Stories of Impact & Sustainable Change
How Do We Reconcile a Post-Conflict Colombia? Boosting Economic Inclusion
By Katherine Ko, Daniel Sumner, and Melissa Matlock Decades of conflict may have divided Colombian communities, but a 2016 peace deal between …
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 …
How Do We Reconcile a Post-Conflict Colombia? Changing Perceptions, Attitudes, and Beliefs
By Katherine Ko, Daniel Sumner, and Melissa Matlock A 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed …
How a Virtual Business-to-Business Meeting Introduced a Zambian Farming Enterprise to New Buyers
Salima Lungu launched her business, C&S Agro, in 2011 in the Chibombo District of Zambia. Now, a decade later, she …
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 …
Coffee Roasting Class Elevates Capacities of Philippine Roasters
In the Philippines, 16 coffee roasters successfully completed a three-month professional coffee roasting class taught online from October to December …
Sorghum Producer Exceeds Crop Forecast with Help from USAID in Burkina Faso
Because of a continuing crisis across the Sahel, the inability to meet food and nutrition needs is a top concern …
How ACDI/VOCA and Tanager #BreakTheBias of Gender Discrimination
This International Women’s Day, on March 8, we envision a world where all genders are treated equally. Learn more below …
Young Women Contribute to Food Security & Nutrition in Northern Kenya
Talaso Bonaya lives in Toricha village in the North Horr sub-county of Northern Kenya’s Marsabit County. Growing up in a …
Emergency Response Program Cultivates Hope in Colombia’s La Guajira Desert
In January 2022, ACDI/VOCA completed Emergency Response in Colombia (ERIC), a program funded by USAID’s Bureau of Humanitatian Assistance, in …
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 …
Feed the Future Activity Supports Avocado Farmers & Agribusiness in Myanmar
On 12 February 2022, Shan Orchard Myanmar Limited became the first company in Myanmar to install and commission a new …
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 …
Northern Kenyan Government and Donor Team Up to Improve Access to Water for Residents
Communities in Northern Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands face one big threat to their livelihoods: drought. Frequent and intense droughts …
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. …
New Banking Branch Brings Finance Access to Pastoralists in Northern Kenya
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), in collaboration with the county government …
Companies and County Governments in Northern Kenya Team Up to Combat Drought
In 2021, drought hit many parts of Northern Kenya, with the greatest impact experienced in Garissa, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, and …
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 …
Feed the Future USAID Kuza Strengthens Management of Counties’ Revolving Funds in Northern Kenya
Kenya’s revolving county funds have the potential to play an increasing role in offering finance to Kenya’s micro, small, and …
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.
USAID Kuza Enables Disaster Risk Management Legislation, Collaboration for the Future
In Northern Kenya, drought, floods, locusts, diseases, and conflict over resources negatively impact the wellbeing of communities. The result is …
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 …
Q&A with Volunteer Who Virtually Trained Tajikistani Women in Food Canning
Ogechukwu Tasie is a post doctoral research fellow at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and a member of the Institute …
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 …
Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods in Northern Kenya
After losing his job, Emmanuel Ibei decided to take on the humbling position of helping his wife run her kiosk …
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 …
USAID Laos Microenterprise Training Helps Family Double Their Income
Bounyord Hakpanya (above) is a construction worker from Ban Sarm, a village located in the Kham District in the Xiengkhoung …
Q&A with Bangladesh-Based Volunteer Supporting Entrepreneurs in Zambia
Ahmed Towsif is an entrepreneur based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and a first-time volunteer with ACDI/VOCA. We talked to Ahmed about …
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 …
Beyond COP26: Priorities for Climate Action
Now that we’re halfway through United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, let’s take stock. Some have called …
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 …
Q&A With U.S.-Based, Remote Volunteer Supporting Zambian Business Owners
Zhuoting Xie is a recent graduate of the Brandeis University International Business School, where she earned a master’s degree in …
Dairy Facility Adapts and Grows to Feed Families in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Region
Ak-Jalga was founded in 1964. Today, it is the largest dairy processing facility in the Issyk-Kul Region, processing up to …
Q&A with U.S.-Based Volunteer Supporting Impact Investing in West Africa
Camille Accad is a financial expert who works with several subsidiaries and assists with capital markets transactions. Read about Camille’s …
Female-Owned Apparel Factory Creates 70+ Jobs in Southern Kyrgyzstan
Nazirbek Toktonazarov had only graduated high school when he decided to leave his parents and move to Russia. Like thousands …
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 …
Sustaining Livelihoods through Poultry Farming in Northern Kenya
Thirty-four-year-old Raphael Ewoi is a poultry farmer living in Towokanyeni Village in Kakuma Town, located in Turkana West, a sub-county of Kenya’s Turkana County. Before venturing into the poultry business, Raphael had short-term contracts with a local non-governmental …
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 …
