Unlocking Agricultural Finance at Scale: Recommendations for Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

P.J. Allendes

Unlocking Agricultural Finance at Scale: Recommendations for Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

P.J. Allendes

AMSIB (CEDIS)

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Abstract

Agriculture is crucial for sustainable global development, providing food, labour, and capital, and serving as a market for industrial commodities. It is key to ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity, especially in developing regions like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia. Yet, food insecurity remains a significant challenge, with many rural populations subsisting on low-productivity agricultural systems. To further maximise the potential of the agricultural sector, access to finance is crucial to stimulate growth in the sector and boost the overall economy, leading to better living standards and reduced poverty.
Globally, many initiatives aim to spur access to financial services for agriculture. Various have proven to be successful, but in many countries a sustained, structural impact is still lacking. That is why the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) contracted us (Rabo Partnerships, RP) to conduct research. This research combines worldwide insights & lessons learned into a set of recommendations, aimed to answer the question “How to unlock agricultural finance at scale in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia?”.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Unlocking Agricultural Finance at Scale
Subtitle of host publication	Recommendations for Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia
Publication status	Published - 6 Apr 2025

Funding

This report was produced by a core team led by Rubiga Sivakumaran (Program Manager, Rabo Partnerships), including Jasper van Schaik (Senior Agriculture Finance Expert, Rabo Partnerships) and Kevin Kabatsi (Program manager, Rabo Partnerships). The research benefited from and reflected review inputs provided by Samuel Ssenyimba (Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Tom Kehoe (Deputy Director Agriculture, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and David Gerbrands (Global Head Advisory & Inclusive Business Ventures, Rabo Partnerships). Additionally, the research benefited from contributions by Suzanne Bijkerk (Researcher Diversity Equity Inclusion & Entrepreneurship, Rabobank), Pablo Allendes (Compliance Officer, Rabobank), Bjorn Schrijver (Asia Lead, Rabo Partnerships), Corné de Louw (Project Director, Rabo Partnerships), and a wide range of Rabo Partnerships & Rabobank colleagues. This research project was completed in assignment for- and with funding from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The roundtables were enabled by excellent collaboration with Rabobank Brazil & CoopBank (Ethiopia). Lastly, all consulted stakeholders & interviewees as mentioned in appendix A & B, have contributed with valuable insights that led to the final result of this report.

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Financing Agriculture at Scale - Research Project by Rabo PartnershipsFinal published version, 1.82 MBLicence: Unspecified

https://www.rabobank.com/about-us/rabo-partnerships/news/011473680/unlocking-agricultural-finance-at-scale-research-project-gates-foundationLicence: Unspecified

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title = "Unlocking Agricultural Finance at Scale: Recommendations for Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia",

abstract = "Agriculture is crucial for sustainable global development, providing food, labour, and capital, and serving as a market for industrial commodities. It is key to ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity, especially in developing regions like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia. Yet, food insecurity remains a significant challenge, with many rural populations subsisting on low-productivity agricultural systems. To further maximise the potential of the agricultural sector, access to finance is crucial to stimulate growth in the sector and boost the overall economy, leading to better living standards and reduced poverty. Globally, many initiatives aim to spur access to financial services for agriculture. Various have proven to be successful, but in many countries a sustained, structural impact is still lacking. That is why the Bill \& Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) contracted us (Rabo Partnerships, RP) to conduct research. This research combines worldwide insights \& lessons learned into a set of recommendations, aimed to answer the question “How to unlock agricultural finance at scale in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia?”. ",

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language = "English",

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T2 - Recommendations for Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

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N2 - Agriculture is crucial for sustainable global development, providing food, labour, and capital, and serving as a market for industrial commodities. It is key to ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity, especially in developing regions like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia. Yet, food insecurity remains a significant challenge, with many rural populations subsisting on low-productivity agricultural systems. To further maximise the potential of the agricultural sector, access to finance is crucial to stimulate growth in the sector and boost the overall economy, leading to better living standards and reduced poverty. Globally, many initiatives aim to spur access to financial services for agriculture. Various have proven to be successful, but in many countries a sustained, structural impact is still lacking. That is why the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) contracted us (Rabo Partnerships, RP) to conduct research. This research combines worldwide insights & lessons learned into a set of recommendations, aimed to answer the question “How to unlock agricultural finance at scale in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia?”.

AB - Agriculture is crucial for sustainable global development, providing food, labour, and capital, and serving as a market for industrial commodities. It is key to ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity, especially in developing regions like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia. Yet, food insecurity remains a significant challenge, with many rural populations subsisting on low-productivity agricultural systems. To further maximise the potential of the agricultural sector, access to finance is crucial to stimulate growth in the sector and boost the overall economy, leading to better living standards and reduced poverty. Globally, many initiatives aim to spur access to financial services for agriculture. Various have proven to be successful, but in many countries a sustained, structural impact is still lacking. That is why the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) contracted us (Rabo Partnerships, RP) to conduct research. This research combines worldwide insights & lessons learned into a set of recommendations, aimed to answer the question “How to unlock agricultural finance at scale in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia?”.

M3 - Chapter

BT - Unlocking Agricultural Finance at Scale

ER -

Unlocking Agricultural Finance at Scale: Recommendations for Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

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