How might we increase equity and transparency between smallholder farmers and the companies for which they produce raw materials?

Solution pitched at dragons den:

Family farmers produce 70% of the world’s raw materials. Yet millions of farmers are impoverished with limited access to tools, technology and skills needed to boost their production and secure their livelihoods. This is leading to a massive migration of farmers to cities, which is putting pressure on already struggling public services (housing, water, sanitation, etc.).

This has to change. Companies that buy millions of tons of commodities have the power to transform supply chains and the responsibility to do so. Today, there is clear consensus that family farmers need to be integrated along supply chains in order to contribute to the SDGs. And by investing in smallholders, businesses can make headway towards the SDGs (eradication of hunger, building resilient livelihoods, etc.). Innovation is what businesses do best. They create new sources of value and generate impact. While NGOs and governments play an essential role, they can’t solve complex problems like climate change alone; business innovation is essential.

In the Finance and Trade Landscape Challenge, we will help youth understand:

• The added value of family farmers (social, economic, environmental) and the benefits linked to the family farming system.
• Constraints faced by family farmers.
• The best methods and tools to overcome family famers’ constraints and improve their revenues and livelihoods.

This knowledge will help us solve the core challenge: What new financial models can we create to put family farmers and companies sourcing from them on a level playing field?

With this challenge we hope to uncover the most innovative and adapted tools to implement, the most relevant stakeholders, and methods to measure and assess the impact of the solution.

We believe that together, we can improve the livelihoods of family farmers and help companies green their supply chains to be more accountable to consumers and the planet.

Challenge mentors:

HATIM ISSOUFALY is a Senior Projects Coordinator at the Livelihoods Venture, which involves designing, structuring and implementing projects with NGOs/farmers cooperatives for the fund’s corporate partners. Prior to joining Livelihoods, Hatim worked for seven years as Program Manager with the mission to identify and strengthen the capacities of actors of social change in Southeast Asia at CCFD-Terre Solidaire. In Chad, he was in charge of monitoring a rural development project funded by the French Development Agency (AFD). In Sri Lanka, he was responsible for implementing a rehabilitation project for displaced persons due to the civil war as part of a European Union co-funded project.

TIMOTHEE MURILLO is a Senior Business Development Manager at Livelihoods Venture. He is in charge of engaging with stakeholders (private sector, development institutions, public bodies) to develop partnerships, raise capital resources, and source new projects for the Livelihoods Fund for Family Farming (Livelihoods 3F). Timothée brings 10 years of experience in water and environmental services. Prior to joining Livelihoods, he worked for leading utility firms in Europe, North and Latin America. His previous roles included developing new business models, analyzing financial transactions, and approaching strategic partners. In addition to his experience in the private sector, Timothée has worked with NGOs and development organizations in West and Southern Africa. Timothée holds a Master’s degree in Management from HEC Paris.

Challenge partner: