Entrepreneurship to End Extreme Poverty

Village Enterprise is one of only three nonprofits in the world with a perfect score from Charity Navigator. Give with confidence knowing your donation is going to one of the world’s highest rated nonprofits.

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Ending extreme poverty. Building a sustainable future for all.

We believe it is possible to end extreme poverty. Backed by rigorous evidence, we have a solution that lifts families out of extreme poverty, improves their well-being and resiliency, and ensures a brighter future for generations to come.

Partnering with governments, nonprofits, United Nations agencies, conservation organizations, and private sector companies, Village Enterprise equips first-time entrepreneurs in Africa with resources and skills to start income-generating businesses and savings groups.

Locally-led and community-based, we work with women, refugees, and youth in rural Africa and equip them to become self-reliant. Join us as we build resilience and alleviate poverty by igniting the entrepreneurial spirit.

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Breaking the cycle of poverty

Meet tata Margaret. Entrepreneurship not only changed her life, but altered the trajectory for her daughter and granddaughter. Village Enterprise has impacted the lives of more than 2 million people like Margaret and her family. Help us transform the lives of millions more!

Watch their story

Our Impact to Date

Results from two independent randomized controlled trials of the Village Enterprise program demonstrate that it is possible to sustainably and cost-effectively increase income, savings, assets, food consumption, and overall well-being of the most vulnerable populations in Africa—with an extremely high return on investment of $5.34 in benefits for every $1 invested.

396872

Entrepreneurs trained

120609

Businesses started

2478065

Lives transformed

145%

Increase in income

1300%

Increase in savings

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Recognition for Impact and Innovation

Village Enterprise is the only nonprofit in the world to be recognized at the highest level by all ten of these respected organizations.

How We Will Lift Millions More Out of Poverty

Our goal is to end extreme poverty for 20 million people in Africa by 2035. We believe this is possible through bold decision-making, innovation, collective action, and advocacy.

Collective Action to End Poverty

We are partnering with governments, other nonprofits, funders, and private sector companies to scale up our entrepreneurship-driven and climate-smart approach to poverty alleviation and drive advocacy efforts to end extreme poverty in Africa. DREAMS for refugees, USAID Nawiri to reduce malnutrition, World Bank Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project, and UN Women Economic Empowerment through Climate-Smart Agriculture are just some of the exciting collective action initiatives that Village Enterprise is working on. We go farther together.

Partnerships for Scale

Replicating Our Climate-Smart Poverty Graduation Model

Based on rigorous, independent RCT evidence, Village Enterprise’s cost-effective poverty graduation model reduces poverty, promotes gender-equity, and ensures minimal environmental impact. We are rapidly expanding by both growing our organization to replicate our cost-effective model as well as providing technical assistance to partners that also deliver our model. Partner with us to end extreme poverty!

What We Do

Digital Solutions to Revolutionize Small Business Development in Africa

We are working with partners to develop and distribute digital tools to first-time entrepreneurs in rural Africa to achieve impact.

Digital Solutions and Innovation

Learn more about what we do

A woman picks produce while smiling at the camera. The text reads, "2025 Annual Report. July 2024 — June 2025"

Our 2025 Annual Report

This past year, the determination of our entrepreneurs and the generosity of our supporters reshaped what’s possible for families living in extreme poverty.

Dive into our annual report to read updates across all areas of our work, explore our latest impact data, and hear directly from our team as they highlight what made this our biggest year yet.

Read the 2025 Annual Report

News & Awards

A Perfect Score from Charity Navigator – Out of over 225,000 charities, Village Enterprise is one of only three nonprofits in the world to have received a perfect score from Charity Navigator.

Our Perfect Score

World-Class African Team

Passionate, talented, and committed to our mission, our team is the heartbeat of Village Enterprise. Each team member—97% of whom are African—exemplifies our core values of ubuntu, integrity, innovation, passion, and sustainability. We go far because we go together.

About Us

Let our entrepreneurs inspire you.

When Viola fled the war in South Sudan, she arrived at Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement with her infant daughter after a grueling nine-day journey. Forced to rebuild her life, Viola didn’t know where to begin. But after joining DREAMS, Viola is now the owner of a bustling hair salon. Her success has allowed her to employ other refugees and build a brighter future for her daughter.

Read Viola's story