One Acre Fund
Geography:
AFRICA
Type:
GRANT
Mission
Supporting farmers to grow and earn more
The Problem: Smallholder Farmers Often Bear the Weight of Global Poverty
Smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa grow the food that sustains local economies and feeds millions world-wide, yet they remain among the most underserved people on the planet. Over 50 million African families depend on small-scale agriculture, but face chronic barriers: limited access to quality seeds and fertilizer, outdated farming practices, and few market connections. Most live on less than $1 per day.
Without reliable harvests or the ability to invest in their land, these families remain vulnerable to hunger, poverty, and climate shocks. In places like Rwanda and Kenya, smallholder farmers form the majority of the population — transforming their productivity could shift the trajectory of entire nations.
The Solution: A Scalable, Farmer-Centered Model Rooted in Systems Change
One Acre Fund delivers a proven, full-service model that equips smallholder farmers with farming resources on credit, practical training, and market access — within their current villages. Farmers receive seeds, fertilizer, and training in composting, crop spacing, and climate resilience. Critically, services are repaid after harvest, reducing financial risk during the lean planting season.
The organization strengthens public and private systems through over 30 partnerships — including national seed production, local agroforestry nurseries, and carbon finance markets. This blended model reaches millions efficiently, combining high-touch programs with lower-cost delivery channels like brick-and-mortar farm shops.
In 2024, One Acre Fund supported 5.5 million farmers across 9 countries — with 2.1 million enrolled in the full-service program and 3.4 million reached through partnerships. From Nigeria to Malawi, they are proving that a better future for farmers is possible — and achievable at scale.
Outputs
5.5 million farmers served, impacting 29 million family members
250 million trees planted since 2019, including 90 million in 2024
15,000 smallholder farmers engaged in carbon market pilots across 4 countries
3,232 metric tons of seed processed in Rwanda through a national seed partnership
9,487 full-time staff employed — 99% based in countries of operation
Outcomes
$434 million in total new profits and assets generated in 2024
$102 in new income and assets per full-service farmer (36% increase on supported land)
$63 in new profits and assets per partnership farmer
56% of full-service farmers now use organic inputs like compost (vs. 31% of control group)
Children of veteran clients 12% more likely to meet dietary diversity standards
The Giving Opportunity
With just $20 in donor support, a farmer repays their loan and earns $102 in new value — a 5.34:1 return. Partnerships generate an even greater return of $11.69:1.
Your support directly translates into increased harvests, resilient families, and thriving rural economies. Here’s what your contribution can enable:
Provide compost training and tools for 50 farmers
Fund 3 months of farm input credit for a rural women’s farming group
Establish a new tree nursery for agroforestry and carbon income
Equip 10 youth farmers with seeds and climate-smart tools
Support a local farming shop that serves thousands in remote regions
Train and deploy a new field officer to serve 200+ families
To learn more or contribute, email us at impact@uicharitable.org and we can help you support this organization through your UI Charitable Donor-Advised Fund.