Our vision
A more prosperous Africa, where competitive industries create opportunity, transform livelihoods and help lower-income communities build stronger futures.
Creating lasting change across Africa.
Investing in enterprise, partnerships and long-term change that help farmers and communities across Africa build stronger futures.
Why Africa? Why now?
For over two decades, The Wood Foundation has been working across East Africa with a philosophy that sets us apart from traditional philanthropy. We don't write cheques and walk away. We invest in businesses, build capacity and work alongside communities until they are ready to lead without us.
Our mission
To improve livelihoods in a sustainable way through venture philanthropy - backing a dynamic portfolio of investments, enterprises and partnerships with the potential to create lasting economic benefit for farmers, workers and communities.
Enterprise that creates lasting value
Strong enterprises can transform livelihoods, especially when farmers and communities share in the value they help create.
Through The Wood Foundation Africa, we use venture philanthropy to invest in businesses, partnerships and systems that can become commercially sustainable and socially impactful. By combining philanthropic purpose with commercial discipline, we help strengthen industries, improve productivity, build resilience and create lasting opportunities.
Our ambition is to build competitive industries that generate lasting economic benefit for lower-income communities.
Explore our work in Africa
Our work in Africa is connected by one shared purpose: building stronger industries that create lasting value for farmers, workers and communities. Each part of the work plays a different role, from how we invest to where we work and the partnerships that make change possible.
A portfolio built for long-term change
The Wood Foundation Africa’s portfolio is focused on industries with the potential to create lasting economic benefit for lower-income communities. Today, that includes work across tea, vanilla and sugar - sectors where strong enterprise, better systems and long-term partnership can improve livelihoods at scale.
Each investment is different, but the purpose is shared: to strengthen industries in a way that creates opportunity for farmers, workers and communities, while building commercially sustainable models that can continue to grow over time.
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Tea
Our work in tea focuses on strengthening the industry from the ground up - supporting farmers, factories and partnerships to build more sustainable routes to market.
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Vanilla
Through vanilla, we support enterprise models that can improve farmer livelihoods, strengthen supply chains and create long-term value in growing communities.
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Sugar
Our work in sugar explores how investment, partnership and better systems can support stronger industries and more secure opportunities for the people connected to them.
“Venture philanthropy is about building something that can stand on its own. We invest with commercial discipline, but the purpose is always social: stronger livelihoods, more resilient industries and more value reaching the farmers and communities at the heart of the work.
Progress in numbers
The Wood Foundation Africa’s work is designed to create change that can be seen, measured and learned from over time. Across our portfolio, we track progress in livelihoods, enterprise performance, farmer support and industry development - helping us understand what is working and where greater impact is possible.
$150 million+
foreign direct investment mobilised through greenfield tea developments
100,000 +
smallholder farming families empowered
4,000
farmer Field School participants per annum
50,000
direct jobs supported
How our impact grows across Africa
The Wood Foundation Africa invests in change that can reach beyond one harvest, one enterprise or one community. Our impact comes through stronger industries, better opportunities and models that help more value stay with the people who create it.
Stronger livelihoods
We invest in enterprises and systems that can improve incomes, increase opportunity and help farmers and workers build more secure futures.
More resilient industries
By strengthening businesses, supply chains and partnerships, we help industries become more competitive, sustainable and better able to create long-term value.
Better support for farmers
Our work helps improve access to the services, training and infrastructure farmers need to increase productivity, quality and resilience.
Value shared more fairly
We support models that help farmers and communities benefit more fully from the value they help create, with a long-term focus on ownership, governance and shared success.
Partnerships that scale
Lasting change needs more than one organisation. We work with farmers, governments, investors, businesses and development partners to build practical solutions that can grow.
Learning that strengthens the work
We track progress, share learning and use evidence to improve our investments over time, so impact can deepen and continue beyond our direct involvement.
Partnership at the heart of the work
The Wood Foundation Africa works with partners across philanthropy, development, government and the private sector to help turn investment into lasting impact.
These partnerships bring the expertise, reach and shared commitment needed to strengthen industries, support farmers and create value that can continue beyond a single investment.
Stories from Africa
The Wood Foundation strengthens its leadership team
We are delighted to share the news of two key appointments at The Wood Foundation. Having dedicated the past 17 years to the Foundation as Africa…
28 Feb 2025
TWFA attends the East Africa Tea Trade Convention
The Wood Foundation Africa (TWFA) was delighted to participate in last week’s East Africa Tea Trade Convention which was held in Kigali, Rwanda. The…
16 Oct 2024
TWFA involved in Commonwealth Day celebration
The Wood Foundation Africa (TWFA) was involved with a Commonwealth Day celebration in Rwanda organised by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth…
17 Mar 2023
Speak to the team
Interested in learning more about The Wood Foundation Africa, our portfolio or our approach to venture philanthropy? Get in touch with the team.
Whether you are exploring a potential partnership, looking for more information about our work or want to understand where your enquiry fits, use the form below and we’ll make sure it reaches the right person.