bangladesh Activity Expands Export-Led Sesame Sector and Improves Local Livelihoods
In 2018, the Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice and Diversified Crops Activity identified sesame as a marginal crop with a …

Food Systems Series: ACDI/VOCA Empowers Women and Youth in Food Systems
Action Track 4: Livelihoods and Equality Food Systems Suffer From Gender and Social Inequalities Women are key contributors to food …

ACDI/VOCA to Lead Feed the Future Bangladesh Livestock and Nutrition Activity
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce USAID/Bangladesh has selected ACDI/VOCA to lead the Feed the Future Bangladesh Livestock and Nutrition Activity. …

USAID Kenya, Local Government, and Media Join Training on How to Tell Development Stories
In September, two USAID-funded activities in Kenya–the Resilience Learning Activity and the USAID Nawiri program–collaborated with government officials in Isiolo …

Food Systems Series: ACDI/VOCA Builds Resilient Food Systems
Action Track #5: Build Resilience to Vulnerabilities, Shocks, and Stress Increased Shocks Undermine Food Systems The frequency and intensity of …

USDA Applauds PhilCAFE’s Ability to Engage Youth in Philippine Coffee Sector
Despite recent growth in the Philippine coffee industry, young people remain a challenge to engage in the country’s coffee sector. …

Food Systems Series: Building Back Better: Nature-Based Food Systems
ACTION TRACK #3: BOOST NATURE-POSITIVE PRODUCTION A VICIOUS CIRCLE With more than a third of the world’s land surface and …

Food Systems Series: ACDI/VOCA Transforms Food Systems for Sustainability
ACTION TRACK #2: SHIFT TO SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION PATTERNS The Current Food System Is Unsustainable Food is a vital component of …

Fundación ACDI/VOCA Latin America Marks Third Anniversary
Fundación ACDI/VOCA LA (FAVLA), a nonprofit affiliate of ACDI/VOCA registered in Bogotá, Colombia, celebrates three years in operation. Since its …

Food Systems Series: ACDI/VOCA Transforms Food Systems for Nutrition
Action Track #1: Ensure Access to Safe and Nutritious Food for All Background In 2020, roughly 10 percent of the …

Systems Leadership to Build Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Honduras
Globally, we have seen the importance of entrepreneurial ecosystems in supporting entrepreneurs to access human and financial capital and in …

Enabling Cyber Access for Youth in Northern Kenya
In 2015, 26-year old Mohammed Ore Ahmed identified a business opportunity in his hometown of Griftu in Wajir County in …

Colombia Youth Resilience Activity Celebrates Youth Day
In Colombia, young people who may be disengaged child soldiers, former youth offenders, migrants, survivors of violence, or those living …

The ViMPlus Activity in Burkina Faso Trains Farmers in Conservation Agriculture
The USAID-funded Victory Against Malnutrition Plus (ViMPlus) Activity recently held a multiple-phase training on the different production techniques for cowpea and sorghum …

ACDI/VOCA Names Experts in Sustainable Development Policy and Practice to Board of Directors
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its board of directors: Asif M. Shaikh and …

Q&A with U.S. Volunteer Supporting Laotian Farmers Virtually
Dana Dutcher is an international development specialist based in Washington, D.C., and a first-time volunteer with ACDI/VOCA. She supported USAID …

From Project to Sustainable Progress: Tanager and ACDI/VOCA Help Local NGO NAFAKA Kilimo Impact Tanzanian Agriculture
Tanager, ACDI/VOCA, and AV Ventures share a mission to improve economic and social conditions for vulnerable populations around the world. …

Philippine Coffee Quality Competition 2021 Champ Attributes Win to Good Agricultural Practices
The 2021 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) is the Philippines’ most prestigious annual competition for the best Philippine coffee. This …

USAID Administrator Samantha Power Visits the USAID Honduras Transforming Market Systems Activity
This month, USAID Administrator Samantha Power made her first trip abroad since being sworn in. On June 13, she traveled …

Pride Month Q&A: Experts Discuss Challenges and Opportunities for Collecting LGBTQ+ Data
This Pride Month, we explore why the inclusion of LGBTQ+ populations matters in global development from the perspective of international …

ACDI/VOCA Names Sabrina Amburgey as Vice President of Business Development
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce Sabrina Amburgey as the organization’s new Vice President of Business Development, beginning in August 2021. …

USAID/Honduras Activity Offers Small Grants in Response to Migrant Crisis
In early 2021, the USAID/Honduras Transforming Market Systems (TMS) Activity established two new grant mechanisms to support small business owners …

Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice & Diversified Crops Fact Sheet
Access the Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice and Diversified Crops Fact Sheet, published June 2021

Catalyzing Investment for Growth Info Sheet
Read the Catalyzing Investment for Growth Info Sheet here.

