Today, despite billions of dollars in foreign assistance, the majority of Africans still lack access to basic, life-sustaining necessities including food and health care. The Clinton Development Initiative (CDI) in Malawi and Rwanda encourages economic growth by empowering farmers with the tools they need to support their families and uplift their communities.

CDI helps smallholder farmers purchase fertilizer, seed, and other inputs; expand their access to bank loans; and facilitate pre-season sales of their harvests to reputable buyers. As large numbers of smallholder farm families increase their incomes, they have the ability to improve their living condition and quality of life as well as the lives of their families. They can also afford to access available health care, education, and a higher level of food security.

CDI also operates several large-scale farming and agribusiness projects that bring increased incomes and security to rural families. As these projects operate and generate profits, there are opportunities to reinvest in local community social impact projects like schools, clinics, and clean water sources.

CDI operates at the invitation of the governments of Malawi and Rwanda. In partnership with the Hunter Foundation, the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative (CHDI) works in Rwanda, and CDI’s work in Malawi is supported financially by the Salida Capital Foundation. Across all its projects, CDI emphasizes scale and sustainability, with programs that can bring ongoing, lasting benefits to large populations. Its underlying operational premise is that these programs can and should include their own revenue generating capability, so that the programs become financially self-sufficient instead of relying on the ongoing support of foreign donors.