Economic Development

The initiative with Nestlé Nigeria and IDH helped farmers connect to better supply chains and improve their incomes, contributing to better food security.

Despite the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges this year, TechnoServe helped thousands of people to improve their incomes through new partnerships, studies, and program innovations. See how 2021 was a year of promise and potential around the world.

Even though she would rather be cooking delicious meals, a chef in Mozambique works to revamp the business side of things to keep the food flowing out of her kitchen.

Ermelinda Vargas Paye, owner of Hostel Mary in the city of Moquegua, Peru, won’t let COVID-19 steal her spirit – or her livelihood. A lifelong attitude of determination, and business training from TechnoServe, prepared her to lead her enterprise through the pandemic.

Despite the challenges small- and medium-sized businesses have faced throughout the pandemic, there are reasons to be optimistic about the future. From Benin to El Salvador to India, read about five reasons to get excited about what’s ahead.

Beyond Extraction, a partnership to promote sustained, broad-based economic development in communities surrounding Anglo American operations in Brazil, Chile, and Peru, was nominated as a finalist for the P3 Impact Award. Read about what the partnership means for participants.

Learn how agri-technology can improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by creating cost efficiencies, introducing transparency in information flows, and strengthening the connectivity between value chain actors.

Earlier this year, violent insurgents attacked the city of Palma in northern Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique. They killed dozens of people, forced thousands to flee, and sparked a humanitarian crisis that continues to this day. There is a perceived link between poverty — particularly among youth — and insecurity. TechnoServe is addressing this challenge by promoting economic opportunities for youth in the region.

In March 2021, Imoni Akpofure joined TechnoServe’s Board of Directors. In this Q&A, she talks about her background, her career focused on business and development in Africa, and what she sees as the most promising opportunities to reduce poverty at scale.

In India, women farmers often face challenges accessing the same information, networks, and capital as their male counterparts. TechnoServe is helping women like Rajkumari Akhilesh improve their livelihoods and overcome significant obstacles by starting their own microenterprises.