March 14, 2022
Anderson Foundation and Zinpro invest in agricultural initiatives to improve gender equity, create economic opportunity
Zinpro Corporation announced the company has partnered with Anderson Foundation for a three-year commitment in support of agricultural nonprofits Heifer International and Bountifield International.
"We are pleased to honor International Women's Day by empowering women-owned agricultural businesses in Africa," said Debra Anderson of Anderson Foundation, which is funded by Zinpro Corporation and was established by Zinpro co-founder Mary Anderson. "Our partnerships with Heifer International and Bountifield International were the perfect place to double down on our ongoing commitment to gender equity as a means of eliminating poverty and lifting up entire communities."
Zinpro president and chief executive officer Rob Sheffer agreed, adding that the charitable gifts are an important source of pride for the company's employees around the world, including those who have joined its "Women of Zinpro" initiative, a new employee resource group.
"At Zinpro, our team works hard to live our core values – and one of them is to serve generously," said Sheffer. "These investments say a lot about who we are at our core, and how we want to make a positive impact in the world – both through our animal nutrition solutions and through our corporate giving programmes."
Over the next three years, Zinpro's work with Heifer International will focus on a project in Rwanda called Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Small Livestock Markets, or PRISM. The project, which will directly assist 23,400 families in Rwanda, aims to increase competitiveness and profitability of the small livestock sector in the country by connecting small-scale producers with domestic and regional consumers.
"Heifer International is grateful to Zinpro and Anderson Foundation for supporting its work with farming families in Rwanda to improve nutrition and incomes," said Liz Ellis, corporate brand partnerships manager at Heifer International. "The funding will enable Heifer Rwanda to support an (additional) 20,000 families, with a focus on women and youth."
Similarly, Zinpro's support of Bountifield International over the coming three years will also support programming with gender equity at its center.
""She Feeds Africa" is an initiative to empower rural women in Africa with access to small-scale technology and business support so they can process and save more food in their communities," said Alexandra Spieldoch, CEO of Bountifield International. "By investing in women as food entrepreneurs, we are further on the path to achieve equitable, resilient food systems across the continent."
- Zinpro