Why PepsiCo is backing the $2bn Kamala Harris-led effort to empower women in agriculture
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with PepsiCo, Unilever, Danone, McCormick & Company and Nespresso to launch the Advancing Women for Resilient Agricultural Supply Chains initiative, a significant step in bolstering gender equality and sustainability in the agriculture sector.
This new collaboration – part of the broader Women in the Sustainable Economy (WISE) initiative launched by Vice President Kamala Harris in 2023 – is particularly noteworthy for the consumer goods industry, where supply chains are vital to production.
PepsiCo plays a key role in this initiative, reflecting its long-term commitment to sustainable and equitable agricultural practices. Its involvement in the $2 billion WISE initiative underscores the importance of female empowerment in achieving more resilient supply chains, particularly as women make up a large portion of the agricultural workforce globally.
With a collective investment starting at $50m – of which USAID has contributed $11m – the Advancing Women for Resilient Agricultural Supply Chains project will focus on scaling successful models, gathering evidence on how gender-inclusive practices contribute to sustainability and expanding participation across the industry.
For producers like PepsiCo, which relies heavily on agricultural inputs for its snacks and beverages, investing in gender equality is not only a matter of corporate responsibility but also a strategic business imperative. Empowering women in agricultural supply chains can improve productivity and environmental outcomes, ensuring a more stable and sustainable supply of ingredients like potatoes and grains that are crucial to PepsiCo's snack production.
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This partnership is expected to catalyze significant changes across the sector. By driving sustainability through gender inclusivity, the companies involved aim to enhance both their environmental impact and their long-term business resilience, making it a critical move for the future of snack and beverage industries.
The initiative also plans to grow its investment pool to $90m over the next five years, expanding its reach and impact on global agricultural practices.
WISE partners
The Skoll Foundation is the newest partner through its support of the USAID-led Climate Gender Equity Fund – a public-private partnership with Amazon, Reckitt, the UPS Foundation and the Visa Foundation, which seeks to increase access to climate finance for women-led and women-benefiting organizations working at the forefront of climate action.
Altree Capital, The Rallying Cry and Villgro Philippines have also jumped on board as grantees.
Acumen, Germany, Heading for Change, the Republic of Cyprus and the United Kingdom announced $339m in aligned commitments.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation, the US International Development Finance Corporation and the US Department of Energy announced $289m in US government commitments, bringing the collective commitment of 33 governments, corporations, foundations and civil society organizations to a total of over $2bn towards the WISE Initiative.
