News

On April 29, 2026, in Bujumbura, we officially launched the Sustainable Smallholder Livestock Concept for Burundi project, a structuring initiative aimed at strengthening the pig value chain while sustainably improving the incomes of rural households.

Led by the FILAGRO Group, this program brings together a strong consortium composed of Hypor, Nusana, Technical Export BV, Pig Signals, Auxfin International, EMSA Emerging Markets Africa, and the NGO PUM.

At AUXFIN, we are proud to play a key role in connecting smallholder producers to this integrated value chain, ensuring that rural households become genuine economic actors within the project.

What makes this model stand out is its depth. It does not stop at livestock production. It creates a system where farmers can reliably sell their maize and soybeans at fair and stable prices, where livestock contributes to healthier soils and more productive farms, and where communities gain better access to affordable, high-quality protein. These are not isolated gains—they reinforce each other, building resilience from the ground up.

In addition, the project will contribute to the creation of sustainable jobs in rural communities, thereby strengthening local economies.

This is an ambitious undertaking. Challenges are inevitable. But the foundation is strong, built on shared expertise, careful planning, and a collective belief in what is possible.

We extend our sincere appreciation to FILAGRO for its leadership, to all partners for their collaboration, and to RVO for its trust and support.

Our mission is to unlock the potential of smallholder farmers by connecting them to finance, knowledge, and markets. This project brings that mission to life. It also sends a clear message: inclusive agricultural transformation is not only necessary—it is achievable.

AUXFIN is pleased to announce its participation in the Netherlands–Uganda Trade & Investment Platform (NUTIP), a bilateral business network aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties between Dutch and Ugandan companies.

NUTIP was established to foster collaboration, enhance market access, and support sustainable economic partnerships across key sectors including agribusiness, finance, ICT, logistics, renewable energy, manufacturing, and tourism. By addressing common challenges such as regulatory navigation and cross-border connections, the platform creates an enabling environment for businesses to grow and innovate.

A recent evaluation in Burkina Faso highlights the tangible impact of AUXFIN’s FinanceCoach application among smallholder farmers. The study, based on a survey with 258 G50 groups combined with in-depth interviews and field observations, examined the use, appreciation, and added value of FinanceCoach within the G50 groups.

The findings confirm that accessible, structured, and context-relevant digital financial education works.

Cornelis Heesbeen, the founder of AUXFIN, is stepping back from the management team after 15 years in which his vision developed from a bold idea to pure reality, unlocking the huge potential of rural Africa with digital solutions and impacting already more than 3 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Food and Nutrition Security Marketplace event held recently in Jinja, Uganda, brought together innovators, development partners, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and foster partnerships aimed at achieving sustainable food and nutrition security. Organized by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), the event served as a vibrant platform for collaboration, showcasing initiatives that strengthen agricultural value chains, empower smallholder farmers, and promote inclusive growth.

On October 16, 2025, AUXFIN Foundation joined leading voices in food systems transformation at the World Food Day 2025 event in the Netherlands. Organized by the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP) in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, this annual gathering brings together changemakers from government, business, research, and civil society to take concrete steps toward ending hunger and strengthening sustainable food systems.

We are delighted to announce the signing of a Global Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Agriterra.

Last week, AUXFIN Uganda joined our partner IFDC at the Outreach and Sensitization event in Rubanda. Through IFDC’s grant, we were able to support farmers with digital tools and financial inclusion opportunities.

Eloy joined AUXFIN BURUNDI as a professional intern from the University of Lake Tanganyika in Bujumbura, Department of Statistics. Curious and determined, Eloy managed to turn this first opportunity into a great professional experience. Today, he is about to take an important new step in his journey.

​The approach of the “Centres Collinaires d'Opportunités pour les jeunes (CCOJ) ” aims to bring together up to 50 young people on a hill to facilitate their access to various services, divided into two main categories: information and practical services. The selection of the youth is based on equitable and geographical criteria, taking gender diversity into account, thus forming the first generation of this project.

AUXFIN Uganda had the chance to join Soroti’s hardworking and dedicated farmers. Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, and their efforts ensure that families are fed, businesses thrive, and communities grow stronger.

​Boniface, who joined the G50 program in 2019, shares his initial experience with fish farming:

"When the disease attacked our fish, AuxFin quickly responded by sending us the necessary medication. If we had notified them earlier, we might have been able to prevent the loss of the fish. After receiving the fish to start the fish farming, we decided to pool our funds together to buy a tent to protect them. We then organized our work into groups of three during the day and two at night, ensuring constant monitoring of the ponds.

Hakizimana Anésie, from Rubagabaga 1, shares her experience with the G50 program. "The G50 program first taught us the importance of saving, and in addition to that, they introduced a new idea: teaching us fish farming. I was very excited, especially since meat was a luxury we could rarely afford. Although there were more women than men, we quickly got to work. Building the ponds was very hard work, but despite my age, I actively participated."

​Ntirampeba Annonciate, a woman from Rubagabaga 1, shares her enriching experience with the G50 community. Initially, the group received extensive training on good farming practices and the importance of saving. Recently, they learned how to build fish ponds. It was much harder work than she had anticipated, but despite the challenges, she and the other community members persevered. However, their first attempts at building the ponds failed, and the structures collapsed. This prompted them to adopt new techniques, using more durable materials to ensure the ponds' stability.