About TechnoServe
Unlocking potential to overcome poverty
TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty. Unlike typical giveaways or subsidies, our approach uses your donations to achieve lasting impact. We empower individuals and communities to lift themselves out of poverty, helping them fulfill their dreams of a better life.
The Poverty Crisis
Global is local. Local is global
Hunger and unstable food systems. Environmental loss. Unemployment and inequality. The root cause of poverty may look quite similar from country to country. But the key to helping families lift themselves out of poverty is unique in each community. From extreme weather events to political scenarios to market dynamics, these families don’t just need partners, they need experts in the local context.
At TechnoServe, over 90% of our staff are from the countries where they work. This local expertise allows us to apply world-class analysis within the local context, designing and delivering tailored interventions. Our embedded approach addresses real adversity faced by real people, wherever they are.
Our Guiding Principles
A Snapshot of the TechnoServe Way
Our vision
A sustainable world where all people in low-income communities have the opportunity to prosper.
Our mission
To fight poverty by helping people build regenerative farms, businesses, and markets that increase incomes.
Our values
Lasting Impact—We are passionate about helping all people create meaningful and measurable improvement in their lives that persists long after our work with them ends.
Collaboration—We engage our colleagues, clients, and partners with a spirit of collegiality, open dialogue, and mutual respect.
Entrepreneurial—We try new things and build on what we’ve learned. We’re bold and willing to take smart risks in pursuit of our mission. We are resourceful and see opportunities where others see problems.
Accountability—We do what we say and say what we do, holding ourselves and each other to the highest standards of integrity and transparency.
Defining terms
What do we mean by regenerative?
Sustainable practices such as switching to renewable energy and reducing waste and emissions are significant and valuable—but they are not enough. That’s where regenerative business comes in. For a business to be regenerative, it must move beyond doing less harm and towards the active pursuit of doing more good.
At TechnoServe, we consider regenerative business to be commercial activity that strengthens, rather than degrades, communities and natural ecosystems. We focus our regenerative business practices on people, climate, and nature. This means we help address climate change and reverse nature loss, while showing small farmers and entrepreneurs how environment- and climate-friendly practices are good for business.
For instance, our regenerative agriculture training teaches farmers how to grow crops in a way that supports improved soil health, such as composting, mulching, and planting cover crops. These practices actually improve the quality and yields of many crops in the long run, providing opportunities for price premiums–and giving farmers a financial incentive to continue this approach. This is just one way in which regenerative business can help fight poverty.
Making an impact
Transforming lives
There are many ways one can define success when fighting poverty. Hard statistics. Detailed case studies. Personal stories of overcoming adversity. If you’re looking for proof of lasting impact, look no further.
35% of beneficiaries in East Africa are women
Our Story
Get to know us
For over 50 years, we have proudly served the global community, achieving significant milestones in poverty alleviation. And we’re only getting started. If you want to get to know TechnoServe in a nutshell, keep on reading.
Our history
Where it all began
The legacy of our founder, Ed Bullard, lives on at TechnoServe. From his earliest inspiration in Ghana to our transformation around the world, TechnoServe has deepened its impact over the last 50+ years.
TechnoServe
What’s with the name, anyway?
Why do we call ourselves “TechnoServe?” Because we are committed to designing innovative tools and approaches to reach more people, achieve greater impact, and produce stronger and more sustainable outcomes. All in service of helping people all over the world overcome global poverty.
Our goals
Big dreams lead to big things
Over the next ten years, millions of TechnoServe clients will earn $3 billion more in sustainable incomes.
In the more immediate term, here’s what we plan to accomplish by 2026:
Grow our clients’ annual revenue by $374 million per year
Support 650,000 direct beneficiaries per year
Increase the percentage of our clients who are women to 50%
Enable the creation, support, or placement of 80,000 jobs per year
Increase the number of youth beneficiaries to 182,000
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase farmland under regenerative practices
Who we serve
So which is it? Clients? Beneficiaries? Participants?
Actually, it’s all of the above. The key thing to know is that the goal of everything we do is to enable people in low-income communities to build better futures.
Our team
The people behind the progress
Our success in creating business solutions to poverty is driven by our talented and highly committed team.
Diversity is strength
A principle for all
Our mission of helping people lift themselves out of poverty is built upon the ideas of fairness and equity. We believe that every person deserves access to information, capital, and markets to create lasting prosperity for themselves, their families, and their communities.
TechnoServe recognizes the vital role of women and men, in all their diversity, in driving economic and social progress. We strive to build inclusive and competitive markets that generate sustainable economic opportunities for all people as entrepreneurs, farmers, and employees. We are committed to advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment through our work and workplaces.
Our partners
Creating lasting impact together
From government agencies to foundations, corporations to academic institutions to non-government organizations, our partners are crucial to our ability to carry out our mission to alleviate poverty. In addition to critical financial support, many of our partners provide market and employment opportunities for those we serve, as well as world-class business and industry expertise and advice that we can leverage to help create a thriving private sector in the countries where we work.
Financial summary
Let’s be perfectly clear
TechnoServe is dedicated to the highest standards of financial transparency and conduct. After all, our donors and stakeholders deserve to see just how efficiently and effectively their generous support has been put to use.
2023 Funding sources
$114 million raised
32% US Government
23% Corporations
20% Foundations
13% Other Government
6% Private Fundraising
3% Multilateral Organizations
3% Other
Contact Us
Partner support
Help every month
Your continued help is greatly appreciated