Blog Archives

Cracking the Code on Food Security: YAO Leader Samantha Snabes Uses Technology to End Hunger

“The Opportunity International Conference changed my life,” says Young Ambassador Samantha Snabes. The fall 2011 conference, says the NASA “social entrepreneur in residence,” was the moment when she became inspired to take action to do her part to end global poverty. Shortly thereafter, she became part of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO) and is currently working Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Donors, Events, Hunger, Technology, Where We Work, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
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Greater Food Security Moves Small-Scale Farmers from Subsistence to Success

Millions of sub-Saharan Africans lack access to sufficient high-quality food. Even where natural resources are ample, people suffer from chronic malnourishment due to lack of access to financing, quality seed, fertilizer and distribution channels. That’s why Opportunity International is working to increase regional food security by equipping small-scale farmers with the resources they need to Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Client Stories, Hunger, Loans, Local Staffing, Our Work, Poverty, Rural Outreach, Savings
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Today on World Food Day, there’s Hope for an End to Hunger

Globally, nearly 870 million people are undernourished–about 12% of the world’s population. It’s World Food Day and social media is buzzing with challenging facts and stats about hunger, like the ones in this post. This information is important. There’s no doubt that it’s one of the great injustices that children anywhere go to bed hungry, that Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Events, Loans, Microinsurance, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Training, Trust Groups
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Clinton Global Initiative 2012: Momentum on Women’s Empowerment, Global Food Security

The Clinton Global Initiative annual 2012 meeting wrapped up this past Tuesday. This year’s theme, Designing for Impact, provided a three-day podium for today’s leading ideas intent on creating more opportunity and equality in our increasingly interconnected world. This year’s distinguished attendees included President Barack Obama, presidential candidate Mitt Romney, President Joyce Banda (of the Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Events, Our Work, Where We Work, Women
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What We’re Reading: Our Incoming CEO Vicki Escarra in The Non-Profit Times‘s Power & Influence Top 50

What are we reading? This exciting list, of course! Our incoming CEO, Vicki Escarra, as president and CEO of Feeding America, built that nonprofit into a $1.2 billion organization during a time when more Americans than ever were suffering from hunger and food insecurity. In honor of her outstanding work, she’s been named one of The Read more…

Posted in Our Leadership, Strategic Partners, What We're Reading
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Program Update: Opportunity Mozambique is Cultivating Hope among Smallholder Farmers

 is helping smallholder farmers achieve optimum output to put more food on the family table and increase food security in their communities. We’re committed to helping farmers in sub-Saharan Africa transition from subsistence to economically- and commercially-active farming. Through an innovative and sustainable approach to agricultural finance, Opportunity provides products and services designed to achieve Read more…

Posted in Agricultural Finance, Local Staffing, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Training, Where We Work
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What We’re Reading: The Launch of Roger Thurow’s New Book The Last Hunger Season

If you’re looking for a summer read that inspires, Roger Thurow just released his new book, The Last Hunger Season: A Year in an African Farm Community on the Brink of Change. The Last Hunger Season gives you a look into the lives of four smallholder farming families in western Kenya as they work to move from subsistence Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Work, Rural Outreach, What We're Reading
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Obama Announces Food Security Partnership at Chicago Council on Global Affairs Symposium Before the G8

Last Friday, agricultural finance took center stage at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs symposium, “Advancing Food and Nutrition Security,” in Washington, D.C. on the eve of the G8 Summit. President Obama announced a partnership among the G8 member nations, African countries and the private sector called the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, which has a Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Rural Outreach, Strategic Partners
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A Call for Sustainable Development on Oct. 17, United Nations Poverty Eradication Day

“People living in poverty face increasingly difficult challenges as climate change, environmental degradation and rising food prices threaten their livelihoods and survival.” -United Nations’s Division for Social Policy and Development Today, October 17, is the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) and this year’s theme is “From Poverty to Sustainability: People Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Microfinance Conference, Our Mission and Vision, Our Work, Resources, Where We Work
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Breakout Session: Global Food Security: Call to Action

As the hunger crisis persists in the Horn of Africa and elsewhere, the urgent need continues for agricultural development, nutrition assistance and humanitarian response–both short- and long-term. Join this discussion that explores the ethical, economic and global security justifications for a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to address worldwide hunger. Facilitator: Dennis Ripley, senior VP, international Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Microfinance Conference, Our Leadership, Our Work
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