A Food Systems Approach to Combat the Three Cs: Coronavirus, Climate Change, and Conflict
Authored by ACDI/VOCA CEO CJ Hall; published by USGLC, September 23, 2021
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 …
USAID Zambia EDGE Activity Mentors Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Making the agricultural products of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more competitive requires increasing competitiveness across the value chain, including …
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 …
USAID Zambia EDGE Activity Brings Asset-Based Financing to Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Building linkages and business relationships between asset leasing companies and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is one area of focus …
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 …
Kyrgyzstan’s Kupuev Academy Raises $700,000 from ACDI/VOCA Impact Investing Subsidiaries AV Ventures & AV Frontiers
Kupuev Academy, a private, progressive school located in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, announced that it has raised $700,000 in financing. The investment …
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 …
Q&A with Leland Fellow Championing Food Security in Bangladesh
Jini Kades served as a 2019 to 2021 fellow with the Congressional Hunger Center’s Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship. She …
Food Systems Series: ACDI/VOCA’s Conceptualization of and Approach to Transforming Food Systems
The Importance of a Food Systems Approach The development community has recently recognized that we are not on track to …
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 …
Engaging the Private Sector Series: Five Building Blocks of Transformational Partnerships
ACDI/VOCA recently hosted a technical exchange focused on transformational partnerships. While the purpose of this exchange was to share examples …
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 …
Creating Agricultural Jobs in Honduras’s Lenca Indigenous Communities
Brenda Aracely Dominguez lives in the highlands of Intibucá, Honduras, on land where her family has grown potatoes for generations. …
Grant Gives New Life to Women’s Hay Farming Business in Northern Kenya
Members of the Tullu Women’s Group hail from Sololo Ward, a community of livestock keepers in the heart of Marsabit …
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 …
USAID Activity in Zambia Helps Expand Local Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Agricultural small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia face numerous challenges as they strive to increase productivity, grow profits, and …
A Case Study on Agent Banking
Access “A Case Study on Agent Banking,” by Christine McClung, published July 6, 2021
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 …
Pride Month Blog Series: Experts Discuss Opportunities for Expanding LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Agriculture and Market Systems Development
This Pride Month, we explore why the inclusion of LGBTQ+ populations matters in global development. In previous blogs, we discussed …
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. …
Ana Sofía’s Story: Transgender Youth in Colombia Pave the Way for Others at Work
Her rose-printed skirt sways when she walks in the room. She tucks her hair behind her ear. As she tells …
Willert’s Story: Finding Formal Employment as an LGBTQI+ Youth in Colombia
“I never imagined I could find a workplace so welcoming and committed to labor inclusion,” said Willert Moreno (pictured right …
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 …
Three Ways to Move Toward Regenerative Food Systems
Healthy ecosystems form the bedrock of our survival and well-being. They provide us with essential goods, including food, fodder, fresh …
AV Ventures Invests in Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited to Support Ghana’s Horticulture Sector
AV Ventures, the impact investing subsidiary of ACDI/VOCA, has provided a long-term loan of US$700,000 to Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited, …
Pride Month Blog Series: Why the Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Populations in Agriculture and Market Systems Matters, Part 2
This June marks Pride Month, a celebration of the advancement of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) rights and …
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. …
Pride Month Blog Series: Why the Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Populations in Agriculture and Market Systems Matters, Part 1
This June marks Pride Month, a celebration of the advancement of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) rights and …
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
Rihanna’s Story: Overcoming Neighborhood Divisions and LGBTQ+ Discrimination in Colombia
The northern part of Quibdó is one of the poorest areas of the city. It’s also where displaced populations fleeing …
Making Markets Inclusive: Tips for Advancing Inclusion Through Co-Creation with the Private Sector, Part 2
Many agricultural market systems development (MSD) programs have been turning their attention toward the inclusion of women, youth, and other marginalized groups …
Q&A with U.S.-Based Volunteer Supporting Small Business Development in Her Native Kyrgyzstan
Altynai Hur is a business development specialist based in Michigan and a native of Kyrgyzstan. She recently completed a virtual …
Tackling Food Security, COVID-19, and Armed Conflict in Ethiopia
Almost six month ago, amid growing concerns of the impact of COVID-19, an armed conflict erupted between Ethiopian federal government troops and Tigray-led forces. Ethiopia was …
Turkey Rearing Increases Income for Young Graduate in Rural Laos
Saykham Phommavongsa is a 32-year-old turkey farmer in the village of Nady in the Pek District of Xiengkhouang Province. After …
Catalyzing Investment for Growth Info Sheet
Read the Catalyzing Investment for Growth Info Sheet here.