Inclusive Market Systems Interactive Site
Explore ACDI/VOCA’s inclusive market systems approach through this interactive site.

Partnership Health Assessment Tool
Partnership health is essential for effective collaborations with the private sector. ACDI/VOCA believes that strong partnerships lead to collaborations that …

Feed the Future Activity Promotes New Rice Seed Variety in Bangladesh
Improved seed development and breeding remains a major constraint to introducing commercial productive seed varieties in Bangladesh. A new rice …

Colombia-Based INclusiónES Initiative Makes Inclusion a Workplace Priority
Building on the success of the DecidoSer social change program, ACDI/VOCA and its affiliate organization Fundación ACDI/VOCA Latin America (FAVLA), …

U.S.-Based Volunteer Supports Honduran Businesses As They Recover from COVID-19
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the USAID Transforming Market Systems (TMS) Activity in Honduras has been …

Feed the Future Activity Sets in Motion a Bangladesh Commodity Trade Portal
The Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice and Diversified Crops Activity, funded by USAID and implemented by ACDI/VOCA, signed an agreement …

Investing in a Hub for Digital Nomads in Kyrgyzstan
An important step has been taken toward the emergence of a hub for digital nomads, or independent remote workers, in …

Tailored Innovation in Isiolo County to Strengthen Livestock Market Systems
Learn more about the Feed the Future Kenya Livestock Market Systems Activity here.

Volunteers Support Eco-Friendly Agritourism
What is tourism going to look like in the future? That is the question on many people’s minds as vaccine …

Ghana Poultry Project Holds Poultry Mentorship and Business Bootcamp for Young Entrepreneurs
Now more than ever, the development of economic sustainable agriculture must be prioritized to achieve Ghana’s, as well as Africa-wide, …

April 18-24 is National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 to recognize the lasting impact of volunteer service on our communities, local and …

COVID-19 Crisis As a Lens to Understanding Resiliency of Agent Banks in Bangladesh
Published on Marketlinks, April 15, 2021.

130 Young Colombian Leaders Build Skills through Accelerator Program
In recognition of the United Nations’ World Creativity and Innovation Day on April 21, we’re celebrating youth in Colombia who …

Social Change Program “DecidoSer” Adapts to Support Colombians During the Pandemic
Five years ago, ACDI/VOCA set out to create a social change program that was relevant and impactful for a wide …

Turning Livestock Manure into Sustainable Energy in Bangladesh
Published on Agrilinks, March 06, 2021.

Supporting Farmers’ Access to Inputs in Bangladesh During COVID-19
One of the many damaging side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh was a blocking of critical agricultural inputs, …

“Empowering Women in Coffee: The MILALITTRA Experience”
The video features the Talaandig People of Bukidnon Province in the southern Philippines, who developed a successful coffee enterprise through …

World Water Day & the Paradox of La Guajira, Colombia
When it comes to water, La Guajira is a paradox. As Colombia’s largest and northernmost department, it boasts 1,642 kilometers …

A Decade of Advancing Crop Value Chains with Feed the Future in Ghana
In Ghana, maize, rice, and soybean crops are mostly produced by smallholder farmers. But these crops are important commodities in …

Women Entrepreneurs Support Other Women in Ghana’s Poultry Sector
Fewer women than men work in Ghana’s poultry sector and even fewer at the leadership level. Mentorship can provide knowledge …

Producer Organizations Improve Cashew Sales in Northeastern Guinea
In Siguiri, a prefecture in northeastern Guinea, interest among local populations to pursue new livelihoods has grown rapidly in the …

USAID Activity in Honduras Partners with IFC and LAFISE Group to Improve SME Financing in Central America
In the first initiative of its kind in Central America, the USAID Transforming Market Systems Activity, implemented by ACDI/VOCA in …

International Women’s Day Q&A: How Can Leadership “Choose to Challenge”?
This International Women’s Day, we’re examining the ways in which our leadership “Choose to Challenge” gender biases and inequalities within …

Producer Organizations in Mali Access Commercial Loans
Kounti Bamanan is a rice producer organization in Djénné, in Mali’s Mopti Region. For the last five years, the group’s …

Gender Learning Study: Ethiopia FEED III
Access the December 2020 Gender Learning Study from the Feed Enhancement for Ethiopian Development (FEED) III Activity here.

