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10 Years of Acumen Investment in Colombia

Learn how an intentional strategy of investing in socially minded for-profit companies and projects can generate deep impact in rural, conflict-affected areas of Colombia.

  • Report
  • All Problems
  • Latin America
  • 2025

10 years of Acumen Latin America

Disbursed
Companies invested in
Lives impacted

Executive Summary:

In 2014, Acumen Latin America (ALA) began investing in Colombia with a bold hypothesis: that impact-first capital could help rebuild the social fabric in rural, conflict-affected communities by addressing the root causes of poverty. Over the past decade, ALA has invested over $10 million in 19 businesses—mostly agribusinesses working in coffee, cacao, and produce—many of which are led by grassroots organizations with a deep commitment to community development.

To mark its 10-year milestone, ALA partnered with impact measurement firm 60 Decibels to assess the results of this work. The findings are a powerful testament to the potential of long-term, community-focused investment in fragile settings:

  • ALA’s investments are reaching people most often left behind—50% of farmers supported by ALA-backed companies live in poverty, and 76% had no prior access to similar offerings.
  • The benefits extend beyond individual livelihoods: 83% of farmers report improvements in well-being, income, and decision-making power, while 67% say their broader communities have also become more economically prosperous, collaborative, and hopeful.the individual and at the community level along a wide range of impact themes.
  • Time and trust deepen impact—longer-tenured farmers report stronger gains in both household agency and financial outcomes.
  • Resilience to climate shocks is rising: 49% of farmers feel better prepared for environmental disruptions, especially those who have adopted regenerative agricultural practices.
  • But gender disparities persist, mirroring broader regional inequalities. Women reported greater personal agency but fewer financial gains, highlighting the need for more gender-intentional strategies going forward.

These insights come at a critical time. As Colombia continues its long path toward reconciliation and Latin America faces mounting inequality and climate vulnerability, the role of private, impact-first capital has never been more urgent.

This report offers more than a retrospective—it provides a roadmap for how socially minded, for-profit enterprises can help restore dignity, foster resilience, and deliver real change in places too often overlooked by traditional finance and fading aid.

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