
Feed the Future Supports Bangladesh’s Largest Online Grocer in Offering Food Rations for COVID-19 Recovery
Chaldal is the largest online platform for grocery delivery in Bangladesh. Poised to become the country’s version of Amazon Fresh, …

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 …

Feed the Future Kenya Activity Takes Woman-Owned Poultry Business from Fledgling to Full-Grown
In the heart of Mwangaza Village in Isiolo County, Celina Kathura relishes the sound of clucking poultry in her backyard. Celina …

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 please to share a video from our USAID Feed the Future Tanzania NAFAKA …

Putting Positive Youth Development into Practice
Half of the global population is made up of people under the age of 30, and nearly 90 percent of them live in low- and middle-income …

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 …

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 …