A Challenging Year in Review: Advancing the Philippine Coffee Sector in 2020
The year 2020 began on a promising note for the Philippine Coffee Advancement and Farm Enterprise (PhilCAFE) project, beginning with …

AV Ventures Invests in AgroCenta, Supporting Digital and Financial Inclusion of Ghanaian Smallholder Farmers
AV Ventures, ACDI/VOCA’s impact investing subsidiary, recently completed its investment in AgroCenta, a technology-driven agricultural platform provider in Ghana. The …

Fish Farming to Sustainably Transform County Economy in Kenya
For several years, fishers in Loiyangalani town, located on the shores of Lake Turkana, have been using the casting method to earn a living. This outdated method, over time, has resulted in low yields caused by overfishing and low replenishment rates. …

Feed the Future and BRAC Launch Bangladesh’s First Private-Sector Led Cattle Breeding Training for Women
In Bangladesh, many women work in agriculture but are not able to engage in all aspects of farming. Due to …

On Journey to Self-Reliance, Northern Kenyan Counties Form Trading Bloc
Ten counties in Northern Kenya are part of the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC), which is dedicated to improving the …

Advocating for Girls’ Education in Northern Kenya
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Kenya in March 2020, many sectors experienced disruptions, and among them was education. To slow the …

ACDI/VOCA Welcomes Anita Bhatt as CFO
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce Anita Bhatt as its chief financial officer (CFO). With over 20 years of experience in …

USAID Myanmar Project Presents Agricultural Product Research
Experts analyzed the food preferences of more than 700 consumers in Myanmar and made recommendations to help farmers and agribusiness …

Looking Back: Emergency Response in Arauca (ERA) Program Supports Vulnerable Groups
Recent figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees show that there are nearly 5.4 million Venezuelan migrants, refugees, …

USAID Provides $50 Million to Support Colombian Youth
In December 2020, USAID/Colombia awarded a cooperative agreement to ACDI/VOCA for the prime role of implementing the five-year Youth Resilience …

AV Ventures Invests in Warc Group, Linking Smallholder Farmers in Ghana to Regenerative Farming Methodology
AV Ventures, a for-profit subsidiary of ACDI/VOCA, has recently invested $500,000 in the Warc Group to support the expansion of …

“Boat Show” Reaches Farmers in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a low-lying, riverine country. While the mangroves and waterways of southern Bangladesh make it vulnerable to flooding, they …

Project Engages Religious Leaders to Promote Positive Gender Norms in Burkina Faso
In recent months, the Victory Against Malnutrition Plus (ViMPlus) Activity has made significant progress toward promoting gender and social inclusion …

AV Ventures Launches Fund in Northern Kenya
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 3, 2020 — AV Ventures, a for-profit impact investment subsidiary of ACDI/VOCA, has announced the recent launch …

Chamber of Commerce Transforms To Better Serve Traders & Community in Northern Kenya
Picture Northern Kenya’s Turkana County and arid lands and people struggling with hunger may come to mind. For decades, residents …

USDA Project Trains Next Generation of Poultry Entrepreneurs in Ghana
In Ghana, the agricultural sector holds great potential to catalyze economic growth and employment for young people, especially given the …

The Journey to Chief of Party: What It Takes for Women to Lead in Global Development
The landscape of global development is changing. Today, women who work for international NGOs are a majority in nearly 42 …

In Wake of COVID-19, Bangladesh Banks Pivot Toward Community and Digital Solutions
Published on Marketlinks, October 23, 2020.

USDA Project Teams Up with Academia to Develop Coffee Diploma Course in the Philippines
Good coffee news from the Philippines: The Cordillera Administrative Regional (CAR) office the USDA Philippine Coffee Advancement and Farm Enterprise …

Time Diaries Impact Gender Gap in Tanzania
The Feed the Future Tanzania NAFAKA II Activity provides mechanization grants to households to reduce farm labor, generate additional income, …
45 Podcasts: Migrants and Returnees Reinvent Themselves in Arauca
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia did not stop the momentum of Venezuelan migrants and Colombian returnees from …

UN Women and USAID/Honduras Transforming Market Systems Activity Launch Alliance
On June 23, UN Women, the United Nations organization dedicated to gender equality and female empowerment, launched a strategic alliance …

USAID Provides ZMW 280 Million to Support Zambian Agricultural Enterprises
On August 3, 2020, USAID/Zambia awarded a contract to ACDI/VOCA for the prime role of implementing the USAID Enterprise Development …

Making Nutrient-Rich Fortified Maize Flour Available in Tanzania
Many people in Tanzania’s Southern Highlands rely on maize flour processed at local mills for the bulk of their daily …

In Tanzania, Youth Village-Based Agricultural Advisor Empowers Her Community
“NAFAKA II GAP (Good Agriculture Practice) training enabled us at the village to increase maize harvest from 3 to 15 …

Ghanaian Farmer Braves Planting Season & Supports Others Despite COVID-19 Disruptions
In Ghana, farmers’ use of imported hybrid seeds has grown over the last decade. This type of seed produces higher …

Women Play Significant Role as Ambassador Farmers in Bangladesh
Mr. Shahjahan is a crop clinic advisor for Bayer Crop Science in the Jashore District of southwestern Bangladesh. Back in …

In Bangladesh, Mobile Crop Clinic Brings Services to Farmers Unable to Travel During COVID-19
A new mobile crop clinic opened its doors this June in Amtoli, a village in the Barishal District of southwestern …

Bangladeshi Sesame Farmers Reach Global Markets
Asma Khatun is a sesame farmer from Rajbari in southwestern Bangladesh. Although sesame grows well in Bangladesh’s climate, Asma and …

PhilCAFE Reaches 445 Coffee Farmers with Radio & COVID-19 Adaptive Trainings
Restrictions related to COVID-19 have started to ease in most parts of the Philippines, though the country remains under Code …

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Businesses in Northern Kenya Report Released
The Feed the Future USAID Kenya Livestock Market Systems Activity studied the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on 168 businesses …

Six Ways Ghanaian Women Thrive in Village Savings and Loan Associations
The Upper East Region is a less traditional alcove of Ghana where communities are more open to women taking part …

Technology & Good Agricultural Practices Save Ailing Philippine Coffee Farm
The San Pablo Zamboanga del Sur Coffee Farmers Association (SPZDSCFA), located in the Philippines’ Zamboanga Peninsula Region, had high hopes …

Coping with COVID-19 Six Months Later
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, ACDI/VOCA programs around the world have shifted their approach to cope with …

Tanzania Activity Empowers Youth Group During COVID-19
For today’s International Youth Day 2020, we’re pleased to share a video from our USAID Feed the Future Tanzania NAFAKA …

In Northern Kenya, USAID Kuza & Counties Collaborate to Adapt to Changing Health, Environmental, & Economic Landscape
In early 2020, ten Arid and Semi-Arid counties of the Frontier County Development Council (FCDC) faced significant shocks that threatened …

ACDI/VOCA Awarded One-Year Extension in Developing Ghana’s Agricultural Value Chain
USAID has awarded ACDI/VOCA a cost extension to continue our work in Ghana under the Feed the Future Ghana Agricultural …

Facing Egg Glut, Poultry Farmers Receive Support from USDA Ghana Poultry Project
The ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have taken their toll on economies around the world. In the midst of …

Podcasts and PPE: Adapting to COVID-19 in Colombia
Below are updates from our programs in Colombia as they adapt to the unfolding COVID-19 situation. Podcasts Keep Border Town …

Webinar Examines How Rural Tourism Can Fuel Development in the COVID-19 Era
ACDI/VOCA celebrated World Environment Day on June 5, 2020, by hosting the webinar “What Is Rural Tourism? Opportunities for Development.” The live event …

ACDI/VOCA Statement of Solidarity with Protests Against Racial Injustice
Over the past two weeks, we have seen broad-based protests in the United States reflecting generations of frustration and anger …

