ACDI/VOCA

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.

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

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

• International development consulting
• Agricultural development programs
• Market systems development
• Financial inclusion services
• Economic development partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Foundation Grants: Tanager affiliate attracts blended development funding drawing on foundations. Partners with foundations for co-created healthy markets.
3. 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.
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TanagercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2018Tanager (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 VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2016Launched 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.
• FrontierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulated financial institution that extends wholesale loans to microfinance institutions in Central Asia and provides fund management services.
• Mars, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUCCESS Alliance partner; implemented Mars Ambassador Program 2008-2016 fielding nearly 500 Mars employees for assignments in 80+ countries.
• World Cocoa FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SUCCESS Alliance dedicated to cocoa development connecting corporations with public entities to help smallholder cocoa farmers.
• Better Than Cash AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACDI/VOCA joined alliance and committed to transition worldwide operational and programmatic payments from cash to electronic.
• AVPA (African Venture Philanthropy Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAV Ventures joined AVPA to strengthen network and contribute to initiatives that increase investments in patient capital across Africa.
• John DeerecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to promote mechanized farm equipment to farmers in Ghana, leading to improved crop yields.
• CortevacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to provide improved seeds to farmers in Ghana, contributing to significant improvements in crop yields.
• Hello TractorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital 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.'
• AgroCentacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology-driven agricultural platform provider in Ghana; AV Ventures investment portfolio company selected for Techstars Farm to Fork accelerator.
• Service Learning Corps UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/5124980
• Xx.com/acdivoca
• Facebookfacebook.com/acdivoca

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACDI/VOCA