Africa's First Sustainable Rice Bond

Financing Sustainable Rice in Sub-Saharan Africa 

Demand for rice is rising rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet over 40% of the rice consumed in the region is imported at an annual cost of USD 5 billion. 

With more than 80% of locally produced rice grown by smallholder farmers—60% of whom are women—limited access to finance, modern tools and climate-resilient practices continues to hold back local production, undermining wages, business growth, and environmental outcomes.

The Africa’s First Sustainable Rice Bond addresses these challenges by channelling capital and technical expertise across the entire rice value chain through local financial institutions and agricultural intermediaries.

The funding supports the adoption of climate-smart and inclusive practices by providing resources for improved inputs, farmer training, water management and post-harvest technologies, while also delivering measurable carbon savings through reduced methane and CO2 emissions as farmers transition to sustainable methods.

This will strengthen the local rice sector by increasing incomes for smallholder farmers and other value chain actors.

Investee Profiles

The Africa’s First Sustainable Rice Bond will channel investments through local financial institutions and agricultural intermediaries to strengthen rice value chains.

Operational Set-Up

Technical Assistance Coordinator

Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation has over 10 years’ experience in sustainable rice projects across Asia and Africa. Through an inclusive systems approach centred on livelihoods, climate resilience and social inclusion, the organisation delivers strong social and environmental outcomes, providing the technical expertise that underpins the bond.

Facility Manager

iGravity, a Swiss-based advisory and investment firm specialising in impact investing and innovative financing for development, leverages its expertise to structure and manage this blended finance instrument, mobilise capital and de-risk investments to scale climate-smart rice value chains.

Impact

Key Financials

Partner with us

Together we will translate this approach into bankable, climate-resilient investments with clear KPIs and strong verification. To kick-start the Africa’s First Sustainable Rice Bond, we are seeking grant funding to capitalise the Technical Assistance Facility and to fund the first-loss tranche. These instruments de-risk the portfolio, crowd in private capital and accelerate delivery.

Partner with us to mobilise capital for measurable impact. Together, we can create the opportunities for African farmers to boost productivity and adopt climate-smart rice production locally.