In 2025, Village Enterprise reached new heights—expanding our footprint across Africa, deepening partnerships with governments, and transforming more lives in one year than ever before. Here are our top 10 achievements from 2025, made possible by our partners, supporters, and the entrepreneurs we serve in rural Africa.
1. Transformed more lives in one year than ever before!
In just one year, Village Enterprise transformed the lives of over 316,000 people in rural Africa. As a result, we’ve now impacted more than 2.3 million lives in Africa to date, including more than 1 million lives in Uganda alone.
2. Kenya launched its first-ever Ultra-Poor Graduation Strategy
Village Enterprise was honored to provide technical assistance to the Government of Kenya throughout the development of the country’s first Ultra-Poor Graduation Strategy. This national strategy ensures that poverty graduation will not only continue, but expand in the years ahead, helping more families across Kenya to break free from extreme poverty through the power of entrepreneurship.
3. Launched Kuza Jamii II in partnership with the Government of Kenya
Village Enterprise received funding from the British High Commission to launch Kuza Jamii II in partnership with the Government of Kenya. This six-month project will transform nearly 90,000 lives across five arid and semi-arid counties, as well as the Daadaab refugee settlements, helping families to become more resilient to climate change and supporting the Government of Kenya’s efforts to sustainably scale the poverty graduation approach. Read our press release to learn more.
4. Secured critical funding to sustain life-changing impact
With the dissolution of USAID early in 2025, Village Enterprise unexpectedly lost millions in funding overnight. In response, our community stepped up. Through our Strategic Response Fund, the generosity of our supporters, and an anonymous donor through the Project Resource Optimization (PRO) Initiative, we were able to bridge the gap in lost funds and continue our highest impact work.
5. Expanded to Nigeria—our first time working in West Africa!
In late 2025, we began providing technical assistance to Nigeria’s Kaduna State Government, with funding from the Gates Foundation. The government-led Kaduna Ultra-Poor Graduation Program, supported by Village Enterprise as a technical partner, will support 1,200 women and young people to launch small businesses and build sustainable livelihoods, as well as develop a scalable poverty graduation model for lifting households out of extreme poverty in Kaduna State.
6. Strengthened our work with local governments in Kenya and Rwanda
This past year, we continued our work with the governments of Makueni, Taita Taveta, and West Pokot counties in Kenya, helping them develop county-level poverty graduation policies and strengthening their existing social protective services. We also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda’s Gicumbi District to run a two-year poverty graduation pilot, combining our expertise in poverty graduation with the Government of Rwanda’s financial support.
7. Helped refugees build financial self-reliance
In partnership with Mercy Corps, Village Enterprise continued transforming the lives of refugees and host communities through DREAMS. In Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, DREAMS has transformed more than 160,000 lives as refugees and host community members launch small businesses. In addition to DREAMS, Village Enterprise has also begun working with refugees in Kenya’s Daadaab refugee camps, addressing the interconnected challenges of displacement and climate change in Kenya.
8. Accelerated scale and impact through digital innovations
Last year, we continued piloting SPRINT, our most ambitious digital innovation yet. Launched in Uganda, SPRINT is using digital tools to help our business mentors reach five to 10 times more entrepreneurs per year. We also partnered with Rural Senses to pilot our first AI-powered qualitative evaluation, using AI to transcribe and synthesize over 115 hours of entrepreneur feedback. Insights are informing program improvements and strategic priorities around climate resilience, gender equity, and inclusive market systems.
9. Furthered climate and conservation work in Uganda and Madagascar
Our Poverty Alleviation and Removal of Kibale Snares (PARKS) project continued to help families living in Uganda’s Kibale National Park start sustainable businesses. In doing so, PARKS has reduced reliance on illegal logging and poaching by providing alternative, conservation-friendly ways to earn an income. Village Enterprise also partnered with Wildlife Conservation Society in Madagascar. There, we strengthened savings groups and helped local farmers and fishermen build their savings and skills in resource management.
10. CEO Dianne Calvi announced her plans to step down
After 15 years of transformational leadership as Village Enterprise’s CEO, Dianne Calvi announced her intention to step down. “I am stepping down with deep gratitude for the incredible team and Board I’ve had the privilege to work with, and immense confidence in the future of Village Enterprise,” said Dianne Calvi. “My decision is driven by my excitement for the next chapter of African leadership and my unwavering belief in the talent, passion, and potential of the communities we serve.” Read about Dianne’s incredible impact on ending extreme poverty in Devex to learn more.
Dianne has agreed to stay in her role until Village Enterprise has a new CEO in place. And speaking of what’s next—we’ll be sharing an exciting announcement soon. Stay tuned!
Honorable mention — a new headquarters in Nairobi!
In 2025, Village Enterprise’s team in Nairobi moved to a brand new, bigger office as our team and impact continues to grow. Our new Nairobi office has been designed to be Village Enterprise’s headquarters in Africa and a hub for collaboration and innovation to end extreme poverty.
Big things ahead in 2026
On top of everything that was accomplished in 2025, there are a lot of great things coming in 2026. Village Enterprise is launching a new pilot, NOURISH, in the drylands of Kenya to further test and refine how our program can be paired with nutrition components to reduce hunger and child malnutrition. We’re also launching a new project in Ethiopia in partnership with HereWeGrow, as well as a new randomized controlled trial to evaluate how our program impacts gender equality in Uganda. We can’t wait to share more in the weeks and months ahead!