Fund
Fairtrade Access Fund
This fund invests in exporters that keep vital agri-value chains flowing. It links smallholder farmers to new markets and drives sustainable practices, while generating fair financial returns.
- Sustainable Food
- Inclusive Finance
- Private Debt
- Technical Assistance
Status: Open
Our ambition: To transform the way smallholder farmers access markets, capital, and opportunity – while delivering strong, fair returns for investors.
The Fairtrade Access Fund (FAF) provides long-term financing, technical assistance, and market access to smallholder farmers across 20+ countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. We back sustainable, fair supply chains in coffee, cocoa, tea, honey, grains, cotton, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and more—supporting both certified producers and local food systems.
As a member of the Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF), the fund advances responsible agricultural finance. It encourages producers to adopt sustainable practices, improve their livelihoods, and build climate resilience.
In 2024, we joined CompensACTION: a first-of-its-kind initiative enabling farmers to earn income from ecosystem restoration through zero-interest loans, performance incentives, and access to carbon and biodiversity markets.
Your investment supports nature-positive agriculture. It powers climate-smart livelihoods, with fair returns.
Invest in
tranformative people and
enterprises in:
Sustainable agriculture
Grow organic farming, expand agroforestry, apply composting and cover cropping, reduce inputs, manage waste safely, eliminate GMOs, minimize agrochemical use, advance health and wellbeing
Ethical value chains
Strengthen certified sourcing and fair-trade standards, build traceability, uphold environmental codes of conduct
Water and soil stewardship
Use drip irrigation for efficient use of water, restore soil fertility, protect water sources, recover degraded land
Biodiversity and ecosystem preservation
Advance reforestation, promote wild harvesting, generate biodiversity-linked income, replace illicit crops to support peacebuilding, regenerate ecosystems
Climate resilience and carbon sequestration
Capture carbon, adapt to climate change, mitigate risk, scale regenerative finance
Rural livelihoods and inclusion
Support cooperatives, finance smallholders, unlock access to premium markets, provide technical assistance, improve rural jobs and labor conditions, reduce migration
Sponsors
KfW
KfW is one of the world’s leading development banks. It is committed to improve economic, social and ecological living conditions all around the world on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany and the federal states.
KfW is an important partner for the Fairtrade Access Fund, sharing the Fund’s goal to achieve social and environmental sustainability for the world’s most vulnerable populations. It is the fund’s most significant investor.
Fairtrade International
A global nonprofit setting standards, certifying supply chains, and supporting producers to ensure better prices, conditions, and sustainable practices.
Fairtrade International partnered with Incofin in 2012 to create the Fairtrade Access Fund in response to the critical gap in smallholders´ access to finance for investments and working capital to sell their Fair-Trade certification products.
Incofin Microfinance Fund
Incofin Microfinance Fund is a Belgian cooperative investment fund with a mission to support people with a low income and to ensure the sustainability of its projects. The fund mainly invests in microfinance institutions in developing countries that offer financial services adapted to small local enterprises and add value at a social level.
It is a founding partner of the Fairtrade Access Fund since 2012.
This fund reaches smallholder farmers with the finance they need to grow sustainably. We’re proud to back this high-impact initiative —and invite others to join us.
Alexandra AlbinHead of Division, KfW Development Bank
We reach smallholder farmers and cooperatives that are critically underserved. By enabling access to trade, harvest, and long-term finance, this fund strengthens income stability and climate resilience.
Simone VerbraekenSenior Investment Manager, BIO
We support farmers - whether producing for local communities or for export - who meet high social and environmental standards. Whenever possible, these standards are verified through external certification; otherwise, we rigorously assess performance ourselves.
Luuk Laurens ZonneveldBoard Chair, Fairtrade Access Fund
This fund helps build value chains rooted in fair trade and environmental integrity—rewarding regenerative practices and reducing the volatility farmers face in global markets.
Perrine DuffaureSenior Investment Officer, AgriFI, EDFI MC
Your investment extends beyond support for farmers. It reaches entrepreneurs who create jobs with their food products and related services in rural communities.
Paul BuysensCEO, Incofin
Through CompensACTION, the fund is set to enable smallholder farmers to turn environmental work into viable business models - earning income from carbon capture, reforestation, and biodiversity protection. It’s an investment in both people and planet.
Arisbe MendozaDirector, Global Impact, Fairtrade International
This fund has undergone an extraordinary journey of growth and resilience - building sustainable agri-food systems rooted in fairness and environmental stewardship. This progress has been made possible thanks to the steadfast support of its founding shareholders - KfW, Fairtrade International, and Incofin - who share a common vision: that smallholder farmers deserve fair access to markets and recognition for their role in protecting the environment. Today, this fund offers a stable, purpose-driven platform for qualified investors seeking to finance the future of sustainable agriculture.
Noemie RenierHead of Debt, Incofin
Fund Details
A fund snapshot highlighting key features, strategy, and opportunities for impact and return.
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