OUR VISION & MISSION
Aceli Africa envisions a thriving market where capital flows unlock the growth and impact potential of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture sector.
Our mission is to generate this impact by bridging the gap between supply and demand for capital for agricultural SMEs.
Building the market for agricultural SME finance in Africa will contribute to several of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals through improved livelihoods for farmers and workers, climate-smart and resilient agriculture, gender inclusion, and food security and nutrition.
RECENT NEWS
The Effect of Central Bank Policies on Agri-SME Lending
Our new Learning Brief draws upon a literature review, conversations with more than 70 practitioners in East Africa, and the experiences of our team from the perspective of both lending and borrowing to highlight challenges and recommended solutions.
Improving livelihoods
farmer suppliers have better market access. SMEs receiving loans supported by Aceli incentives purchased $131M annually from these farmers.
Why Agriculture?
Our Head of Financial Sector Andrew Ahiaku recounts his journey from growing up in a farming village in Ghana, to lending to Ghanaian farmers, to analyzing the Central Bank policies that influence bank lending to agriculture across the continent.
Impact Aligned
of loans meet 2x challenge criteria for gender inclusion, and 51% contribute to food security and nutrition in Africa.
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) and Impact Policy
Our revised Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) and Impact Policy took effect May 1, 2022.
Capital mobilized
across 466 loans to SMEs supported by Aceli's financial incentives.
THE ROLE OF AGRI-SMEs
Agricultural SMEs are vital actors in the agricultural sector, strengthening climate resilience and facilitating pathways out of poverty for both smallholder farmers and low-skill workers, particularly women and youth.
THE CHALLENGE
Agricultural SMEs need reliable access to finance to realize their growth and impact potential. However, Aceli’s original data confirms that risk in agri-SME lending is twice as high as other sectors while returns are 4-5% lower, limiting capital flows to agricultural SMEs today.
THE NEED FOR SMARTER FINANCING
Lenders have historically shied away from the high risks and low returns, creating a $65 billion annual financing gap for agricultural SMEs across sub-Saharan Africa. Traditional guarantee mechanisms are not sufficient to increase lender risk appetite and extend credit access to the majority of agricultural SMEs that are not currently being served.
OUR PARTNERS
Aceli Africa has been designed by lending practitioners based on their experience serving agricultural SMEs, and informed by data from 31 lenders and numerous stakeholders.
DATA & LEARNING
DONORS
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
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