Introducing the Donor Testing Cohort for the Catalytic Capital Framework

This framework, which ultimately aims to establish harmonized standards and benchmarks for catalytic capital, is advancing with insights and participation from:

• Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
• Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)
• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
• U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

These donors play a crucial role in the testing of the framework, providing real-world perspectives on how catalytic capital can be deployed to drive meaningful change within the agri-SME sector. The cohort contributes valuable feedback on the effectiveness of catalytic capital in sustainable, inclusive and impactful solutions for food systems. Their involvement ensures that the framework is relevant, practical and impactful for global stakeholders.

The Thematic Working Group on Sustainable/Blended Finance for Food Systems was established in April 2024 and brings together representatives from donor organizations, philanthropies, public funds and foundations. This is the first initiative of the group under the co-chairs Tuleen Alkhoffash at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Songbae Lee, Independent Advisor.

The ASLC seeks to accelerate the pace of learning in the agri-SME sector to influence practitioners, donors, and policymakers in building a more inclusive and sustainable market. The ASLC is housed at the Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF) and has a current membership of 24 institutions including industry alliances, sector facilitators, donors, research organisations and others. The donor-cohort testing is guided by Eda Dokle, Coordinator of the ASLC, and CSAF Data & Learning Manager, Ellen Maginnis, Consultant, Agri-SME Learning Collective.