Total LandCare

What Total LandCare does

Total LandCare (TLC) is a non-profit development organization and Trust registered in Malawi, founded in 1999 by Trent Bunderson and Zwide Jere as an NGO affiliated to Washington State University. It operates across four Southern African countries (Malawi as headquarters, plus Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania) with independent Boards of Directors in each jurisdiction and 51-100 staff, serving smallholder farmers, rural communities, and vulnerable populations (children under five, pregnant and lactating women) through an integrated portfolio across five strategic areas: climate-smart agriculture, land governance/natural resources management/carbon trading, food/nutrition/health, agribusiness/finance/markets, and research and development.

TLC's operating model is project-based and grant-funded, delivering field services through partner government extension systems (DAES, DADOs, DARS), district councils, EPA marketing committees, 120 producer groups, and 3,274 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) with 51,420 members. Its technical stack is agricultural rather than digital: conservation agriculture, agroforestry, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), integrated pest management including Push-Pull Technology, biopesticides and pheromone traps validated with government research partners, climate-smart agriculture packages, and carbon-development methodologies underpinning nature-based solutions projects. No commercial software, APIs, or AI/ML components are part of the offering; outputs are physical hectares restored (3,761 ha), trees planted (2,555,860), and households reached.

Revenue consists of multi-year grants from bilateral and multilateral development funders (USAID, Irish Aid, Government of Flanders, Norwegian Church Aid-Danish Church Aid, Development Fund of Norway, BMZ/KfW, Jersey Overseas Aid, USDA Food for Progress, and a long-running corporate grant from Altria at $204,137/year), supplemented by an emerging carbon-credit development stream through Bridge Carbon partnerships (RAFT, RAAP, RESAF). Services are provided free to beneficiary communities; pricing is not commercially disclosed. The organization is wholly non-profit with no parent company, subsidiaries (other than country offices), or disclosed revenue figures.

Name

Total LandCare

Legal name

Total LandCare Trust

Website

https://totallandcare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Total LandCare is a Malawi-headquartered non-profit development organization operating across four Southern African countries, delivering donor-funded programs in climate-smart agriculture, land restoration, food security, and agribusiness to smallholder farmers and rural communities through 14 concurrent projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Agricultural Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Farm Management Services (115116), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Regenerative Agriculture & Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) (EUABABAE)

Keywords

• Agricultural development services
• Land restoration services
• Natural resource management
• Rural community development
• Smallholder farmer support

Headquarters

HQ city

Lilongwe

HQ country

Malawi

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. International Development Grants: TLC operates as a non-profit implementing partner funded by international development organizations and government aid agencies. Major funders include USAID, Irish Aid, Norwegian Church Aid, and government development funds. Projects are typically multi-year grant agreements for specific development outcomes.
2. Carbon Credit Development: TLC generates revenue through carbon credit development and trading from reforestation and land restoration projects. The Restore Africa (RESAF) and RAFT projects aim to generate carbon credits to repay investors and deliver additional long-term revenue to communities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Total LandCare (TLC) is a non-profit implementing partner that designs and delivers multi-country agricultural development, land restoration, and community resilience programs for smallholder farmers across Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The organization works on a project basis for institutional donors (USAID, Irish Aid, Norwegian Church Aid, BMZ/KfW, USDA, etc.), bundling field extension, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, agribusiness/market linkages, nutrition, WASH, and carbon development into funded initiatives ranging from local pilots to multi-year, multi-million-dollar programs.

