Equity Group Foundation (EGF) has been awarded Ksh. 141 million (€1 million) by Proparco, part of the Agence Française de Développement Group, to support its “Climate Resilient Agri-Food Systems (CRAFS)” initiative. Founded in 2008 as the social arm of Equity Group Holdings, Equity Group Foundation (EGF) is a non-profit organization based in Kenya. EGF’s mission is to enhance the livelihoods of people across Africa by executing high-impact development programs, including the CRAFTS initiative.
This project aims to help smallholder farmers in Kenya transition to climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, which will increase productivity, build resilience against climate-related challenges, and reduce emissions from agriculture through sustainable methods.
French Ambassador to Kenya, Arnaud Suquet, emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying, “The collaboration between France, through Proparco, and EGF will play a critical role in supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs. This project highlights our ongoing partnership with Equity Group, which allows local businesses to thrive and grassroots initiatives to flourish in sectors like agriculture, health, higher education, fintech, and renewable energy. I commend Dr. James Mwangi and Equity Group for our productive collaboration.”
Jean Guyonnet-Dupérat, Proparco’s Regional Director for East Africa, added, “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Equity Group, a long-time client and leading player in Africa. Through its Foundation, Equity Group is driving significant change by supporting Kenyan agricultural actors, from small-scale farmers to innovators. Our technical support reinforces this commitment, and we are grateful to EGF for their trust.”
Equity Group’s Managing Director and CEO, Dr. James Mwangi, commented, “This partnership with Proparco marks another significant step in empowering farmers, families, communities, and nations to thrive in an ever-changing world. By adopting climate-smart agriculture, we will help farmers increase productivity, strengthen resilience to climate shocks, and contribute to a sustainable future. Smallholder farmers require the support to mitigate agricultural risks, and we are dedicated to assisting them in overcoming these challenges.”
The CRAFTS project, led by EGF in collaboration with Equity Group, will offer training, access to financial resources, and knowledge exchange to aid small-scale producers. A dedicated field team will oversee implementation while suppliers and value chain partners will play a vital role in empowering farmers and micro-businesses. The project will target 15,000 farmers annually engaged in livestock or crop value chains, providing them with training, awareness programs, financial support, and access to sustainable production practices, waste-to-energy solutions, water management, and energy-efficient technologies.