We elevate rural enterprises by delivering partnerships and investment structures that promote financial inclusion for smallholders and rural economies.

Our extensive research into the broader ecosystem around smallholder finance and rural enterprises helps move the sector forward.

Combining industry leading research with hands-on technical expertise, ISF develops practical, profitable, and sustainable financial solutions.

Why rural enterprise and smallholder farmers?

Food
Security

for a world population of 9 billion by 2050

Poverty Alleviation

for the 2 billion dependant on agriculture for income

Land Preservation

for the protection of natural resources

Explore our database of 100+ funds in smallholder finance to get to know different blended finance and impact investing approaches.
Case Study

Blended investment fund design and development

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Blended investment fund design and development

ISF advised a multi-lateral client on the design and development of a blended public and private debt investment fund focused on rural SMEs and smallholder producer organizations, with a supporting technical assistance facility to reduce investment risk.

Case Study

Sustainable supply chain financing facility

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Sustainable supply chain financing facility

Sponsored by a US charitable foundation, ISF designed a supply chain financing facility that incentivizes suppliers to meet sustainability standards of global cotton and apparel buyers through low-cost post-shipment financing. ISF is currently facilitating a group of partners working together to implement the model.

Case Study

West African Commodity Alliance

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West African Commodity Alliance

As a strategic financial services partner to a leading pre-competitive commodity alliance, ISF identified pre-competitive investment structures and activities that members can collectively execute to promote access to finance for rural enterprises in West Africa, such as new risk-sharing facilities, federated collection of shared farmer data, and financial service sector policy advocacy.

Case Study

Financing for East African agro-processors

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Financing for East African agro-processors

ISF is part of a nutrition alliance with a technical assistance provider and an NGO to provide customized technical and financial assistance to food processors in East Africa. As the lead Access to Finance partner, ISF assessed local and regional lending institutions and risk-reduction mechanisms, facilitated market linkages to appropriate forms of investment – and where local services were not available – ISF facilitated the creation of new platforms to provide food processors equity and debt.

Our Partners

Our work is made possible through support from USAID's Feed the Future initiative.

ISF research is produced in strategic partnership with The Mastercard Foundation Rural & Agricultural Finance Learning Lab.

Learn more about our areas of expertise & industry-leading research or current job openings. You can also contact us or sign up for our newsletter.