Village Enterprise

About Us

Ending extreme poverty in rural Africa through entrepreneurship, innovation, and collective action

More than 430 million people in Africa live in extreme poverty—70% of the world’s poorest. And every day, more families in Africa are being pushed into extreme poverty because of climate change, conflict, displacement, and a lack of resources and opportunities. We aim to change that.

Village Enterprise has a proven solution backed by evidence from two independent randomized controlled trials. People who complete our program go on to become successful entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities, building a brighter future for themselves and their families.

The Village Enterprise Model

We believe in the power of the entrepreneurial spirit to transform lives and build resilience to climate change. Community-based and locally-led, our poverty graduation program equips people living in extreme poverty in rural Africa with cash transfers, training, and mentoring to create climate-smart, sustainable businesses and savings groups, permanently breaking the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families. Digital technology and a group-based approach make our model more scalable and cost-effective than traditional approaches. Over 80% of our entrepreneurs are female, ensuring greater gender equity and increased opportunities for women and families. And rigorous evidence shows that our model works!