ACDI/VOCA
ACDI/VOCA is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1963 that designs and implements market systems development, food security, and economic growth programs across 150+ countries for donors including USAID, USDA, and foundations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ACDI/VOCA does
ACDI/VOCA is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit development organization founded on July 12, 1963, by major U.S. farm cooperatives. It designs and implements market systems development, food security, economic growth, and resilience programs in over 150 countries, with primary funding from U.S. Government agencies (USAID, USDA), other official development assistance donors, foundations, and corporate partners. The organization has executed more than 200 projects across 60+ active countries, mobilized 12,000+ volunteers to 130+ countries since 1971, and reached a beneficiary base that includes 100,000+ farmers via partners such as NASFAM and 370,150 microfinance clients through affiliated financial institutions.
The organization operates through an affiliate network branded AV Group, comprising ACDI/VOCA (core implementing partner), Tanager (technical assistance nonprofit), AV Ventures (impact investing fund manager), and Frontiers (wholesale lender in Central Asia). It also holds minority equity in regulated microfinance institutions including Bai Tushum Bank (Kyrgyzstan, 2000), KazMicroFinance (Kazakhstan, 2006), and MDO Arvand (Tajikistan, 2008), collectively holding $657 million in loans outstanding at year-end 2024. The core technology offering is the Market Systems Development approach — a combination of systems thinking, inclusive market systems, and behavior change methodologies — packaged into ten signature tools (e.g., Systems Change Strategy Guide, Thinking & Working Politically Toolkit, GenderFirst, Sell More For More, CLA Playbook). AV Ventures manages four impact investing funds in Kenya, Ghana, Central Asia, and Burkina Faso.
The revenue model is professional services and grant-funded program implementation, supplemented by impact investing fund management fees and equity income from microfinance affiliates. Go-to-market is sales-led (USAID/USDA proposal capture) with parallel channel-partner distribution through AV Group affiliates (Tanager for foundation funding, AV Ventures for blended finance). Customer segments are dominated by public sector donors (USAID, USDA, other ODA) and foundations, with a secondary corporate engagement motion (Mars, Starbucks, John Deere, Corteva) and a high-end volunteer mobilization channel (professional, student via 40+ university partners, corporate). Headquarters are at 20 F Street NW, Suite 707, Washington, D.C., with a secondary Communications & Outreach office at 50 F Street NW. Sylvia Megret is the current CEO, recognized with the Washington Post Leadership Award in 2024.
ACDI/VOCA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ACDI/VOCA
- Legal name
- ACDI/VOCA, Inc.
- Website
- https://acdivoca.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- ACDI/VOCA is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1963 that designs and implements market systems development, food security, and economic growth programs across 150+ countries for donors including USAID, USDA, and foundations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ACDI/VOCA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development Services
- NAICS
- International Affairs (92812), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), All Other Support Services (561990)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management (BPADAOAC)
Keywords
Where ACDI/VOCA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
ACDI/VOCA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Official Development Assistance: ACDI/VOCA is primarily funded by official development assistance. They are a trusted implementing partner for the U.S. Government (USAID, USDA) and respond to non-USG official development assistance and national government opportunities.
- Foundation Grants: Tanager affiliate attracts blended development funding drawing on foundations. Partners with foundations for co-created healthy markets.
- Impact Investing Management: AV Ventures subsidiary provides innovative, catalytic financing to SMEs and financial institutions. Manages four impact investing funds in Kenya, Ghana, Central Asia, and Burkina Faso.
- Corporate Partnerships: Private sector engagement with multinational companies, large firms, and small growing businesses through transformational partnerships for nutrition, food security, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
ACDI/VOCA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ACDI/VOCA is a global nonprofit development design and delivery partner that designs and implements agriculture, economic growth, resilience, and finance programs for U.S. Government agencies (USAID, USDA), foundations, and corporations in over 150 developing countries. It applies a market systems development methodology supported by signature proprietary tools and an AV Group ecosystem of affiliates that provide impact investing (AV Ventures), technical advisory (Tanager), and wholesale microfinance (Frontiers) services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AV Group: A family of global development organizations including ACDI/VOCA and its affiliates (AV Ventures, Tanager, Frontiers) that share technical and on-the-ground resources to achieve shared mission of improving lives of families and health of communities worldwide.
- AV Ventures
- Tanager
- Frontiers
Products and services
- Economic Growth and Market Systems Development Programs
- Agricultural Development Programs
- Resilience and Food Security Programs
- Social Inclusion and Gender Equality Programs
- AV Ventures Impact Investing Funds
- Volunteer Mobilization Programs
- Tanager Market Systems Advisory Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 55,000 livestock traders improved household incomes by up to 40% in Northern Kenya
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ACDI/VOCA
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ACDI/VOCA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
ACDI/VOCA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TanagercoreTanager (formerly ASI) expanded reach of ACDI/VOCA's technical expertise. Co-creates new ideas and tests innovative approaches to overcome market and supply chain challenges.
