CFC and Ten Senses Sign Agreement to Advance Macadamia Value Chain in Kenya
23 April 2025, Amsterdam - The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and Ten Senses Africa Ltd. have taken a significant step forward to facilitate a new USD 1,500,000 working capital facility. This funding replaces the existing facility and will be used to procure Macadamia Nuts in Shell (NIS) from smallholders, process them into high-quality kernels, and export the finished product to international clients.
The investment was approved during the 78th Meeting of the CFC Executive Board in October 2024. The purpose of the requested financing is to increase the volume of macadamia nuts sourced from small-holder farmers for export to international clients.
Ten Senses, a Kenyan company engaged in sourcing, processing, and exporting macadamia nuts, is backed by Pamoja, a Swiss-based group specializing in the macadamia value chain. Since 2020, the CFC has supported Ten Senses through a trade finance line, and this new investment marks an expansion of that collaboration to further strengthen smallholder inclusion and value-added processing.
The company provides direct market access, fair pricing, and technical support to thousands of smallholder farmers, promoting sustainable farming practices and inclusive growth in rural communities.
On 10 April 2025, both parties signed the loan agreement to advance the project. Ahead of the signing, Mr. Guillaume Maillard, CEO of Pamoja, shared a brief overview of Ten Senses’ operations and its growing role in transforming the macadamia sector in Kenya. Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC, emphasized the Fund’s mission to address poverty at the producer level.
The signing took place at the CFC Secretariat in Amsterdam. Mr. Maillard was received by Ambassador Belal, who was accompanied by Mr. Ernesto Daza Lacouture, Impact Investment Manager of CFC for Ten Senses.
Both parties look forward to the successful implementation of this impactful project in Kenya.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]