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A research paper by ARE Member Phaesun detailing a field study in Kenya on the economic and social viability of solar cooling technologies in agricultural value chains, identifying four distinct operational models and an 'impact capital gap'.

This report describes the development and pilot testing of the Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Tool for Agribusiness, a management instrument designed to help agricultural value chain actors (AVCAs) align their operations with international standards like the CFS-RAI Principles and IFC Performance Standards. The report synthesizes results from five case studies of agribusinesses in Africa, analyzing how company strategy, management systems, and external business conditions influence their compliance with responsible investment practices.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural value chains within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that while the agricultural sector was less severely affected than others, the pandemic exacerbated existing structural weaknesses, such as food insecurity and a heavy reliance on subsistence farming. The document proposes a 'dual approach' to development that supports both small-scale and large-scale commercial farming, alongside the adoption of digital technologies, climate-smart infrastructure, and the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive regional integration and growth.

This Stockholm Environment Institute briefing examines the barriers to gender equality in the agricultural sectors of South and Southeast Asia. It argues that Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) strategies, which focus on market access and productivity, often fail to achieve true gender equality because they ignore systemic patriarchal norms and power imbalances. The document provides evidence from rice value chains and home gardening projects in Cambodia, Pakistan, and Vietnam to illustrate how women remain marginalized as secondary labor with limited control over resources, and recommends a shift toward transformative approaches that address the root cultural and political causes of inequality.

This briefing discusses how domestic seed companies and small businesses in developing countries can enhance climate risk management (CRM) within agricultural value chains by investing in quality, climate-resilient seeds and complementary services.

This briefing note examines how micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), specifically domestic seed companies, can support climate risk management (CRM) within agricultural value chains. Using a case study of Equator Seeds in northern Uganda, the document illustrates how investments in quality, climate-resilient seeds and complementary services like agronomic training can reduce the vulnerability of farmers and other value chain actors to climate hazards such as droughts.

This briefing note details case study research on the role of financial services in climate risk management (CRM) within agricultural value chains, specifically examining the services provided by Centenary Bank to rice value chain actors in Eastern Uganda.

This briefing note examines the role of financial services in enabling climate risk management (CRM) along agricultural value chains, using a case study of Centenary Bank's services to rice value chain actors in Eastern Uganda. It highlights how climate hazards like floods and droughts impact all actors from producers to consumers and argues that tailored financial products and improved climate information are essential for building resilience.

This briefing note proposes a framework of core functions for climate risk management (CRM) along agricultural value chains, specifically drawing on research regarding the rice value chain in Uganda. It is intended to guide development agencies in designing interventions and targeting investments to ensure value chains are resilient to climate hazards and changes.

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adaptation Facility (ASCAF) is a proposed 'value chain financing' mechanism designed to catalyze private investment in climate resilience for small- and medium-sized agricultural producers in low- and middle-income countries. Administered by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and backed by donor-funded first-loss guarantees, the facility aims to enable agribusiness corporations to provide medium- to long-term loans and technical assistance to their suppliers for climate-adaptive investments.

This case study examines LIMBUA Group Limited, a Kenyan small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) specializing in the processing and marketing of organic macadamia, avocado, and mangoes. The document assesses the company's compliance with the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) using a specialized RAI Tool. The analysis finds that LIMBUA generally demonstrates a high level of responsible agricultural investment through its sustainable business model, inclusive employment practices, and support for smallholder farmers in central Kenya.