Product overview

Total LandCare (TLC) is a non-profit organization (NGO) operating as a multi-country development organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of agricultural development programs organized into five strategic areas: Climate-Smart Agriculture, Land Governance/Natural Resources Management and Carbon Trading, Food/Nutrition and Health, Agribusiness/Finance and Markets, and Research and Development. These programs are delivered through multiple project implementations including SAMALA, SURELIVES, AID-I, TRANSFORM, RAFT, MTENGO, RAAP, Eco-PM, Akule ndi Thanzi, CLIMB, REAL, RESAF, LIVE-UP, and WASH projects across Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The organization does not offer commercial software products, APIs, or AI-enabled technology solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climate-Smart Agriculture Program
• Land Governance, Natural Resources Management and Carbon Trading Program Program that enhances resilience through land restoration, strengthening governance practices, and carbon initiatives. Activities include farmer-managed natural regeneration, tree and bamboo planting, improved cook stove distribution, and carbon credit development for rural communities and conservation partners.
• Food, Nutrition and Health Program Program promoting adoption of diverse, nutrient-dense diets, integrated homestead farming, food processing and preservation, nutrition education, and access to water and sanitation. Designed to combat malnutrition among children, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescents in rural communities.
• Agribusiness, Finance and Markets Program Value chain development program delivered through farmer engagement in produce marketing, bulking and collective marketing initiatives, and facilitation of access to finance and markets. Links 120 producer groups to off-takers such as Pyxus, WFP, ETG, and Mount Meru.
• Research and Development Program Evidence-based research program that informs policy, improves agricultural practices, and scales sustainable innovations in land restoration, food security, and climate resilience. Includes pest models, IPM technologies, and conservation agriculture trials aligned to national research agendas.
• SAMALA (Sustainable Management of Landscapes) Project Five-year project (2022-2027) funded by Irish Aid and Government of Flanders ($4.7 million) addressing land degradation through catchment management, community governance strengthening, and livelihood diversification in Mzimba, Kasungu, Ntchisi, and Dowa districts of Malawi. Targets land restoration and sustainable rural livelihoods.
• SURELIVES (Sustainable Rural Enterprises and Livelihoods) Project Long-running project funded by Altria (since 2006, US$204,137 annually) implementing sustainable livelihood activities in Mchinji, Dedza, and Mzimba districts of Malawi. Focuses on farm diversification, productivity, and climate change adaptation for rural communities.
• AID-I (Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative) Project USAID-funded project (K4 billion, ~$2.2 million USD) assisting Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania to address challenges facing smallholder agricultural production. Delivers improved fertilizer distribution, seed access, financial services, and agricultural advisory services, reaching 15,000+ farming households in central Malawi.
• TRANSFORM (Sustainable Food Systems for Rural Agriculture Transformation and Resilience) Program Programme targeting 150,000 agriculture-dependent rural households over 2021-2025 within 22 EPAs in 5 districts of Malawi. Coordinated by Norwegian Church Aid-Danish Church Aid (NCA-DCA) with the Development Fund of Norway and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). TLC portion of funding is $3.85 million.
• RAFT (Regenerative Agriculture Forestry Techniques) Project Eight-year project (2023-2030) implemented with Bridge Carbon NbS Private Limited in Dowa, Dedza, Mchinji, Balaka, and Mangochi districts of Malawi. Focuses on regenerative agriculture, forestry techniques, and nature-based solutions including carbon credit development.
• MTENGO (Market Transitions to Enable New Growth Opportunities) Project USDA Food for Progress-funded five-year project (2022-2027) using a farmer-first approach to increase resource-efficient, reliable agricultural production in Malawi's northern and central regions. TLC receives sub-awards from prime implementer Winrock International.
• RAAP (Regenerative Agriculture and Agroforestry Programme) Nature-based solutions programme partnered with Bridge Carbon Investment Limited (BCIL) implementing regenerative agriculture and agroforestry in Chikankata and Kalomo districts of Southern Province, Zambia. Generates carbon credits and rural livelihood improvements.
• Eco-PM (Agro-Ecological Innovations Smallholder Pest Management) Project Two-year project in Uganda, Zambia, and Malawi demonstrating and promoting agroecological pest management approaches. Includes Push-Pull Technology, biopesticides validated with DARS, pheromone traps, and parasitoids. Implemented in partnership with the Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS) and Department of Agricultural Extension Services (DAES).
• Akule ndi Thanzi (Let Them Grow Healthy) Project USAID-funded $46 million nutrition and health project (TLC $2 million sub-award) implemented in Chitipa, Karonga, Nkhotakota, Salima, Dowa, and Lilongwe districts of Malawi. Improves nutritional outcomes for children under five, pregnant women, and adolescents, targeting 235,045 households in care groups. Prime implementer is Feed the Children.