COVID-19 Crisis Spurs Pivot to Virtual Volunteering
USAID initiatives Feed the Future and the volunteer program Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) build food security and strive to end global hunger. Both recognize that these grand goals require energy, resources, …

Colombia PAR Receives Extension to Continue Reconciliation Efforts
ACDI/VOCA received a cost extension to continue our work in Colombia under the USAID-funded Program of Alliances for Reconciliation (PAR) …

Honduras Transforming Market Systems Activity Joins Table to Revive Tourism Industry
Our USAID Honduras Transforming Market Systems (TMS) Activity has joined private- and public-sectors actors to form the National Tourism Table. …

USDA Project Brews Up Business for Philippine Coffee in COVID-19 Marketplace
This spring, coffee farmers in the Philippines have had their products stored in warehouses all over the country. The farmers …

Ghana Poultry Project Keeps Market for Local Chicken Active During COVID-19
In Ghana, poultry producers are exploring new ways to facilitate trainings and conduct business online, while restrictions from the global …

Gender & Social Inclusion and COVID-19 Report
Our “Gender & Social Inclusion and COVID-19: Impacts and Recommendations for Agriculture and Market Systems Project Implementation” report, released April …

Study Shows Resilience of Honduran Businesses Tied to Willingness to Adapt Business Models
With the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, people and businesses around the world are facing unprecedented challenges. This is particularly evident in …

USAID/Honduras Transforming Market Systems Activity Business Resilience Analysis
Our USAID/Honduras Transforming Market Systems Activity has conducted a survey to collect real-time information on the effects of the COVID-19 …

ACDI/VOCA Appoints Experts in Food Systems, Strategic Partnerships, & Sustainable Agriculture to Board of Directors
ACDI/VOCA is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its board of directors: Chris Cochran, Enoh Ebong, …

ACDI/VOCA Launches Central Asia Impact Fund for Small and Growing Businesses
Central Asia’s economic growth is accelerating. But many of its small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle to access finance. Big …

Tools and Tactics to Help Global Development Organizations Adapt During COVID-19
The situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is rapidly evolving within almost every nation in the world. As its spread …

Finding Resilience: How ACDI/VOCA Helps Communities Adapt to Shocks
When climate disasters, conflicts, and other crises occur, a community’s capacity to withstand the shocks and adapt to them is …

Mural in Colombian Housing Project Drives Tourism
Along Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the highest coastal mountain range in the world and …

Marketlinks Publishes Staff-Authored Blog on Asset-Based Finance
Marketlinks recently published a blog on asset-based finance written by ACDI/VOCA staff members Paul Newall, Associate Director of Partnerships and …

Tanzania NAFAKA – Corteva Collaboration Video Released
We’re pleased to announce the release of “Farming for the Future.” It will air on the BBC as part of …

International Women’s Day 2020 Video Launched
Staff and participants of 12 of our projects around the globe contributed to a video to celebrate International Women’s Day …

Feed the Future Kenya Activity Provides Grants to Young Women to Expand STEM Studies
Over the last several years, Kenyan universities and institutions of higher learning have seen a decline in students taking Science, …

In Colombia, Project-Supported Robotics School Launches Women & Girls in Science, All the Way to NASA
Women and girls from Colombia’s Pacific Region are showing the world a different side of the once-marginalized area. Two young …

Mabel’s Story: A Young Mother and Venezuelan Migrant’s Journey to Empowerment
As a young girl, Mabel Iriarte dreamed of becoming a dancer. She was a Venezuelan migrant living in Cartagena, Colombia, …

Psychosocial Support Tool Reconciles Communities & Improves Employability
For populations that have experienced trauma or violence, healing is a crucial step toward social and economic stability. Many Colombians …

Cycling Events with Olympian Create New Narratives in Colombia’s Forgotten Regions
Imagine hundreds of cyclists riding through the streets as an Olympic gold medalist leads the pack. Years ago, this scene …

ACDI/VOCA Food Systems Approach and Resources
Read the ACDI/VOCA Food Systems Approach published in December 2022.

AV Ventures invests in Agro Innova Limited to digitalize the agriculture sector in West Africa
ACDI/VOCA’s impact investing subsidiary, AV Ventures LLC, has completed a new investment in Agro Innova Limited, a Ghanaian AgTech provider …