Why we chose Nat as a Fellow

Raised in a rural mountain town in Colorado, Nat has traveled, worked or studied in 40 countries across six continents in the areas of business, nonprofit and government. After working as a financial consultant in China and the U.S., he accepted a short-term project in Kenya with the K-Rep Development Agency (KDA). Three years later, Nat turned Juhudi Kilimo from a non-profit pilot program within KDA to a fully operational for-profit enterprise serving smallholder farmers.

Juhudi Kilimo provides innovative financing and training for rural farmers success: deliver the right wealth-generating assets to help those unreached by traditional microfinance. Unlike traditional microfinance, Juhudi Kilimo finances specific agricultural assets that offer immediate and sustainable income for farmers. The assets act as an alternative form of collateral in case of default, reducing the farmers' risk of greater poverty through indebtedness, and assets are insured to protect clients from harsh business losses.