30-day notice: EA Foods and DFCD

This ex‑ante disclosure details planned support from the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) Origination Facility for East Africa Foods Ltd (EA Foods), a tech‑enabled fresh‑produce aggregator and distributor operating across Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Established in 2013, the company sources fruits, vegetables, grains, and pulses from more than 8,000 smallholder farmers. EA Foods serves retailers, hotels, and restaurants in urban markets through an integrated digital platform that manages farmer outreach, aggregation, logistics, and distribution.

Over the past five years, EA Foods achieved a compound annual growth rate of 73 per cent and generated USD 14.3 million in revenue in 2023. The company reduced post‑harvest loss from up to 40 per cent to below 5 per cent, which is equivalent to avoiding approximately 645,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions over five years.

The DFCD will provide a €355,000 grant to help EA Foods de‑risk its planned investment proposal worth approximately €9.26 million, to be co‑financed by FMO and other DFCD partners. Grant funding will be used for regional expansion into Uganda, business line diversification (rice milling and maize value‑addition), digital platform upgrades for climate‑smart farming, logistical restructuring, and the implementation of ESG and social inclusion processes.

This project aims to reach 25,000 smallholder farmers by 2026, increase yields through improved agronomy and assured markets, enhance farmer incomes, reduce climate risks, and strengthen food security in East Africa. The initiative supports key sustainable development goals, including climate action, zero hunger, and responsible consumption.