CFC Executive Board Approves New Investments to Strengthen Global Agri-SME Financing and Support Thousands of Smallholders

Amsterdam, 15 April 2026 — The Executive Board of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), at its 81st meeting held virtually, approved a new set of high-impact investments aimed at strengthening agricultural value chains, enhancing climate resilience, and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The approved projects form part of the CFC’s continued efforts to address growing global demand for financing in commodity-dependent developing countries and to support inclusive, sustainable agri-food systems.

“The problem is not a shortage of viable projects—the problem is a shortage of appropriately structured capital where real producers operate,” said Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC. “The platform is ready, the demand is rising, and what is needed now is the support to match this moment.”

Expanding Impact Through Targeted Investments

At the meeting, the Executive Board approved financing for a portfolio of projects covering key commodities including cocoa, coffee, rice, shea, avocado, and diversified agri-finance initiatives.

The investments are expected to support hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers, strengthen access to finance for agri-SMEs and cooperatives, promote climate-resilient agricultural practices, and enhance market access and value addition.

The approved projects include:

• Nutritious Foods Financing Facility (N3F), Sub-Saharan Africa – USD 500,000 to expand access to safe and nutritious foods through financing of agri-SMEs.
• Green Rice Bond SPV, Tanzania/Kenya – USD 500,000 to improve productivity, climate resilience, and incomes for smallholder rice farmers.
• Incofin Progress Fund II (IPF II), India – USD 1,000,000 to support inclusive finance and sustainable agri-food enterprises serving rural communities.
• Alliance Finance Company, Sri Lanka – USD 1,500,000 to expand climate-smart agri-finance for smallholders and rural MSMEs.
• COOPAZA (Côte d’Ivoire) – USD 1,000,000 to strengthen cocoa aggregation, processing, and market access for over 3,000 smallholder farmers.
• SOCODD (Côte d’Ivoire) – USD 1,000,000 to support cocoa pre-financing and expand certified cocoa production and exports.
• Sommalife, Ghana – USD 1,000,000 to enhance market access and incomes for up to 120,000 smallholder farmers, predominantly women, in the shea value chain.
• UCA (Nicaragua) – USD 1,500,000 to scale coffee sourcing, processing, and exports while supporting smallholder cooperative members.
• Incavo, Peru – USD 500,000 to expand sustainable avocado production and strengthen integration of smallholder farmers into export markets.

Strong Pipeline Reflects Rising Global Demand

The approvals follow a highly competitive selection process under the CFC’s 27th Call for Proposals, which attracted 283 submissions—highlighting the growing demand for structured financing solutions and the persistent financing gap faced by smallholder-focused enterprises. Of these, 43 proposals were shortlisted and reviewed by the Project Appraisal Committee, with 12 subsequently recommended by the Consultative Committee for consideration by the Executive Board.

Operational and Strategic Developments

In addition to approving new investments, the Executive Board reviewed key operational and strategic developments across the organization. The Board noted a strong pipeline of 39 projects across 29 countries, with an estimated value of approximately USD 33 million, alongside ongoing efforts to strengthen portfolio impact management and risk oversight. It also welcomed significant progress in the Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund, which has reached its first close and is now entering its investment phase, with further capital mobilization underway.

The Board further took note of continued progress in implementing the CFC’s Strategic Framework 2025–2035, underscoring its role as a “living” instrument guiding the organization’s growth. It also reviewed updates on financial performance and investment portfolio management, as well as organizational planning, including the extension of the CFC headquarters lease in Amsterdam and the ongoing exploration of a potential future relocation to The Hague in consultation with Member States and CFC staff.

Positioning CFC for Greater Impact

With a growing pipeline of high-quality projects and increasing global demand, the Common Fund for Commodities remains committed to scaling its impact where it matters most. 

By mobilizing partnerships, expanding access to finance, and strengthening commodity value chains, the CFC continues to empower smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs —delivering practical solutions that drive sustainable growth and resilience across developing economies.

For media inquiries, please contact:  
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]