Food Environment Analysis
Read the Tanager Andhra Pradesh Farmer Market Readiness Program Phase 2 (APFMRP II) food environment analysis 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 …
Anara’s Story: A Young Kyrgyz Entrepreneur with Sweet Dreams
Anara Erkebaeva (pictured far right, above) lives in Uchkun village, near the city of Osh, in southern Kyrgyzstan. Even though …
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), …
Making Markets Inclusive: Tips for Advancing Inclusion Through Co-Creation with the Private Sector, Part 1
Many agricultural market systems development (MSD) programs have been turning their attention toward the inclusion of women, youth, and other marginalized groups …
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.
Earth Day: Celebrating Partnerships and Shared Voices
By its nature, agriculture is an innate partnership. The seed joins with the soil, water and nutrients to produce a …
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, …
Engaging the Private Sector Series: Funding for Transformation
ACDI/VOCA has a growing portfolio of market systems development projects that engage with the private sector, industry chambers, and market …
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 …
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, …
Making Markets Inclusive: Designing for Inclusion
Tools and Tactics from Zambia Many agricultural market systems development (MSD) programs have been turning their attention toward the inclusion of women, …
Bridging the Gaps in Northern Kenya’s Access to Finance
Kenya has made significant progress in financial inclusion, tripling its financial sector in 13 years and providing financial access to 83 percent of the population, according to …
“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 …
Engaging the Private Sector Series: Delivering on the Hype of Transformational Partnerships
ACDI/VOCA has a growing portfolio of market systems development projects that engage with the private sector, industry chambers, and market …
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 …
Making Markets Inclusive: How Market Systems Development Programs Can Boost the Inclusion of Women, Youth, & Other Marginalized Groups
Many agricultural market systems development (MSD) programs have been turning their attention toward the inclusion of women, youth, and other …
Assessing the Needs of Women in Ethiopia through the FEED III Project
In Ethiopia, livestock contributes to the livelihoods of 60 to 70 percent of the population. Yet the country experiences significant …
Gender Learning Study: Ethiopia FEED III
Access the December 2020 Gender Learning Study from the Feed Enhancement for Ethiopian Development (FEED) III Activity here.
Colombia’s Move on Migration: What It Means for Venezuelans & Colombians Alike
A recent announcement by the Colombian government to offer temporary immigration status to Venezuelans living illegally in the country has …
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 …
Feed the Future Activity Partners with Private Sector to Empower Female Farmers in Bangladesh
The Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice and Diversified Crops Activity partnered with Bayer CropScience Ltd. to train women as “ambassador …
Taking the Pulse of Nutrition in Northern Ghana — Cowpea: The Unsung Hero
The Ancient Seeds’ Potential to Boost Incomes, Nutrition, and Food Security Levels The production of pulses, the dry seeds of …
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 …
Why Inclusive Language Matters to Global Development
In the new year, we’re shifting our attention to the words we use and their power to underpin dangerous power dynamics in the industry. Words are what …
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 …
Calling for Greater Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
Some years ago, a colleague and I were in Monrovia, the capital city of the West African country of Liberia, …
In Armenia, Local Volunteer Equips Cheesemakers to Boost Quality, Yields, and Incomes
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and challenged us all. Our Volunteer programs have pivoted to remote assignments and have engaged …
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 …
Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer Helps Moroccan Women’s Cooperative Enter Global Markets
For over three decades, the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program has helped farmers and agribusinesses in developing countries raise incomes and adopt …
World Food Programme Wins Nobel at Crucial Time
Last week the World Food Programme (WFP) won the Nobel Peace Prize for their “efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace …
In Kenya, Safe Space Training Empowers Girls to Become Role Models
Shaake Umuro was born and raised at Shankera village of Hurri Hills in Marsabit County, 860 kilometers north of Nairobi, …
In Tanzania, Widowed Farmer Thrives Through Program Training & Grants
Alexia Paulo Nyoni, age 53, is a widow who lives in Mikoleko village, in the Kilombero District of southwestern Tanzania’s …
Girls in Northern Kenya Overcome Adversity to Return to School
Kambi Sheikh is the small village on the outskirts of Isiolo town that 19-year-old Dorcas Wairimu calls home. Dorcas, along …
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 Mobile Connections in Northern Ghana During COVID-19
The Feed the Future Ghana Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement II (ADVANCE II) Project distributed 400 mobile phones to …
Young Women in Northern Kenya Team Up to Launch Small Businesses
Ebla Bashir, 20, lives in the Goth-Rahma village of the hot and dry Ibra Urey Ward, located about 690 kilometers …
