--- title: "African Bamboo: Impact Investing for Small-hold Farmers" description: Resonance established the Agriculture Fast Track Fund at the African Development Bank (AfDB), an impact investing facility supporting small-hold farmers in Africa --- [![Resonance Global](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/hubfs/Logos/resonance-global_logo.svg) ![Resonance Global](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/hubfs/Logos/resonance-global_workmark-tagline-logo-white.svg) ](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/) - What We Do - ### [How We Can Help](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/partnership-development) - [Partnership Strategy & Facilitation ](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/partnership-development/strategy-development) - [Multistakeholder Convening & Management](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/partnership-development/multistakeholder-management) - [Program Management & Innovation](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/services/designed-innovation) - [Training & Organizational Change](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/partnership-development/partnership-training) - [Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/services/monitoring-evaluation-and-learning-mel) ### [Areas of Expertise](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/areas-of-expertise) - [Agriculture & Food Systems](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/solutions/agriculture-and-food-security) - [Circularity](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/solutions/circularity) - [Supply Chain Resilience](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/solutions/supply-chain-consulting-and-strategy) - [Oceans & Blue Economy](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/solutions/fisheries-and-blue-economy) ### Who We Work With - [Corporates](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/who-we-work-with/companies) - [Philanthropy & Funders](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/who-we-work-with/development-finance-providers) - [Civil Society & nonprofits](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/who-we-work-with/nonprofits) - About Us - ### [About Us](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/about-us) Find out what differentiates us from other firms and how we can support your needs. - [Our Story](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/about-us) - [Our Team](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/about-us/our-team) - [Our Values](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/about-us/our-core-values) - Resources - ### Resources Articles and impact stories highlighting best practices and new ideas in social and environmental impact work - [Fresh Insights](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog) - [Case Studies](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/project-profiles) - [Free Guides ](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/guides) - [Contact Us](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/contact-us) [** ](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/african-bamboo-impact-investing-small-hold-farmer#) ** / [Agriculture & Food Security](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/tag/agriculture-food-security) / [Innovative Finance](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/tag/innovative-finance) # African Bamboo: Impact Investing for Small-hold Farmers February 11, 2026 ** 1 minute read ![Steve Schmida](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/hubfs/Our-Team/Headshot_Steve-Schmida.jpg) By [Steve Schmida](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/author/steve-schmida) Bamboo is one of Mother Nature’s super products. It grows quickly and can be used in a wide range of building and consumer products. It has the potential to be a sustainable and lucrative cash crop for small-hold farmers in Africa. The challenge is getting finished bamboo products to markets in Europe and North America. African Bamboo, an Ethiopian agribusiness, is taking a big step towards becoming a major manufacturer of bamboo floorboards.  The company recently[ signed a grant award](http://www.aftfund.org/ethiopia-aft-awards-grant-catalyze-local-competitiveness) from the [Agriculture Fast Track (AFT) Fund](https://resonanceglobal.com/project/africa-new-alliance-fast-track-facility-aft/), a facility established by Resonance at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and funded by the US government, Sida, and Denmark.  Resonance identified African Bamboo as a high impact investing opportunity for AFT support. With AFT funding, African Bamboo will conduct the market and feasibility studies needed to enter the US and EU markets. It is estimated that more than 2,000 small-hold farmers will benefit through increased incomes resulting from African Bamboo’s growing exports. According to Steve Schmida, “When Resonance researched the company and met with the management, we saw tremendous potential, both as a growth enterprise and as a means for bolstering rural incomes in Ethiopia. We look forward to seeing the company break into the lucrative EU and North American markets.” *Originally published in 2014, updated for best practices in 2026*               8 ##### Don’t Miss out ### Subscribe to our latest insights ### Join the discussion If you are a corporate leader and would like to be a part of a discussion about these and other issues in the presidential transition, contact Resonance Strategic Partnerships Manager, Seth Olson. ## Related Articles ##### [Agriculture & Food Security](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/topic/agriculture-food-security) [Circularity](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/topic/circularity) ### [The Role of Entrepreneurship in Circular Food Systems Transformation in East Africa](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/the-role-of-entrepreneurship-in-the-circular-food-systems-transformation-in-east-africa) [Article](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/topic/article) | November 18, 2024 ##### [Agriculture & Food Security](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/topic/agriculture-food-security) [Article](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/topic/article) ### [New Research Reveals Global Trends in Aquatic Food Trade and Consumption](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/new-research-reveals-global-trends-in-aquatic-food-trade-and-consumption) [Article](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/topic/article) | October 23, 2024 ##### [Agriculture & Food Security](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/topic/agriculture-food-security) [Partnership Development](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/topic/partnership-development) ### [Introducing ACE4Food: Accelerating the Circular Economy for Food in Africa](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/introducing-ace4food) [Article](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/topic/article) | September 9, 2024 #### [How We Can Help](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/partnership-development) - [Partnership Strategy & Facilitation](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/partnership-development/strategy-development) - [Multistakeholder Convening & Management](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/partnership-development/adaptive-management) - [Program Management & Innovation](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/services/designed-innovation) - [Partnership Training & Organizational Change](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/partnership-development/partnership-training) - [Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/services/learning-and-change-management) #### [Areas of Expertise](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/areas-of-expertise) - [Agriculture & Food Systems](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/solutions/agriculture-and-food-security) - [Circularity](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/solutions/economic-growth-and-trade) - [Sustainable Fisheries & Blue Economy](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/solutions/environment-and-sustainability) - [Supply Chain Resilience](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/solutions/supply-chain-consulting-and-strategy) #### Who We Work With - [Companies](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/who-we-work-with/companies) - [Civil Society and NGOs](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/who-we-work-with/international-development) - [Philanthropy](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/who-we-work-with/development-finance-providers) #### [About Us](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/about-us/) - [Our Core Values](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/about-us/our-core-values) - [Our Team](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/about-us/our-team) - [Clients and Partners](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/about-us/clients-partners/) #### [Careers](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/careers) #### Resources - [Fresh Insights](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog) - [Case Studies](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/project-profiles) - [Free Guides](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/guides) #### [Contact Us](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/contact-us) #### Connect with us [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ssg-advisors) [**](https://www.facebook.com/ResoGlobo) [![Resonance Global](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/hubfs/Logos/resonance-global-logo.png)](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/) Resonance Global LLC 1121 Crandon Blvd, Suite E1107 Key Biscayne, FL 33149 © 2026 Resonance Global [Privacy Policy](https://www.resonanceglobal.com/privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Steve Schmida", "url" : "https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/author/steve-schmida" }, "dateModified" : "2026-02-11T10:26:58.235Z", "datePublished" : "2026-02-11T10:18:14.000Z", "headline" : "African Bamboo: Impact Investing for Small-hold Farmers", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/african-bamboo-impact-investing-small-hold-farmer", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.resonanceglobal.com/hubfs/Logos/resonance-global-logo.png" }, "name" : "Resonance" } } ```