In 2018, Grameen Foundation authored a landscape assessment on the use for data in support of smallholder farmers and agricultural development. This infographic summarizes a few of the main findings, and can serve as a launching pad for those considering how to harness the power of big data and digital technology for agricultural innovation. For a related blog, "Big Data and Smallholder Farmers," click here.
Grameen Foundation’ Community Agent Network (CAN) in the Philippines embodies a new approach to extending financial inclusion to people in poor, remote areas that is applicable across many countries. Combining a mostly female agent network with a digital financial services platform that connects people with banks, utility companies, government agencies, and other businesses it has enabled up to one million low-income people in the Philippines to benefit from formal financial services.
In the Philippines, more than three million coconut smallholder farmers supply a multi-billion dollar export industry. Yet, they are among the poorest households in the country. Grameen Foundation developed FarmerLink, using digital technology and field agents to provide farmers with complimentary resources: agricultural training, connections to high-value markets, support for organic certification, training in financial management, and access to financing.
Research by Grameen Foundation India on human-elephant conflict and attitudes toward conservation reveals main factors shaping people’s attitudes toward elephant conservation. With surveys that span 12 elephant corridors in seven states, the study finds correlations between conservation attitudes and levels of poverty and education, as well as gender. It identifies communication infrastructure that works best for both raising awareness of conservation and mitigating human-elephant conflict.
Abstract: Food security remains a challenge in Burkina Faso due to climate-related hazards that have led to decreasing food availability in areas already plagued with low food consumption and malnutrition. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of food insecurity among women in savings groups in northern and central west Burkina Faso and to identify associated factors. Interviews were conducted with 429 women. Logistic regression models were constructed to describe potential associations between key variables of interest and food security.
The increasing role of ICT-enabled extension services delivery to enhance agricultural productivity of smallholder farmers is an exciting development. This article assesses the effectiveness of the AgroTech Model piloted by Grameen Foundation in Ghana. AgroTech is a privately led ICT-enabled extension and support service. The study methodology includes a desk review of existing literature and a primary survey of 402 agricultural value chain actors.
This report documents a series of qualitative assessments completed as part of a pilot test of the Pro-WEAI for the “Gender, Agriculture, and Assets Project – Phase 2” (GAAP2) project led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) was launched by IFPRI, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and USAID’s Feed the Future program in February 2012 and was the first comprehensive standardized measure to capture women’s empowerment and inclusion in the agricultural sector.
November 07, 2017
“It’s not culturally common for us to work with foundations and NGOS--we’re a bank,” said Matthew Arnold, the Global Head of Sustainable Finance for JPMorgan Chase, which handles US$2 trillion in assets.
He was speaking in Seattle on Nov. 2, during a breakfast panel with Paul Moseley, Program Officer, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Steve Hollingworth, President and CEO of Grameen Foundation. So, perhaps it was a trio of unlikely bedfellows--but perhaps not.
This report documents the final client outcomes from a pre-/post-test assessment completed during the Rajasthan Nutrition Project (RNP). RNP’s goal was to improve household nutrition, particularly among pregnant and lactating women and children, and aimed specifically improve breastfeeding rates, use of ORS to treat diarrhea, linkages to local health services and household food security. The results suggest that all targets were met, if not exceeded. Gender dynamics, as measured by mobility and decision-making power, also improved during the project period.
The purpose of this study was to assess the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme centre usage among women in rural Rajasthan and characteristics of households accessing these centres. The findings suggest that in rural Rajasthan, the majority of individuals access ICDS centres, especially supplementary food services. While supplementary food services can be effective in reducing childhood undernutrition, ICDS services in this region may consider increasing focus on other cost-effective and underutilized services, including breastfeeding education.