Africa Development Promise (ADP) works with women-led agricultural cooperatives in Rwanda and Uganda, providing investment and training to help the cooperatives transition from subsistence farming to build sustainable, profitable agribusinesses.

The ERM Foundation has been working with ADP since 2014 when we were a founding funder for this early-stage NGO. During the last seven years, we have provided a combination of funding and pro bono professional support for the installation of new greenhouses, freshwater wells, renewable energy sources, and helping develop the organization’s monitoring and evaluation framework. 

Photo credit: Africa Development Promise

During the pandemic, travel restrictions made it difficult for agricultural cooperatives to sell their products at local markets and there was a drop in demand from hotels and other local businesses. This resulted in reduced incomes and increased levels of community malnutrition. This year, the ERM Foundation provided unrestricted funding to support ADP to shift their focus to develop 170 “kitchen gardens” that are helping to feed approximately 680 family members. Through this project, the female cooperative members are being trained on how to create kitchen gardens using permaculture practices. Initial results show that families have increased food security, helping to ensure families are eating at least two meals a day, and the women cooperative have benefitted from the food and nutrition training.