ABOUT
Aceli Africa is a market catalyst promoting a more competitive and inclusive agri-SME lending sector in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Progress to date
Aceli is increasing access to finance for agri-SMEs, and these businesses have significant economic activity in rural communities.
62%
of Aceli-supported loans are to first time borrowers
24%
annual increase in revenue for SMEs
$1B
in crop purchases from farmers and salaries for workers
Our journey
2018-2020
The initial design for the Aceli model emerged from conversations among impact investors through the Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF). Aceli spent two years gathering data from 30+ lenders; the results confirmed that risk is real with agri-loans defaulting at twice the rate of loans in other sectors. Initial projections through 2025 estimated partnering with 15-20 financial institutions and supporting 1,500 loans.
2020-2023
In September 2020, with travel restrictions and economic challenges linked to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Aceli launched in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. In response to stakeholder interest and drawing on learning from East Africa, Aceli expanded to Zambia in 2023.
Today
To date, Aceli has partnered with 45 lenders making 3,800 loans totaling $320M. The SMEs receiving Aceli-supported loans have created market access for 1.6M smallholder farmer suppliers and full-time workers. Aceli expects continued growth over the next five years while focusing on long-term, sustainable partnerships with government entities.
Team stories
Our team members bring passion and personal experience to their work at Aceli. Read their stories below.
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Why Aceli? Reflections from Eddah Nang’ole, Aceli’s Impact & Learning Senior Manager
In my role defining criteria for Aceli’s climate & environment impact bonus and supporting lenders to develop and implement ESG policies, I hold two competing realities in my head. There are the agro-ecological practices that I learned early in my career as a researcher studying how beneficial insects can control pests and in later roles in program management and evaluation for regenerative agriculture.
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Why Aceli? Reflections from John Robert Okware, Aceli’s Uganda Country Director & Lender Activation Lead
I grew up near the slopes of Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda. The fertile soils there are favorable for agriculture and our family earned a precarious living from farming. Right from the age of five, I was oriented into agriculture as a source of not only food but also school fees for my education. Every season presented challenges.
