Revolving Loan Program - Climate Resiliency Projects

Grow Ahead's revolving loan program provides direct lending to farmer organizations for implementing farmer-developed climate resiliency and agroecological projects. The program connects individual consumers and organizations directly to family farmer organizations through an online crowdfunding platform.

Geographic Scope: Global South - Latin America, Africa, Asia

Focus Areas - Eligible Projects:

• Agroforestry
• Soil conservation
• Yield-boosting compost operations
• Reforestation
• Tree planting initiatives
• Farm diversification
• Income generation projects
• Climate adaptation strategies
• Regenerative agriculture practices

Program Structure:

• Revolving loan mechanism allowing funds to cycle back for future projects
• Direct lending from consumers and organizations to farmer groups
• Crowdfunding platform to raise capital
• Farmer organizations lead project design and implementation
• Loans support grassroots, farmer-led solutions

Eligibility:

• Small-scale family farmer organizations
• Organizations developing their own resiliency projects
• Groups with proven track record of success or clear project plans
• Can include cooperatives, associations, and farmer networks

Example Project:

• Norandino Cooperative, Peru (2018)
  • Goal: $46,700
  • Planting 135,000 coffee seedlings resistant to coffee rust
  • Cultivating 69,000 native tree seedlings
  • Creating three community associations for ecosystem monitoring
  • Supporting 64 families recovering from coffee rust and flooding

Contact:

• Ryan Zinn, Director of Grow Ahead
• Lauren Berlekamp: 202-657-7754
• Email: [email protected]

Mission Statement: Support small-scale farmers address climate change in their communities through crowdfunding for grassroots solutions with proven track record of success

Application Process

General Steps:

1. Farmer organization develops climate resiliency project proposal
2. Submit proposal to Grow Ahead for review
3. Grow Ahead evaluates project feasibility and impact potential
4. Approved projects are listed on Grow Ahead crowdfunding platform
5. Campaign launched to raise funds from individuals and organizations
6. Once funding goal is reached, organization implements project
7. Results and updates shared with funders through platform
8. Loan repayment cycle allows funds to support future projects

Project Proposal Should Include:

• Clear project description and objectives
• Geographic location and beneficiary communities
• Number of farmers/families impacted
• Funding goal and budget breakdown
• Implementation timeline
• Expected outcomes and measurable impact
• Organization's experience and capacity
• Risk mitigation strategies

Note: Detailed formal application forms and specific submission requirements were not fully provided in the website content. Organizations should visit growahead.org or contact directly for complete application procedures.