Gatsby has funded and implemented programmes in Africa since 1985 with the overall objective of creating jobs and improving incomes for the poor. We are currently trying to achieve this through programmes in three focus areas.
Our principal focus is on catalysing the development of key sectors in East Africa that have the potential to benefit large numbers of people, with ambitious programmes already launched in the Tanzanian cotton & textiles sector and the tea sector in both Tanzania and Rwanda.
Many agricultural sectors are held back by a lack of finance and investment. Therefore our second focus is on addressing this cross-cutting constraint by incubating innovative ideas to prove principles and encourage greater private sector involvement.
Our third focus is on building the capacity of the six independent institutions that Gatsby has founded across Africa, thus ensuring they can achieve their own ambitions for local economic development.
In the past we have also funded projects in agricultural research and dissemination - focused on improving the incomes of smallholder farmers - and in governance, ultimately aimed at creating an environment conducive to economic growth.
Current focus
We focus on catalysing the development of key sectors in East Africa with the potential to benefit large numbers of people. We work with governments and the private sector to tackle the constraints along the whole value chain that are holding sectors back.
We look to increase access to the finance and investment needed to transform African agriculture by supporting innovative projects that demonstrate business models and reduce barriers to investment, thus encouraging greater private sector involvement.
We support locally-owned development by building the capacity of the independent institutions we have founded in the last 20 years across East Africa and Cameroon in order to help them achieve their ambitions and secure their long-term sustainability.
Past focus
Too often breakthroughs in the research laboratory have not led to improved livelihoods for African farmers. We funded research to boost yields and combat threats to key crops, focusing on ensuring the results actually reached and benefitted smallholders.
Governments have a key role to play in creating an environment conducive to economic growth. We supported two projects in Rwanda and Uganda which, while targeting different arms of government, both aimed to strengthen policy-making and implementation.