Demonstrating the business case for investment in inclusive climate-resilient smallholder / agribusiness models
A Story of CASA Ethiopia
CASA supports agribusinesses and smallholder farmers in 23 African and Asian countries
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Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness
Funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – International Climate Finance (ICF), the CASA Programme demonstrates the business case for global and national investment in climate-resilient agri-food systems that increase smallholder farmer incomes. CASA facilitates increased investment in agribusinesses by showcasing the commercial and development potential of inclusive business models, through a market systems development approach that:
- Demonstrates the commercial viability – and builds the investment-readiness – of small and medium-sized agribusinesses with smallholder farmer supply chains.
- Helps investors to increase the impact of their investments through the provision of technical assistance and grants to agribusiness partners.
- Strengthens the voices of smallholder producers (especially of women in agribusiness decision-making) and their positions within supply chains (e.g., through improved offtaking or aggregation arrangements).
- Fills the information, evidence and learning gaps holding back investment and the adoption of inclusive business models.
CASA's crosscutting themes are Climate Change and the Environment, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, and Food and Nutrition Security.
The CASA Programme's three main components are:
CASA Results as of March 2026
Market Systems Development
97
Agri-SMEs, producer organisations and agri-tech information providers supported to improve smallholder farmers’ participation, production, market access, income and climate resilience
5 Countries
- Ethiopia
- Malawi
- Nepal
- Rwanda
- Uganda (closed 2021)
7 Value Chains
- Aquaculture
- Beans
- Dairy
- Poultry
- Sesame
- Soybean
- Vegetables
£15,133,350
In investments, including £6,437,455 from partner contributions and £8,695,895 from third-party investments
436,643
(45% women)
Smallholder farmers reached, 362,395 (48% women) through new or improved aggregation
£183
Average additional farmer income, a 63% increase from baseline 2022/23
Technical Assistance Facility
40
Agribusinesses supported with inclusive business plan development and technical assistance, furthering smallholder farmer inclusion and commercial growth
22
Countries across Africa and Asia for global impact
15
FCDO missions in strategic collaborations on market studies in the agricultural sector
£12,574,872
In investments leveraged into inclusive agribusinesses, promoting sustainable, climate-resilient, equitable growth in the agricultural sector
126,283
Smallholder farmers reached through agribusinesses in more than 20 value chains