Root Capital and DFC Invest in Rural Women Through the 2X Challenge
When you run a small enterprise in a rural community, it’s difficult to access the financing you need to grow. If you’re a woman running one of these enterprises, it’s even harder. That’s why development finance institutions from all G7
A More Sustainable Future for Bees —and their Keepers— in Southern Mexico
On Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, nestled far from the sea, the town of Kankabchen is teeming with honeybees. In this Maya community, honey is more than just a business—it’s a cultural touchstone. Families have raised bees for generations. Some can still
Latest Findings: Impact on Rural Livelihoods, the Case of Peru
Impact measurement and management are at the heart of Root Capital’s work, helping us optimize our efforts to impact and transform rural communities. By measuring the impact our services are having on client farmers compared to non-members, we unlock critical
COVID-19 Response in Rural Businesses: How Impact Investors Switched to Remote Work
It has been weeks since we closed the Root Capital offices and switched to remote work across the globe. First and foremost, I’m grateful to report the good health of our team and clients and wish the same for you
This “Hidden Influencer” is Expanding Opportunity for Women Farmers in Colombia
The average woman around the world spends significantly more time than the average man doing unpaid domestic labor. As a result of gender disparity, women farmers are up to 50% less likely than men to adopt research-proven good agricultural practices. It’s 3
How We’re Continuing to Support Rural Businesses and Smallholder Farmers During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Rural businesses and smallholder farmers are the heart of rural communities, a vital part of the economy that needs to continue functioning during the novel Coronavirus outbreak. This is how Root Capital using digital technology helps to stay in close
These Guatemalan Farmers Are Harnessing the Power of Digital Data With Help From Root Capital
When coffee farmers can take advantage of cloud-enabled, mobile technology, they simplify their data collection process and use this data to benchmark their performance within their industry, inform business decision making, and increase transparency for their farmers. Since the advent of
RAOS: Training for a More Resilient Future in Honduras
Root Capital’s unique credit-plus-capacity model has given RAOS, a coffee cooperative in Honduras, the tools it needs to successfully transition from a small, growing business into a resilient engine of impact in its community. In the face of adversity, this coffee
What We’ve Learned About Evaluating Impact in Rural Communities
How evaluating impact contributes to driving investment in adaptable and scalable strategies. Several years ago, a mango farmer in Burkina Faso told us something that forever changed our approach to impact evaluation. “I don’t want to answer any questions,” the farmer said
Triunfo Verde: Preserving Local Ecosystems Through Economic Opportunity in Mexico
Coffee farmers in southern Mexico organized in the Triunfo Verde cooperative, are showing how responsible agriculture can help preserve natural resources. Thanks to revamped internal financial controls and climate-smart practices, coffee farmers help preserve local ecosystems. The misty forests of southern
Better Coffee, Better Livelihoods: Lessons from Our Second Joint Workshop with Intelligentsia
Farmers need to balance coffee quality with climate resiliency. Agricultural practices such as shade-grown coffee and proper fertilization have the dual effect of producing better coffee and better livelihoods, increasing a farmer’s resilience to climate change and reducing their footprint
Predicting Social and Environmental Impact Through Due Diligence
Agricultural enterprises are changemakers in rural communities; they have the ability to improve livelihoods, conserve the environment, and generate opportunities for women and young people. Yet to truly be a force for good, these enterprises must adopt sound business practices that