Smallholder and Agri-SME Finance and Investment Network (SAFIN)

🌾 Behind every harvest is a woman’s resilience. 🌾 From the fields to the markets, women in agriculture work tirelessly to feed nations, yet they often face limited access to finance, resources, and opportunities. Their strength powers food systems, but their potential remains underfunded. This Women’s Month, let’s go beyond recognition—let’s take action! Invest in women-led agri-SMEs. Champion financial access. Drive real change. 💪🏾🌍 #InvestInAgriSMEs | #AgricultureFinance | #WomensMonth2025

🚀 Shape the Future of Agri-Finance! SAFIN is seeking organizations to host and coordinate its network from 2026. This is a unique opportunity to drive impact in agri-SME financing and ensure the network's legacy beyond IFAD. Interested? Submit your Expression of Interest today! Click here for more details https://lnkd.in/diz3ZYKk

🌱 Get up to date on the latest developments in #AgriSmesFinance. The African Development Bank Group and the ECOWAS Commission agree to strengthen the rice value chains in West Africa, IFC - International Finance Corporation and ALCB Fund drive financial inclusion in Côte d’Ivoire,Swedfund International and Norfund with AgDevCo support agribusiness in Africa, continuous funding from IFC - International Finance Corporation helps the Asialink Finance Corporation expand its financing for MSMEs.

A Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the purpose of identifying potential organizations to host and coordinate the SAFIN network has been launched by the SAFIN Secretariat. The launch targets all SAFIN Members as well as external organizations with an interest to host the SAFIN network as of 1 January 2026. Since its establishment, SAFIN has confirmed its relevance and mandate in supporting SMEs through a network of multiple stakeholders operating from different sectors and diversified areas of expertise. The SAFIN Network has been coordinated by a Secretariat hosted at IFAD and, from 2023, supported by Regional Coordinators hosted by member institutions in Latin America and Asia. Read More here: https://lnkd.in/diz3ZYKk

According to The World Bank and FAO, women comprise 40% of the agricultural workforce but receive only 7% of agri-investment. 🌾💡 From finance gaps to gender norms, women in agriculture face systemic barriers—especially in rural economies. Breaking these barriers isn't just about equity and building resilient food systems and thriving rural communities. 💰 It's time to invest in women in agriculture. Wishing all the incredible women who made sure to put food on tables. Thank you for all you do. Happy International Women's Day. #ForAllWomenandGirls

Dive into these #Agrifinance Articles for Invaluable Perspectives. Heifer International’s 2024 Annual Report highlights its impact on strengthening food systems for smallholder farmers. With 1.3M active participant households across 19 countries, it supports farmers through market access, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable livestock programs. Key initiatives include solar-powered milk chilling centres in Uganda, dairy sector transformation in Nepal, and African youth agribusiness projects. Through partnerships and regenerative farming, Heifer is driving food security and economic growth for farming communities worldwide. Read More: https://lnkd.in/d2miDrp5 Published by CGAP, this report explores innovative funding strategies for Africa’s inclusive credit fintechs, which serve micro and small enterprises (MSEs). With a $4.9T global MSE credit gap, traditional venture capital is costly, while debt financing remains scarce. The report highlights data-driven investment approaches to unlock growth, such as API integration and flexible financing models like revenue-based lending. CGAP aims to bridge the financing gap and enhance financial inclusion by fostering fintech-investor partnerships and promoting alternative funding solutions. https://lnkd.in/dGJzEsVU This report, published by FAO & UNFCCC, explores climate technologies for transforming agrifood systems to enhance food security, climate resilience, and poverty reduction. It highlights the role of sustainable innovations, policy alignment, and investment in agrifood value chains. With examples from Lebanon, Senegal, and Mongolia, the report emphasizes adaptive solutions, financial inclusion, and cross-sector collaboration to scale impact. https://lnkd.in/d5rRyjJT This report by the Argidius Foundation explores how donors can better support Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) to enhance small business growth in emerging markets. It highlights the role of flexible, long-term funding in strengthening ESOs, enabling them to provide high-quality business development services. Through case studies of successful ESOs, the report offers practical recommendations for donors to improve SME support and drive sustainable economic impact. https://lnkd.in/dvDgcK3r Visit our knowledge hub for more 👇 https://lnkd.in/eVv57xEi

💼Thriving Job Opportunities in Agricultural Finance🎯 1. GAWA Capital seeks a Senior Investment Officer to lead its end-to-end investments for GAWA Capital funds, from origination to execution, to maximize its financial and impact returns. And \build a strong network mainly across Latin America to originate debt and equity investment opportunities. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/dTtN66zG 2. Oikocredit seeks a Regional Manager for Southeast Asia to lead and develop regional teams to sustain and expand a robust Financial Inclusion and Agriculture portfolio. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/e2jViG-W 3. Open Capital seeks a Senior Project Leader to lead multiple client projects at a time, solving a diverse range of challenges across sectors in Africa and acting as a trusted advisor to many of the world’s most exciting and impactful development partners, investors, and businesses. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eUmiUYES 4. AgDevCo is hiring an ESG Associate/Manager in Nairobi or Cape Town to be hands-on in supporting the management of the ESG function and wider efforts in climate and impact work where needed. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eX_8J-4A 5. ISF Advisors is hiring for the position of Associate Director - Financial Advisory. The Associate Director will take a strong lead on core parts of structuring capital and designing products for the sustainable food and agriculture systems project portfolio. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eAVkSiZf ✅ Follow us for regular updates and opportunities in the agricultural finance sector.

Financing and investment alone are insufficient to transform agrifood systems. It is critical to direct finance to agrifood systems and ensure that it effectively reaches agricultural communities. According to the FAO, the transformation of agrifood systems holds solutions for the climate crisis. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d8hZeZra

🌱 Addressing climate change in agriculture requires large-scale investments—far beyond what concessional sources alone can provide. #Blendedfinance de-risks investments and attracts private sector players who might not otherwise invest.🚀 But blending does more than reduce risk. It helps develop strong investment pipelines and promotes green agri-SME business models, paving the way for Climate Funds to drive sustainable growth in agriculture. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eB7YT6jt

Webinar on Innovative Incentive Models for Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises, organised by: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) ALIDE Smallholder and Agri-SME Finance and Investment Network (SAFIN) This webinar will explore innovative incentive models for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MIPYMES) in various agricultural sectors of Latin America and Eastern Africa. By analyzing these models, we aim to provide valuable insights for public interest banks in Latin America regarding the challenges and opportunities in attracting micro-MIPYMES through similar regional incentives. Event Details: Date: 21 February, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM EST Venue: Zoom Register here: https://lnkd.in/dYjzVy3b.