The Vegan Africa Fund (Vegan AF) is the first-of-its-kind impact fund focused on investing in plant-based ventures, regenerative agriculture, and vegan eco-entrepreneurs across Africa. The impact crypto VAF powers the Vegan Africa Fund; read more about VAF in our white paper.
In 2015, the United Nations came together and agreed upon seventeen Sustainable Development Goals or “SDGs.” These are a framework for “peace and prosperity for people and the planet.” (UN, 2015).
Goal 1. No Poverty
The Vegan Africa Fund supports equitable solutions for historically under-funded entrepreneurs across Africa. We seek to increase access to wealth creation opportunities in parts of the world that have suffered centuries of colonization, resource exploitation, and limited access to capital to participate in global markets. Capital is hard to access in Africa. Investing in founders who can implement a regenerative business model will enable communities to create wealth. Projections show that an annual additional of $300B must be invested in sustainable African businesses to reach the SDGs. We aim to help fill this investment gap.
Goal 2. Zero Hunger
Every day 25,000 people die from hunger or malnutrition. This is an epidemic, where severe hunger affects more than 10% of the global population. The number of malnourished people has increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. One in nine people are starving on the planet and one-third of the population is under the global poverty line, experiencing food insecurity.
There is more than enough food to feed everyone on the planet, but these much-need calories are diverted from human use. The animal agriculture industry diverts calories from people who need them to animals raised for slaughter and bred as commodities. We support regenerative agriculture and the increase of the volume of Pan-African food trade. 83% of the world's agricultural land goes towards raising livestock and growing food to feed farmed animals, but they produce only 18% of calories consumed by humans.
To meet the goal of zero hunger, we exclusively support plant-based efforts, especially those focused on environmental regeneration.
Goal 3. Good Health and Well Being
Diseases like type two diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer, and more are directly impacted by dietary choices. We promote plant-based eating, which is the healthiest choice for the planet, as well as the individual.
Goal 4. Quality Education
Ten percent of the Vegan Africa Fund goes directly towards social impact issues. We are interested in supporting initiatives that provide nutrition literacy, financial literacy, and climate consciousness across Africa.
Goal 5. Gender Equality
Currently, 96% of venture capital dollars are controlled by white or Asian men, and 90% of venture capital is invested in white men (Edwards, Forbes, 2021). We are breaking down these racial and gender barriers by leading through an intersectional lens, amplifying womxn (those identifying as cis women, non-binary, or trans women) in leadership positions. We commit to investing a minimum of 60% of the Vegan Africa Fund into women-led ventures.
Goals 6 and 7. Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy
The Vegan Africa Fund is excited to partner with organizations promoting clean water and affordable renewable energy projects.
Goals 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Decent Economic Growth; Innovation and Infrastructure; Reduced Inequalities; Sustainable Cities; Responsible Consumption and Production.
The Vegan Africa Fund is passionate about providing wealth creation opportunities for African entrepreneurs who are creating products that will shift the world to sustainable consumerism. Strengthening and funding the eco-conscious plant-based entrepreneurial network will enable Africa to emerge as a global leader in veganism and sustainability in the next decade.
Goals 13, 14, 15. Climate Action; Life Below Water; and Life on Land. Our mission is to scale vegan ventures across Africa, inspired by the IPCC report that shows that living a plant-based lifestyle is the most effective way an individual can work to stop climate change. Amplifying a plant-based lifestyle is necessary to protect aquatic ecosystems and land biodiversity.
Goal 16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. We stand for compassion and peace. Uplifting historically marginalized communities is critical in the fight to stop climate change. The communities suffering the worst from pollution and climate change had the least to do with causing these issues, which is an injustice. We are asking the global community of futurists to invest in the vegan network in Africa to foster a just response to the historical exploitation of Africa by the rest of the world.
Goal 17. Partnerships for the Goals.
We believe that collaboration leads to some of the most profound innovations and solutions. We are excited to partner with global futurists to realize our vision. If you are interested in investing in the Vegan Africa Fund, visit our Invest page. To join the network, check out the openings on Angel List and see if you are aligned.
The Vegan Africa Fund has compiled a directory of vegan businesses across Africa, over 300 ventures in 25+ countries. We are working to identify companies that can help their communities shift towards sustainable lifestyles while exporting high-value and in-demand products globally.
To join our network and our movement, reach out to us through hello@veganafricafund.com
