The demand for smallholder financing is staggering. Over 270 million smallholder farmers in the regions of Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Southeast Asia require over USD 200 billion in financing to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

We looked closely at what it would take to change that growth trajectory and came away with a strong sense that while it’s not easy, it is possible. But meaningful progress will require a concerted effort across the smallholder finance ecosystem, driven by a higher level of collaboration than we’ve ever seen before.