Mapping financial mechanisms for enhanced rainfed agriculture in Africa

Enhanced rainfed agriculture is particularly important in Africa, where 95% of agricultural production depends on rainwater and crop yields are amongst the lowest in the world. The main barrier to accelerating enhanced rainfed agriculture is investment. Financing for enhanced rainfed agriculture in Africa is relatively unexplored and access to credits for agricultural activities is limited for farmers. This document maps international financing mechanisms with the potential to scale investments into enhanced rainfed agriculture. Six key approaches or mechanisms were identified and include public and philanthropic funding, carbon financing, payment for ecosystem services, corporate grants and sustainable procurement, impact investments and conservation finance and crop and weather insurance.