Scale Zambia's Agroforestry-based Carbon Credit Program for Smallholder Farmers
Zambia's agroforestry-based carbon credit program serves only 20,000 partnership farmers and remains a 'Start-Up Market' trial, far below the scale of OAF's mature markets (Rwanda 2.3 million, Kenya 1.26 million farmers), leaving most Zambian smallholders without access to this climate-finance-linked model. One Acre Fund classifies Zambia as a 'Start-Up Market' with only 20,000 partnership farmers (Partnerships: 20,000), and explicitly states that 'In Zambia, our agroforestry-based carbon credit trial is our main program' — with farm-input credit available only to farmers enrolled in the carbon program, and not all of those farmers choosing to take up input credit.
Zambia OAF partnership farmers = 20,000 (Start-Up Market tier). Priority score 9.7 out of 10; response tier Act.
Situation
In Zambia, priority demand is recorded across Start-Up Markets, within the domain of Agri-Finance, Investment & Credit, focusing on Agroforestry / carbon credit markets. Primary beneficiaries include smallholder farmers in zambia enrolled in oaf's carbon program.
Extracted EvidenceZambia classified as a 'Start-Up Market' with 20,000 partnership farmers (vs Rwanda 2,301,000 and Kenya 1,255,000 in Mature/Growth markets); explicit statement: 'In Zambia, our agroforestry-based carbon credit trial is our main program.
IntelligenceWhen an expressed demand in Start-Up Markets is rated High with a priority score of 9.7/10 (Act tier), the limiting factor is scaling and investment reach. Sustaining action within current perimeters leaves the wider crisis unaddressed. Expanding coordinated response across Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Private Sector & Industry, Producers & Local Communities is the strategic imperative.
Demand Signal
This demand is classified as an Expressed Demand, formally stated through One Acre Fund. It carries signal type(s): Program Demand, Market Demand, Innovation Demand. Demand strength is rated High. Priority score: 9.7 out of 10. Response tier: Act.
Demand Description
Zambia's agroforestry-based carbon credit program serves only 20,000 partnership farmers and remains a 'Start-Up Market' trial, far below the scale of OAF's mature markets (Rwanda 2.3 million, Kenya 1.26 million farmers), leaving most Zambian smallholders without access to this climate-finance-linked model. One Acre Fund classifies Zambia as a 'Start-Up Market' with only 20,000 partnership farmers (Partnerships: 20,000), and explicitly states that 'In Zambia, our agroforestry-based carbon credit trial is our main program' — with farm-input credit available only to farmers enrolled in the carbon program, and not all of those farmers choosing to take up input credit.
Demand Gap
Gap type: Access to Inputs, Finance & Credit Gap.
Zambia's agroforestry-based carbon credit program serves only 20,000 partnership farmers and remains a 'Start-Up Market' trial, far below the scale of OAF's mature markets (Rwanda 2.3 million, Kenya 1.26 million farmers), leaving most Zambian smallholders without access to this climate-finance-linked model.
Gap SignalZambia classified as a 'Start-Up Market' with 20,000 partnership farmers (vs Rwanda 2,301,000 and Kenya 1,255,000 in Mature/Growth markets); explicit statement: 'In Zambia, our agroforestry-based carbon credit trial is our main program.
Stakeholders and Target Group
| Who expressed | One Acre Fund |
|---|---|
| Stakeholder groups | Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Private Sector & Industry, Producers & Local Communities |
| Target group | Smallholder farmers in Zambia enrolled in OAF's carbon program |
| Domain | Agri-Finance, Investment & Credit |
| Value chain / sector | Agroforestry / carbon credit markets |
| Impact areas | Nutrition, Health & Food Security, Climate Adaptation & Mitigation |
Source
- Document
- One Acre Fund 2025 Annual Report (Research Report, 2025).
- Organisation
- One Acre Fund
- Citation
- One Acre Fund. 2025. 2025 Annual Report. Read the primary source