• CLIMB (Conservation Livelihoods in Malawi's Biospheres) Project Project in partnership with Plan International Malawi implementing socio-ecological approaches to strengthen biodiversity conservation and natural resources management of Mtangatanga, Viphya Forest Reserves, and Mulanje Mountain Reserve. Funded by Jersey Overseas Aid (2022-2025), targeting 20,000 people.
• Human-Wildlife Co-habitation Project (HWC) Three-year project (2025-2028) valued at €1,123,795.20 implemented in the Malawi-Zambia Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (MAZA TFCA) in collaboration with IUCN. Reduces human-wildlife conflict incidents and improves household income through HWC Smart Crops. Funded by Germany's BMZ through KfW via the SADC TFCA Financing Facility.
• REAL (Restore Agricultural Landscapes) Project Project targeting restoration of degraded landscapes in Tanzania's Simiyu and Morogoro regions through sustainable agricultural practices and agroforestry for smallholder farming communities.
• RESAF (Restore Africa) Project Agroecosystem restoration programme with carbon co-benefits restoring land in Mzimba district, Malawi. Supports farmers and pastoralists with sustainable farming practices and carbon credit generation under the Restore Africa umbrella.
• LIVE-UP (Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone Livelihoods Upliftment) Project Project partnered with Bangweulu Power Company Limited to improve household food security and diversify incomes for 500 rural households in Zone 10 of Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone in Kafue District, Zambia.
• Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) Project Project funded by the Rotary Club of Powhatan, Virginia improving health and wellbeing of communities in Dedza, Mchinji, and Mzimba districts through water and sanitation interventions. Includes Community Complementary Feeding and Learning (CCFL) sessions and promotion of integrated homestead farming for nutrition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ farming households reached with modern farming technologies
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025IUCN collaborated with TLC on the Human-Wildlife Co-habitation Project in the Malawi-Zambia Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (MAZA TFCA), valued at €1,123,795.20. IUCN manages the SADC TFCA Financing Facility. The project aims to reduce HWC incidents and improve household income for affected communities in conservation areas.
• Southern African Foundation for Agriculture and Climate Change (SAFFACC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025Strategic partner in the HWC Project implementing alongside TLC. SAFFACC contributes expertise in agriculture and climate change adaptation for rural communities.
• Zambian Community Resource Board Association (ZCRBA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025Partner in HWC Project working with community resource boards in Zambia to address human-wildlife conflict in game management areas.
• Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025Conservation NGO partner in HWC Project contributing to wildlife protection and community coexistence initiatives.
• Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025Partner in HWC Project bringing market-based conservation approaches and community livelihood improvements.
• Bridge Carbon NbS Private Limited (formerly C-Quest Capital)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in RAFT project implementing regenerative agriculture and forestry technologies in Malawi. Provides annual funding aligned to planned activities for nature-based solutions over 8-year project period (2023-2030).
• Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Malawian NGO consortium partner in SAMALA Project contributing to youth engagement and community counseling.
• International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Research partner in SAMALA Project providing agroforestry expertise and technical guidance for landscape restoration.
• Plan International MalawicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Lead implementing partner for CLIMB project with TLC. Funding from Jersey Overseas Aid targeting biodiversity conservation and livelihoods in forest reserves.
• Mulanje Mountain Conservation TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Conservation partner in CLIMB project for Mulanje Mountain Reserve management and community livelihoods.
• Earth Watch EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Research partner supporting citizen science monitoring of soil, water, forest cover and conducting research for CLIMB project.
• Feed The ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Prime implementer of Akule ndi Thanzi project ($46 million total). TLC as sub-implementer in Chitipa, Karonga, Nkhotakota, Salima, Dowa, Lilongwe with $2 million funding.
• SAFImajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Sub-implementer in Akule ndi Thanzi consortium providing specific technical expertise for nutrition and health interventions.
• NuSkin, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Private sector partner in Akule ndi Thanzi contributing to nutrition and health outcomes for target populations.
• Procter and GambleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Private sector partner in Akule ndi Thanzi providing product support for WASH and health interventions.
• Norwegian Church Aid-Danish Church Aid (NCA-DCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Coordinating agency for TRANSFORM programme. TLC implementing in Kasungu, Mchinji, Mzimba south targeting 80,000 households with $3.85 million funding.
