Stories
Learn more about the people we serve, the challenges they face and see our work in action.
Stories
The Future Of Farming is Young And Ready to Lead
With access to practical training, digital tools, and flexible financing, young farmers are turning curiosity and determination into tangible livelihoods. They are not waiting for opportunity; they are building it.
From data to impact: How gender insights help farmers prosper
Closing the gender gap starts with understanding it. Collecting and analyzing data helps us identify where disparities exist, uncover insights into farmers' different experiences, test solutions, and shape programs that deliver fairer outcomes for all.
Seeing the whole farm: A new way to understand farmer progress and prosperity
To better reflect the reality of farmers’ lives, our Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team developed a new approach; whole-farm measurement. By measuring the whole-farm impact, we will develop stronger, data-driven strategies to better support farmers across all their crops, and ensure we continue to generate a meaningful impact for the farmers we serve.
Bringing digital tools to one million smallholder farmers
One Acre Fund commits to reaching 1 million smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa by 2027 with a new set of digital tools designed to improve productivity and help farmers withstand extreme weather.
How AgTech supports women and youth to shape Africa’s farming future
Closing the agricultural digital divide is key to securing Africa’s food future. When women and youth farmers are prioritized in AgTech, adoption grows, resilience strengthens, and impact deepens.
How Delifa turned farming into a Pathway to Prosperity
When Delifa Chimtambala’s grocery business unfortunately closed, she turned to agriculture. Not only as a way to provide for her family, but also as a pathway to prosperity that would help her raise enough capital to start a new business.
Empowering women farmers: One Acre Fund’s commitment to gender-smart agriculture
Our direct-to-farmer services are intentionally designed to address the unique challenges farmers face. With strategies that encourage participation from both men and women, we are pleased to see that women make up more than 50% of our clients. In this piece, we highlight the approaches that make this possible and the strategies we are adopting to become more gender-sensitive
Measuring what matters: Evaluating 2024 impact and charting the path forward
In 2024, One Acre Fund stayed focused on two core priorities: creating lasting, measurable impact for smallholder farmers and tracking that impact with rigor. By listening to farmers and continually monitoring, evaluating, and learning from our work, we are making steady progress toward our ambitious goal of serving 10 million farmers by 2030.
Pathways to Prosperity: How young farmers are growing more and earning better
When Adeline Gwizimpundu dropped out of school, it was to support her parents on their subsistence farm. Now, many years later, she's found that farming can offer real and lasting routes to prosperity.
New look, same mission: Why One Acre Fund is refreshing our leaf
Our impact has deepened, our vision sharpened, and we wanted a new symbol to help better tell our story.
Investing in Nigeria’s smallholder farmers for a food-secure future
Recognizing both the incredible potential of smallholder farmers and the persistent challenges they face, our Nigeria program convened key stakeholders for a national dialogue on food security in Abuja. Titled “Achieving Food Security in Nigeria: Bridging the Gap,” the event brought together government leaders, policymakers, agricultural innovators, development partners, and farmers.
2024 in Review: We're halfway to our 2030 Vision
Our 2024 Annual Report is now finalised and live, and it makes for encouraging reading. In 2024, we managed to increase impact, build farmer resilience to the challenges they face, and created new pathways for their pursuit of prosperity.
Growing resilience: Farmers lead the way in Kenya and Rwanda
Picture a farmer in Kenya sowing seeds of managu, an indigenous leafy green packed with nutrients her children need to thrive. Or a farmer in Rwanda planting cover crops to enrich her soil and protect against erosion. These small acts of resilience are happening against a backdrop of enormous challenges like degraded soils, and rising food insecurity.
It Takes a Village to empower communities: Alphonsine Musanabera’s story of entrepreneurship
At just 24 years old, Alphonsine Musanabera is redefining what it means to be a young farmer. In Rwamagana District, Rwanda, she’s not only breaking the cycle of intergenerational farming challenges but also creating opportunities for her community.
Protecting the financial future of farmers: Mbonihankuye Wilo's Journey
Mbonihankuye Wilo is a 34-year-old farmer from Kibungo Hill in Gitega province. Like many farmers in his community, Mbonihankuye faced many challenges.
It Takes a Village to feed a community: The story of Talatu and Alhaji Ibrahim Umar
In Pyata, a rural community in Niger State, Nigeria, farming is more than just a livelihood—it’s the central activity that connects the village. For Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, the Village Head, and his wife Talatu Ibrahim, farming has become a means to not only secure their family’s future but also assist their neighbors when the need arises.
How the science of soil testing translates into farmer impact
Oliver Shibonje, a retired geography and music teacher from Kenya's Kakamega County, has traded in his chalk and classroom for the open fields, embracing full-time farming with a focus on maize, vegetables, and sugarcane.
A friendship that sparked change: Febronie and Vestine's story
In the heart of Bugesera District, Rwanda, Febronie Mukashyaka, a young mother of three, grappled with the daily challenge of providing for her family while staying close to her children. Her journey took a turn when she visited Vestine Mukashyaka, a 52-year-old neighbor and fellow local savings group member.
It Takes a Village to empower Farmers: Asterie’s journey of growth and giving back
Asterie Ntahonvukiye is a trained teacher and passionate volunteer in rural Burundi, but her classroom extends far beyond the school walls. As the leader of a local farming group, she’s committed to ensuring that every member has the skills they need to thrive.
Why empowering women farmers is crucial for Africa’s agricultural growth
Female farmers like Alphonsine are essential to Africa's food production, yet they often lack the same access to resources as their male counterparts. If women had equal access to these resources, they could increase their farm harvest by 20–30 percent.
Gabriel Alkali: Building a family legacy, financial stability and impact
For many farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, planting trees through our farmer-led tree planting initiative has had many, varied and obvious benefits.
Branching out: How One Acre Fund is helping mushroom farmers access new markets
Mushroom farming is a new agricultural endeavour for many of Burundi's smallholders. However those trying their hands at farming fungi are seeing remarkable results.
Why agriculture is important for Burundi's new generation of farmers
Younger farmers like Asterie are inheriting the mantle of farming from their parents at a time of new challenges. It is crucial for them to acquire smart farming skills to ensure that they are still able to harvest well and support their families.
How profitable farming is nurturing a generation of women entrepreneurs
Eugine’s Asubila story is a testament to how smallholder agriculture is empowering women across Kenya – and sub-Saharan Africa – to become entrepreneurs by creating the means for them to set up new businesses.
