On Tuesday, Proparco and Equity Group announced a deal that will provide the Equity Group Foundation (EGF) with €1 million in technical assistance for the execution of its high-impact project, “Climate Resilient Agri-Food Systems” (CRAFS).
The goal of this collaboration with Equity Group, a long-time client, is to assist small Kenyan farmers in implementing sustainable farming methods.
The signing ceremony was held in Nairobi on Tuesday, with Dr. James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Group, Proparco’s Regional Director for East Africa Jean Guyonnet-Dupérat, and Arnaud Suquet, French Ambassador to Kenya, in attendance.
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Agriculture: backbone of Kenya’s economy
Kenya’s economy is mostly driven by agriculture, which contributes roughly 30 percent of GDP and 45 percent of export revenue.
It supports 75 percent of rural communities and employs more than 70 percent of the rural workforce, 60 percent of whom are women and young people, making it the foundation of rural livelihoods.
About Equity Group Foundation
Founded in 2008 as the social arm of Equity Group Holdings, the Equity Group Foundation (EGF) is a non-profit organisation with its headquarters in Kenya. It aims to improve Africans’ lives and means of subsistence.
High-impact development initiatives are carried out by EGF, such as the “Climate Resilient Agri-Food Systems” (CRAFS) project, which will assist smallholder farmers in Kenya in implementing Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA).
By using sustainable methods, this strategy lowers agriculture emissions, increases resilience to climatic shocks, and increases production.
Benefits for Kenyan farmers
Small-scale producers will benefit from training, financial access, and information sharing through the CRAFS initiative, which is being coordinated by EGF in partnership with Equity Group.
A committed field team will guarantee implementation on the ground, and value chain participants and suppliers are crucial in enabling farmers and microbusinesses.
With an annual target of 15,000 farmers involved in livestock or agricultural value chains, the initiative will offer education, awareness-raising, financial access, connections, and knowledge sharing about sustainable production methods, waste-to-energy, water harvesting and management, and efficient energy use.
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Comments from stakeholders
French Ambassador to Kenya, Arnaud Suquet emphasised that the collaboration between France, Proparco, and Equity Group will support SMEs and entrepreneurship,
“In a country where agriculture is critical for employment, food security, environment and foreign currency earning, the collaboration between France through Proparco and EGF will be key to support SMEs and entrepreneurship,” said Suquet.
Jean Guyonnet-Dupérat, Proparco’s Regional Director for East Africa, said: “Proparco is very pleased to strengthen its partnership with a long-standing client and leading player on the African continent, Equity Group. Through its Foundation, Equity participates in concrete change by supporting Kenyan actors in agriculture, from small farmers to innovators. Our technical support backs this approach, and we thank EGF for its trust!”
Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr. James Mwangi, said: “This partnership with Proparco is another milestone in a journey of people and nations. It’s about farmers, families, communities and nations gaining the knowledge and support to thrive in a changing world. By embracing Climate-Smart Agriculture, we will empower farmers to increase their productivity, build resilience against climate shocks, and contribute to a more sustainable future. Smallholder farmers need support to mitigate agricultural risks, and we are committed to helping them navigate these challenges.”