ACCRA, GHANA – Opportunity International and The Development Bank of Ghana (DBG) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen the economic resilience and productivity of smallholder farmers and micro-entrepreneurs across Ghana. This strategic partnership aims to foster a robust and inclusive economy through innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of these critical sectors.

Under the MOU, Opportunity International and The Development Bank of Ghana will collaborate on a range of initiatives designed to enhance agricultural productivity, improve market access, and provide financial support to Ghana's smallholder farmers and micro-entrepreneurs.

“The collaboration with Opportunity International aligns with our commitment to fostering an inclusive economy. By leveraging technology and innovative financial solutions, we aim to support the growth of Ghana’s agricultural sector and enhance the livelihoods of those who depend on it,” said Kwamina Duker, CEO of The Development Bank of Ghana.

The partnership will develop a series of new interventions to support economic development for populations that face a multitude of barriers – including barriers to finance, climate instability, and closing the digital divide. 

“The people of Ghana’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive are the backbone of this great nation, and our collaboration with the Development Bank of Ghana underscores our belief in the Ghanaian people,” said Opportunity International CEO, Atul Tandon. “This collaboration is built from a shared belief that hardworking Ghanaian’s should always be able put food on the table and send their children to school. Together, we will complete that mission.”

Opportunity International’s Climate Collateral Alliance (CCA) is one of the interventions included in the MOU. The CCA is a catalytic investment vehicle designed to remove barriers to loan origination for smallholder farmers, incentivizing Ghanaian financial institutions to extend loans to women borrowers in agriculture and those practicing regenerative and climate-smart agriculture. By providing credit risk support to financial institutions, the CCA promotes sustainable growth and a resilient agriculture ecosystem across rural communities in Ghana.

The partnership will also leverage advanced agricultural technologies and digital tools to increase crop yields, and introduce cutting-edge technologies like Opportunity’s generative AI chatbot platform for smallholder farmers. Previously implemented in partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Agriculture, the technology pairs generative AI with best practices in agriculture, offering extension agents access to timely and high-quality agricultural information.

By enhancing the productivity of extension agents and reducing travel time, these digital innovations have the potential to significantly transform the agricultural landscape in Ghana, creating jobs and boosting economic growth.

The ratification of this partnership comes on the heels of Opportunity International’s 20-year anniversary of supporting Ghana. As a founding member of both Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd. (OISL) and Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans Ltd. (SASL), Opportunity’s impact across Ghana has helped:

• Connect more than 1.5 million clients with savings accounts or microloans
• Provide loans to over 5,000 low-cost non-government, reaching 1.4 million children
• Support over 250,000 smallholder farmers

Both OISL and SASL have received support from DBG in recent years.

About Opportunity International

Opportunity International is a global non-profit that has been equipping people to build sustainable livelihoods and educate their children for 52 years. Opportunity provides 18.7 million families with innovative financial resources, training, and support to grow their small businesses and send their children to school.

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