- AV VenturescoreLaunched as ACDI/VOCA subsidiary to serve as global investment management and advisory company providing innovative, catalytic financing to agribusiness SMEs in West Africa and Central Asia.
- FrontierscoreRegulated financial institution that extends wholesale loans to microfinance institutions in Central Asia and provides fund management services.
- Mars, Inc.coreSUCCESS Alliance partner; implemented Mars Ambassador Program 2008-2016 fielding nearly 500 Mars employees for assignments in 80+ countries.
- World Cocoa FoundationcorePartner in SUCCESS Alliance dedicated to cocoa development connecting corporations with public entities to help smallholder cocoa farmers.
- Better Than Cash AllianceminorACDI/VOCA joined alliance and committed to transition worldwide operational and programmatic payments from cash to electronic.
- AVPA (African Venture Philanthropy Alliance)minorAV Ventures joined AVPA to strengthen network and contribute to initiatives that increase investments in patient capital across Africa.
- John DeerecorePartnered to promote mechanized farm equipment to farmers in Ghana, leading to improved crop yields.
- CortevacorePartnered to provide improved seeds to farmers in Ghana, contributing to significant improvements in crop yields.
- Hello TractorcoreDigital farming services platform in Kenya; AV Ventures investment. 'By digitizing small farmers who are looking to grow commercially, we are setting the foundation for a more prosperous and inclusive agricultural economy.'
- AgroCentacoreTechnology-driven agricultural platform provider in Ghana; AV Ventures investment portfolio company selected for Techstars Farm to Fork accelerator.
- Service Learning Corps UniversitiescoreNetwork of 40+ universities including Johns Hopkins, UC Davis, Texas A&M, Purdue, Penn State, Tufts, Duke, U of Minnesota, Harvard for student volunteer program.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ACDI/VOCA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chemonics International: One of the largest U.S.-headquartered USAID prime contractors; competes with ACDI/VOCA for agriculture, economic growth, and resilience awards in the same donor market.
- DAI (Development Alternatives, Inc.): Global development consulting firm implementing USAID, FCDO, and Gates-funded programs in agriculture, governance, and economic growth — directly overlapping ACDI/VOCA's portfolio.
- Palladium: International development consultancy operating Make Markets Work and other MSD-style programs; competes head-to-head for USAID/Dfid prime awards and impact-investing mandates.
- RTI International: Nonprofit research and development consulting institute delivering USAID, USDA, and Gates-funded programs in agriculture, economic growth, and monitoring & evaluation.
- Abt Associates: Research and consulting firm with a sizeable USAID implementation practice in agriculture, environment, and economic livelihoods — overlapping portfolio and donor base.
- Winrock International: Nonprofit implementing economic development, agriculture, and energy programs with USAID and USDA funding, sized similarly to ACDI/VOCA and competing on identical RFPs.
- Management Systems International (MSI): Tetra Tech subsidiary implementing governance, economic growth, and MSD programs for USAID and other donors in overlapping geographies.
- FHI 360: Large nonprofit implementing USAID- and foundation-funded social and economic development programs across health-adjacent and livelihoods sectors.
Broad incumbents
- Mercy Corps: Major international humanitarian and development NGO with overlapping agriculture, youth employment, and resilience programming; competes for both public and private donor funding.
- CARE International: Large-scale INGO delivering livelihoods, food security, and women's economic empowerment programs funded by governments and foundations — overlapping donor base with ACDI/VOCA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ACDI/VOCA social profiles
Digital presenceACDI/VOCA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
ACDI/VOCA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ACDI/VOCA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ACDI/VOCA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
ACDI/VOCA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ACDI/VOCA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ACDI/VOCA
What does ACDI/VOCA do?
ACDI/VOCA is a global nonprofit development design and delivery partner that designs and implements agriculture, economic growth, resilience, and finance programs for U.S. Government agencies (USAID, USDA), foundations, and corporations in over 150 developing countries. It applies a market systems development methodology supported by signature proprietary tools and an AV Group ecosystem of affiliates that provide impact investing (AV Ventures), technical advisory (Tanager), and wholesale microfinance (Frontiers) services.
Is ACDI/VOCA a public or private company?
ACDI/VOCA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ACDI/VOCA founded?
ACDI/VOCA was founded in 1963. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is ACDI/VOCA based?
ACDI/VOCA is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does ACDI/VOCA make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Official Development Assistance is the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants, impact Investing Management and corporate Partnerships.
Who are ACDI/VOCA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chemonics International, DAI (Development Alternatives, Inc.), Palladium, RTI International, Abt Associates, Winrock International, Management Systems International (MSI) and FHI 360. Broad incumbents are Mercy Corps and CARE International.
Does ACDI/VOCA have an API?
No public API is recorded for ACDI/VOCA.
What industry is ACDI/VOCA in?
ACDI/VOCA's product category is International Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAOAC, Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management. Its NAICS code is 92812 and its SIC code is 9721.