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 …
Poultry Rearing Increases Revenue Streams for Youth in Northern Kenya
Lillian Mukami, a resident of Kula Mawe in Isiolo county, part of the arid and semi-arid lands region, has overcome indomitable odds in her 27 years. Death robbed …
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 …
Promoting Hygienic Practices and Helping Communities Thrive through Tippy Taps in Burkina Faso
The COVID-19 pandemic has made access to water and soap an essential priority, however, in Poullalé, a village in the …
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 …
Girls’ Education in Northern Kenya Paves Road to Financial Empowerment
Between Marsabit and Moyale, about 750 kilometers from Nairobi, on the winding road that snakes its way to the border …
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 …
“We Have Entered a New Norm”: 19 Years Serving ACDI/VOCA’s Board of Directors
A Q&A with Mort Neufville, newly named director emeritus of ACDI/VOCA’s Board of Directors Dr. Mortimer Neufville (2nd from left …
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 …
Beekeeping Protects Biodiversity & Offers Alternative Livelihoods for Liberian Women
Harvesting honey is a job traditionally associated with men because they are more able to work the late hours required …
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 …
Five Market Systems Strategies to Revive Food & Agricultural Systems During COVID-19
COVID-19 is challenging the world to adapt, and, in doing so, creating two distinct problems in our food and agricultural …
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 …
Diversified Livelihoods Increase Incomes for Pastoralist Communities in Kenya
A few kilometers from Isiolo town in central Kenya, off the Isiolo – Marsabit highway, lies the ever-expanding Burat Ward. Located on the extensive savannah plain, the developing community of homesteads speaks to …
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 …
Updated CEO Statement: Phases of Transition
Like many around the world, we at ACDI/VOCA Group (ACDI/VOCA and its affiliates Tanager and AV Ventures) have been thinking …
Addressing the Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Girls
Because women and girls are already socioeconomically marginalized in many societies, they are especially vulnerable in emergencies. As a result …
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 …
Youth Gain Job & Life Skills Through Audiovisual Training in Colombia
Though limited employment opportunities impede reconciliation in rural Colombia, our USAID Colombia Program of Alliances for Reconciliation (PAR) is doing …
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, …
Coffee Production Advances Reconciliation in Colombia
In Colombia, rural farmers play an important role helping to repair social structures broken by decades of armed conflict. In …
In Kenya, Feed the Future Activity Equips Young Women Entrepreneurs to Start Business & Thrive
At the bustling and vibrant Moyale Market, located on the border of Kenya and Ethiopia, 18-year-old Fatuma Guyo sits patiently …
Volunteers Build A Better World
April 19th marks the beginning of the National Volunteer Week. Today, more than ever, we are reminded of the importance …
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 …
Program Improves Health & Sanitation While Promoting Unity in Colombian Border Settlements
Jesús Uzcátegui is a 25-year-old migrant from Venezuela who came to Colombia in 2015 with his wife and two-year-old son. …
Program of Alliances for Reconciliation Helps Unify Post-Conflict Colombia Through Tourism
Tourism is a growing industry in Colombia, where the end of a decades-long armed conflict is opening up places previously …
COVID-19 Response: We Are Resilient
The health and safety of ACDI/VOCA staff, volunteers, partners and beneficiaries around the world is our top priority. ACDI/VOCA leadership …
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 …
Women’s Group Boosts Incomes & Resilience in Kenya
In Kenya’s Northern Frontier, at the edge of Marsabit National Park, rests Karare town. Nondescript to passersby, Karare serves as …
Venezuelan Migrants Get Ahead with Recipes for Success
Youth culinary training program promotes inclusion for new Bogotá residents Venezuelan migrants are far from empty-handed when they arrive in …
Widow Rebounds from Adversity through Kenya LMS Support
Kuresha Bile, a mother and widowed farmer in central Kenya, has seen it all. In 2009, her life crumbled around …
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 …
New Tractor, New Life For Outgrower Business Owner in Ghana
Alhassan Mumuni Baba had a tractor that he used to farm his 30 acres of maize, soybeans, and rice in …
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 …
Volunteer Reflects on 100+ Assignments
Meet Ross Penhallegon, a volunteer heading out this month on his 109th assignment. He and his wife Kate are dedicated …
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 …
U.S.-Based Volunteer Supports Month-Long Training of Zambian Agribusinesses Online and In-Person
Dr. Mark Wade is an international consultant, researcher, teacher, speaker, and author from Fort Pierce, Florida. He holds a BS …
ACDI/VOCA to Lead USAID Activity Supporting Serbian Enterprises
We are pleased to announce the U.S. Agency for International Development has selected ACDI/VOCA to implement the Small and Medium …
The Largest Apparel Factory in Southern Kyrgyzstan
In 2014, Makbura Aidaralieva decided to move to Russia to secure a poverty-free life for her family. Like thousands of …
