The Agriculture Financing Initiative (AgriFI) is an impact investment facility funded by the European Union and managed by EDFI Management Company (EDFI MC) that aims to unlock finance for agricultural value chains, especially in developing countries. It focuses on smallholder inclusion, sustainable rural development, and strengthening agri-business MSMEs where traditional financing is hard to obtain.
What AgriFI Does
AgriFI tackles one of the biggest barriers faced by farmers and agribusinesses: lack of appropriate, long-term finance. By blending public funds from the European Union with private sector investment, AgriFI supports sustainable production, improved yields, and higher incomes for smallholders. It leverages patient capital in forms like senior or junior debt, equity, quasi-equity, and tailored financing tools that align with the needs of rural enterprises.
Instead of standalone grants, AgriFI’s blended finance model aims to be catalytic — drawing in additional investors and scaling commercial activity that delivers development impact.
Who AgriFI Supports (Target Beneficiaries)
The initiative targets a broad set of actors connected to agricultural value chains, including:
- Smallholder farmers who need access to inputs, technology and markets
- Agribusiness MSMEs involved in processing, aggregation, logistics, or value addition
- Financial institutions and impact funds that can on-lend to rural entrepreneurs
- Innovative agri-tech ventures that increase productivity or market connectivity
AgriFI prioritises vulnerable groups such as women and youth, aiming to make agriculture more inclusive and resilient.
Geographical Scope & Country Windows
AgriFI operates through multiple targeted facilities designed for specific countries and regions:
- AgriFI Global: €40 million to finance agri-food enterprises across countries on the OECD DAC list.
- AgriFI – Ghana Country Window: €10 million supporting producers and value chains in northern Ghana, focusing on crops like rice, groundnut and vegetables.
- AgriFI – Tanzania Country Window: €12 million tailored to key national crops such as coffee, tea and horticulture.
- AgriFI – Sri Lanka Country Window: €8 million to increase productivity and reduce post-harvest losses, with emphasis on organic agriculture and cold chain improvements.
- AgriFI – ACP Regional Window: €50 million to support exemplary projects across Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific regions, including priority value chains like cocoa, coffee and cashew.
These windows allow tailored interventions based on local agriculture needs and opportunities.
Examples of Investment Impact
Complete Farmer (Ghana): An AgriFI investment of around €2.2 million helped expand agritech services in underserved regions, building fulfillment hubs that support thousands of smallholders with inputs, advisory services and market access.
NBS Bank (Malawi): Under the ACP regional window, AgriFI’s backing enables the bank to become a key lender to the agricultural sector, including tea and macadamia value chains, improving credit access for rural enterprises.
These partnerships demonstrate how blended finance can expand reach and deepen impact across critical food systems.
Benefits for African MSMEs & Farmers
📈 Access to Tailored Finance
AgriFI fills a gap where commercial lenders are hesitant, offering medium- to long-term funding that matches agricultural business cycles.
🌱 Value Chain Inclusion
Funding emphasises inclusive value chain development, ensuring smallholders are part of larger markets and benefit from improved infrastructure and services.
🤝 Catalytic Investment
By combining EU public funds with private capital, AgriFI attracts more investment into frontier agricultural sectors, increasing overall financial flows for rural development.
🌍 Sustainable Impact
Investments are aligned with environmental and social standards, promoting sustainable practices that enhance longtime resilience against climate shocks.
How to Engage (Apply for Investment)
AgriFI does not operate like a grant program with open calls. Instead:
- Visit the AgriFI page on the EDFI Management Company website.
- Review investment criteria — suited to MSMEs, financial institutions, and impact funds operating in target agriculture sectors.
- Submit an investment enquiry via the AgriFI contact and application avenue on the platform.
- Work with AgriFI advisors to explore tailored financing options that match your agribusiness strategy.