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Academic partner in TRANSFORM programme providing research and innovation expertise for climate change resilience and agricultural development.
• Bridge Carbon Investment Limited (BCIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Regenerative Agriculture and Agroforestry Programme (RAAP) in Zambia implementing nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and rural livelihood improvement.
• Winrock InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for USDA Food for Progress MTENGO project in Malawi (2022-2027). TLC receives sub-awards for implementation.
• CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGIAR partner providing technical expertise for AID-I project through partnerships with Meridian and other stakeholders.
• MeridianmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working with TLC and CIMMYT on AID-I project for agricultural innovation delivery.
• Washington State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for SURELIVES project through MOU with TLC. TLC was founded as an NGO affiliated to Washington State University.
• Bangweulu Power Company LimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar PV power company partnering with TLC to design and implement livelihoods improvement project for communities near Bangweulu and Ngonye projects in Lusaka South MFEZ.
• PyxusmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOff-taker for produce from TLC-linked producer groups. Purchased soybean, groundnuts, and maize from farmer groups.
• WFP (World Food Programme)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOff-taker for agricultural produce from TLC producer groups, supporting market access for smallholder farmers.
• ETG (Export Trading Group)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgricultural commodities trader as off-taker for TLC producer group outputs.
• Mount MerumajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgricultural commodities company as off-taker linking TLC farmers to markets.
• Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment research partner validating biopesticides for EcoPM project prior to registration by Agricultural Technology Clearing Committee.
• Department of Agricultural Extension Services (DAES)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment extension partner supporting demonstration plots and farmer training across EPAs for EcoPM project.
• Departments of National Parks and Wildlife (Malawi and Zambia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment conservation authorities coordinating HWC Project implementation and providing regulatory framework for wildlife management.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO): Zambia-based social enterprise operating in the same MAZA TFCA region with TLC; uses market-based conservation and smallholder aggregation models — directly comparable in geography, conservation-agriculture nexus, and off-taker linkage approach.
• Self Help Africa: INGO delivering agriculture, nutrition, and market access programs to smallholder farmers in Malawi, Zambia, Ethiopia, and other African countries — directly comparable in target geography, donor base, and integrated livelihoods approach.
• Farm Africa: UK-based charity focused on climate-smart agriculture, land restoration, and smallholder market access in eastern Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda) — closely comparable in agroforestry and conservation agriculture programming.
• Concern Worldwide: Ireland-based international NGO operating sustainable livelihoods, food security, and climate adaptation programs across sub-Saharan Africa, including Malawi and Tanzania — comparable in donor mix, smallholder farmer focus, and grant-funded delivery model.
• One Acre Fund: Large-scale smallholder farmer service organization delivering inputs, finance, and training across sub-Saharan Africa — comparable target beneficiary (smallholder farmers) with overlapping geographic focus in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.
• TreeAID: UK-based NGO working on tree-based restoration, FMNR, and smallholder livelihoods in dryland Africa — directly comparable in FMNR methodology, agroforestry focus, and donor-supported community-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• TechnoServe: Global non-profit working on poverty reduction through market-based solutions in agriculture, energy, and entrepreneurship across Africa and beyond — comparable in agribusiness, smallholder market access, and donor-funded delivery model.
• CARE International: Major international humanitarian and development NGO with significant food security, climate adaptation, and women's economic empowerment programming in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania — overlapping donor mix and integrated livelihoods agenda.
• Heifer International: Global NGO supporting smallholder farmers via livestock, sustainable agriculture, and value chain programs across Africa, including Malawi and Zambia — comparable in scale, target beneficiaries, and integrated rural livelihoods approach.

Emerging players

• World Agroforestry (ICRAF): CGIAR research center partnering with TLC on agroforestry research and landscape restoration — comparable in agroforestry methodology, Southern Africa operations, and smallholder livelihoods focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/totallandcareglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/total-landcare-tanzania

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Total LandCare