Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Over Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has a strong history of supporting MSMEs in Suriname through two main approaches. Indirectly, FAO provides technical assistance, strengthens the capacity of the agricultural sector and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, while also improves infrastructure such as laboratories and national plant protection agencies. Directly, FAO supports MSMEs via initiatives like matching grant facilities and credit guarantee programs, enabling businesses to access financial resources and enhance their operations.
To illustrate the latter, FAO's SAMAP (Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Program) in Suriname supported small agricultural businesses, food processors, farmer cooperatives, community organizations, women, youth, and family farmers in rural areas through a Matching Grant Facility (MGF), which has been active from 2019 until late 2024. The program has provided grants in two categories: Small Grants (up to USD 5,000) for individual farmers, requiring a 30% contribution in cash or kind, and Large Grants (up to USD 300,000) for cooperatives and organizations, requiring a 50% contribution, with at least 10% in cash. These grants fund tools, machinery and services to enhance production quality, access to markets, value addition and export potential.
SAMAP has focused on supporting non-timber forest products and the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and root crops, explicitly excluding rice, bananas, poultry, livestock, feed and fisheries. The grants did not provide cash but rather enabled the purchase of equipment and services tailored to the approved project’s specifications. This approach has promoted modernization, processing and transformation to improve market access, shelf life and export opportunities for agricultural products.
Beyond SAMAP, the FAO is partnering with 17 Asset Management to work on projects that provide the best investment opportunities for private investment as well as on strategies to mobilize capital for Caribbean Food Systems, including in Suriname. As a result, two side-by-side funds have been created to provide investors with the opportunity to strategically invest in systemic change in the region: a USD 100 million growth capital fund investing in expanding profitable food companies, and a USD 25 million innovation fund investing in early-stage growth companies. For further details on the Caribbean Food System Investment Funds, please refer to the corresponding section under 17 Asset Management’s description.
To illustrate the latter, FAO's SAMAP (Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Program) in Suriname supported small agricultural businesses, food processors, farmer cooperatives, community organizations, women, youth, and family farmers in rural areas through a Matching Grant Facility (MGF), which has been active from 2019 until late 2024. The program has provided grants in two categories: Small Grants (up to USD 5,000) for individual farmers, requiring a 30% contribution in cash or kind, and Large Grants (up to USD 300,000) for cooperatives and organizations, requiring a 50% contribution, with at least 10% in cash. These grants fund tools, machinery and services to enhance production quality, access to markets, value addition and export potential.
SAMAP has focused on supporting non-timber forest products and the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and root crops, explicitly excluding rice, bananas, poultry, livestock, feed and fisheries. The grants did not provide cash but rather enabled the purchase of equipment and services tailored to the approved project’s specifications. This approach has promoted modernization, processing and transformation to improve market access, shelf life and export opportunities for agricultural products.
Beyond SAMAP, the FAO is partnering with 17 Asset Management to work on projects that provide the best investment opportunities for private investment as well as on strategies to mobilize capital for Caribbean Food Systems, including in Suriname. As a result, two side-by-side funds have been created to provide investors with the opportunity to strategically invest in systemic change in the region: a USD 100 million growth capital fund investing in expanding profitable food companies, and a USD 25 million innovation fund investing in early-stage growth companies. For further details on the Caribbean Food System Investment Funds, please refer to the corresponding section under 17 Asset Management’s description.