What is ARAF?
The Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF) operates as a specialized impact fund dedicated to enhancing the climate resilience of smallholder farmers. By focusing on the intersection of agribusiness and environmental sustainability, the fund provides essential equity capital to enterprises that help farmers adapt to shifting climate patterns, thereby increasing yields and household incomes. Managed by a subsidiary of Acumen, ARAF serves as a vital conduit for institutional capital aimed at fostering profitable, scalable, and climate-smart agricultural solutions in Africa. Its market position is defined by a dual commitment to financial performance and measurable social impact, aligning private sector growth with the Sustainable Development Goals.
How much funding has ARAF raised?
ARAF has raised a total of $90M across 1 funding round:
Unspecified
$90M
Unspecified (2026): $90M with participation from Proparco, BIO Invest, FMO - Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, Swedfund International, and Green Climate Fund
Key Investors in ARAF
Proparco
A subsidiary of the French Development Agency that provides financing and technical assistance to support sustainable private sector growth in developing and emerging economies.
BIO Invest
A Belgian development finance institution that offers long-term capital and support to private enterprises and financial institutions to foster sustainable development.
FMO - Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank
The Dutch entrepreneurial development bank that provides equity, loans, and guarantees to private companies in emerging markets to stimulate sustainable economic progress.
What's next for ARAF?
With the successful closure of this major strategic investment, ARAF is well-positioned to accelerate its deployment of capital into high-potential agribusinesses. The fund's forward-looking strategy involves deepening its portfolio of climate-resilient ventures, with a specific focus on technologies and business models that offer tangible improvements to smallholder productivity. As the fund scales, it will likely continue to leverage its partnerships with development finance institutions to de-risk investments and catalyze further private sector participation in the agricultural sector. The focus remains on building a robust ecosystem of enterprises that can withstand climate volatility while driving long-term economic prosperity for farmers across the region.
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