For many coastal communities, especially small-scale seaweed farmers, financial exclusion and adverse climate change impacts have long been barriers to growth. Rising sea temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme climate events make it harder for farmers to sustain their livelihoods. At the same time, limited access to finance and unstable markets keeps them from expanding their farming activities or investing in climate-resilient solutions. But now, the Africa Fair Seaweed Finance Facility (AFSFF) is transforming that reality.
A partnership between Aqua-Farms Organization, Mawimbi Ocean Innovations, and funding partners Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), Whole Planet Foundation – WPF, SDG Impact Finance Initiative, and Convergence Blended Finance, AFSFF is redefining how seaweed farmers access finance and adapt to the changing environment. At the core of this initiative is an innovative model that integrates Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)—community-driven financial groups that empower farmers to save, invest, and build resilience against climate challenges.
The journey has begun with deep community engagement and sensitization, ensuring that interventions match real needs. Before anything is implemented, priorly AFSFF conducted critical needs assessments and stakeholder consultations, allowing coastal farmers to actively participate in shaping their economic solutions. Through this groundwork, VSLAs are formed, enabling community members to collectively save, loan to each other, and invest in business growth. Unlike traditional financial institutions that require collateral and have rigid lending terms, VSLAs operate on trust, accountability, and shared responsibility—making financial inclusion possible for women, youth, and marginalized groups.
But savings alone aren’t enough. To truly scale and adapt to climate threats, farmers need access to larger pools of capital and climate-smart investments, and this is where AFSFF’s financial partners step in. Through a matching fund system, groups that meet 25% of their financial targets receive additional funding to add on their savings. This injection of capital helps VSLAs expand operations, buy better equipment, and implement climate-resilient practices such as offshore deep-water seaweed farming which is less vulnerable to rising temperatures and environmental degradation. Additionally, equipment financing loans allow farmers to acquire essential tools like boats, ropes, and drying racks at affordable rates through a microfinance system. Business training is another key pillar, with AFSFF offering coaching in financial literacy, record-keeping, and business development ensuring that these investments lead to long-term growth.
Beyond finance, AFSFF is tackling another major challenge: market access and climate adaptation strategies. For too long, seaweed farmers have been locked into unpredictable pricing, with middlemen taking the lion’s share of profits. AFSFF is looking to change this by creating direct linkages between farmers and buyers, facilitated through partnerships that reasonably benefit the community. Farmers are not only connected to stable, high-value markets but also receive training in value addition, allowing them to process seaweed into premium products rather than selling raw materials at lower prices. Additionally, contract negotiation support ensures that farmers secure fair trade agreements, giving them better control over pricing and profitability. On the climate front, training sessions focus on best farming practices that minimize environmental impact, such as sustainable harvesting, ecosystem-friendly aquaculture, and marine conservation efforts.
The end goal of AFSFF isn’t dependency; it’s self-sufficiency and long-term resilience. Over two years, VSLAs should transition from donor-supported initiatives to fully independent financial ecosystems. By the time a group achieves its key targets, it is considered financially stable, and capable of running operations without external assistance. These “graduated” groups then serve as mentors for new VSLAs, creating a cycle of empowerment that extends across entire coastal communities. Regular monitoring, data collection, and digital financial tracking further will ensure that the progress made is sustainable and scalable.
At its core, AFSFF focuses on building inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient coastal economies. To achieve this by leveraging VSLAs as a financial backbone, supported by funding, climate-smart investments, and market integration, hence the initiative proves that small-scale seaweed farmers can thrive despite the challenges.
The CLEAR Model isn’t just another aid project—it’s a blueprint for real change. With VSLAs as the foundation, coastal communities can:
Improve their livelihoods
Protect their environment
Take control of their financial future
With the right tools, training, and connections, small-scale seaweed farmers and fishers can scale up, earn more, and create lasting impact.
And that’s how the CLEAR Model is rewriting the future of coastal communities—one VSLA at a time! Hence, the future of financial inclusion and climate resilience for coastal communities looks brighter than ever.
