One Acre Fund Impact Assessment
Investigating circular-economy innovation through local carbon black applications.
Project Type: Personal Research & Communication Exercise
Year: 2024
Context
One Acre Fund is a nonprofit organization supporting smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa with financing, training, and market access to improve yields, income, and food security.
This personal research project involved developing a comprehensive impact assessment of One Acre Fund's 2023 activities, alongside a communication strategy to distribute and position the report effectively. The goal was to evaluate the organization's scale, progress, and achievements, and to translate those insights into a clear, compelling narrative for stakeholders.
This personal research project involved developing a comprehensive impact assessment of One Acre Fund's 2023 activities, alongside a communication strategy to distribute and position the report effectively. The goal was to evaluate the organization's scale, progress, and achievements, and to translate those insights into a clear, compelling narrative for stakeholders.
Project Purpose
Assess One Acre Fund's reach, impact, and performance across sub-Saharan Africa.
Distill organizational achievements into a structured, data-driven report.
Develop a communication plan for effectively sharing the report with donors, partners, and the public.
Strengthen skills in sustainability reporting, nonprofit analysis, and strategic communication.
Distill organizational achievements into a structured, data-driven report.
Develop a communication plan for effectively sharing the report with donors, partners, and the public.
Strengthen skills in sustainability reporting, nonprofit analysis, and strategic communication.
Key Areas of Focus
The report examined One Acre Fund's performance through:
Program scale and reach
Financial sustainability
Innovation in agricultural support
Climate resilience initiatives
Farmer livelihoods and community benefits
Program scale and reach
Financial sustainability
Innovation in agricultural support
Climate resilience initiatives
Farmer livelihoods and community benefits
Highlights From the 2023 Impact Review
1. Organizational Reach & Beneficiaries
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4.8 million farmers served across nine African countries.- 26 million farm family members reached indirectly.
- Expansion of agroforestry programs supporting large-scale tree planting and soil restoration.
2. Financial Strength & Sustainability
- Over $100 million in donor funding and grants raised.- Sustained 95% loan repayment rate, demonstrating strong farmer trust and program value.
3. Climate & Risk Innovation
- Launched One Acre Fund Re, a reinsurance facility providing low-cost protection against extreme weather.- Expanded climate-smart farming practices to help farmers adapt to volatile climate patterns.
4. Digital Transformation
-
Rolled out new digital tools for farmer training and remote support.- Increased access to agronomic knowledge through mobile-based learning resources.
What I Delivered
Impact Report (Primary Output)
A structured, evidence-based document that:
- Synthesized One Acre Fund's 2023 achievements.
- Highlighted performance metrics and key milestones.
- Explained the importance of the organization's mission and long-term strategy.
- Positioned the organization within the broader context of African agriculture and food security.
Communication Plan (Secondary Output)
A strategic dissemination plan that included:
- Target audience segmentation (donors, policymakers, partners, the public).
- Tailored key messages for each audience group
- Recommended channels (email campaigns, blog articles, social media assets, partner outreach).
- Suggested timelines and content formats (infographics, summary briefs, newsletters).
A structured, evidence-based document that:
- Synthesized One Acre Fund's 2023 achievements.
- Highlighted performance metrics and key milestones.
- Explained the importance of the organization's mission and long-term strategy.
- Positioned the organization within the broader context of African agriculture and food security.
Communication Plan (Secondary Output)
A strategic dissemination plan that included:
- Target audience segmentation (donors, policymakers, partners, the public).
- Tailored key messages for each audience group
- Recommended channels (email campaigns, blog articles, social media assets, partner outreach).
- Suggested timelines and content formats (infographics, summary briefs, newsletters).
Impact & Value
This project strengthened clarity around One Acre Fund's 2023 outcomes and created a concise communication pathway for increasing visibility, stakeholder engagement, and donor support.
It also demonstrates:
- Ability to analyze nonprofit impact through quantitative and qualitative lenses.
- Skill in translating data into accessible, compelling narratives.
- Capacity to combine research with strategic communication.
- Experience creating professional, publication-ready documentation.
It also demonstrates:
- Ability to analyze nonprofit impact through quantitative and qualitative lenses.
- Skill in translating data into accessible, compelling narratives.
- Capacity to combine research with strategic communication.
- Experience creating professional, publication-ready documentation.
Skills Demonstrated
Impact Assessment
Nonprofit Analysis
Report Writing
Strategic Communication
Agricultural Development
Sustainability Research
Data Synthesis
Nonprofit Analysis
Report Writing
Strategic Communication
Agricultural Development
Sustainability Research
Data Synthesis
Access the Full Report