Africa Now has over 25 years of experience and a strong track record in finding innovative business solutions to poverty.

Projects include developing entry for farmers into the flower market through links with exporters. Capacity building for worker representatives in joint management bodies helps them better control the spending of community Fairtrade premiums.

Other projects include a dairy goat loan scheme (repayment is by passing on offspring), village banks, hire-purchase schemes for equipment for fishermen, and market development for specialist herbs and high-value organic vegetables.

Groups of smallholders brought together have greater bargaining power and get better prices. Contracts for regular payments stabilise income (as do year round projects such as beekeeping or dairy farming) allowing planning and budgeting.

Africa Now has a sustainable model of fee income from ethical audits carried out for local and international producers and retailers.

Africa Now’s local economic development model can be replicated and scaled up across rural areas of Africa. New projects are starting in Rwanda.

Smallholders are seeing doubling (or tripling in some cases) of income from sales.

Business projects have directly improved the lives of over 90,000 people.