We have been working in Sub-Saharan Africa since 1993, improving livelihoods through addressing some of the biggest challenges facing smallholder farmers and the rural poor, including access to finance, markets, and agricultural and health information and services.
The exponential growth of mobile phone subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa—from 90 million to 650 million between 2007 and 2015—offers unprecedented potential to not only expand financial inclusion, but also to deliver integrated solutions for the rural poor.
Working with partners, we create locally based solutions to the problems of poverty and hunger – providing access to and information about finance, health, and agriculture. We work in Bénin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Uganda. The work in Bénin and Burkina Faso is carried out by Freedom from Hunger, an independent affiliate of Grameen Foundation.
Photo credit: Riccardo Gangale/Grameen Foundation
Bénin
We are expanding financial inclusion for savings groups and providing them with family planning services, health education, and health financing.
Burkina Faso
We build resilience of families by teaching improved agriculture techniques, delivering financial services and educating about health and nutrition.
Ghana
We use multimedia and on-the-ground advisors to help farmers increase their access to agricultural training, finance, and secure markets for their crops.
Kenya
We are tapping the widespread availability of mobile phones to help poor households get better access to financial services and the information small-scale farmers needed to improve their productivity and incomes.
Sierra Leone
We are supporting a Ebola vaccine trial, using digital technology to ensure communities are informed and engaged.
Tanzania
We are helping farmers get the financing they need to buy quality seeds, fertilizer and other inputs, and the information they need to use them appropriately.
Uganda
From building networks of “village phone” operators at the dawn of Africa’s mobile revolution, to utilizing digital technology to train millions of smallholder farmers in best agricultural practices, Grameen Foundation’s innovations in Uganda have pioneered the use of digital technology to benefit poor communities.